Nitrogen Cycling and Mass Balance in the World’s Mangrove Forests
Nitrogen (N) cycling in mangroves is complex, with rapid turnover of low dissolved N concentrations, but slow turnover of particulate N. Most N is stored in soils. The largest sources of N are nearly equal amounts of mangrove and benthic microalgal primary production. Dissolved N fluxes between the...
| Main Author: | |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2020-12-01
|
| Series: | Nitrogen |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2504-3129/1/2/14 |
| _version_ | 1797546137495797760 |
|---|---|
| author | Daniel M. Alongi |
| author_facet | Daniel M. Alongi |
| author_sort | Daniel M. Alongi |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Nitrogen (N) cycling in mangroves is complex, with rapid turnover of low dissolved N concentrations, but slow turnover of particulate N. Most N is stored in soils. The largest sources of N are nearly equal amounts of mangrove and benthic microalgal primary production. Dissolved N fluxes between the forests and tidal waters show net uptake, indicating N conservation. N<sub>2</sub>-fixation is underestimated as rapid rates measured on tree stems, aboveground roots and cyanobacterial mats cannot currently be accounted for at the whole-forest scale due to their extreme patchiness and the inability to extrapolate beyond a localized area. Net immobilization of NH<sub>4</sub><sup>+</sup> is the largest ecosystem flux, indicating N retention. Denitrification is the largest loss of N, equating to 35% of total N input. Burial equates to about 29% of total inputs and is the second largest loss of N. Total inputs slightly exceed total outputs, currently suggesting net N balance in mangroves. Mangrove PON export equates to ≈95% of PON export from the world’s tropical rivers, but only 1.5% of the entire world’s river discharge. Mangrove N<sub>2</sub>O emissions, denitrification, and burial contribute 0.4%, 0.5–2.0% and 6%, respectively, to the global coastal ocean, which are disproportionate to their small worldwide area. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T14:24:51Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-f9bc1f77dd2047f7970a8f7a14813bbe |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2504-3129 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T14:24:51Z |
| publishDate | 2020-12-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Nitrogen |
| spelling | doaj.art-f9bc1f77dd2047f7970a8f7a14813bbe2023-11-20T23:05:29ZengMDPI AGNitrogen2504-31292020-12-011216718910.3390/nitrogen1020014Nitrogen Cycling and Mass Balance in the World’s Mangrove ForestsDaniel M. Alongi0Tropical Coastal and Mangrove Consultants, 52 Shearwater Drive, Pakenham, VIC 3810, AustraliaNitrogen (N) cycling in mangroves is complex, with rapid turnover of low dissolved N concentrations, but slow turnover of particulate N. Most N is stored in soils. The largest sources of N are nearly equal amounts of mangrove and benthic microalgal primary production. Dissolved N fluxes between the forests and tidal waters show net uptake, indicating N conservation. N<sub>2</sub>-fixation is underestimated as rapid rates measured on tree stems, aboveground roots and cyanobacterial mats cannot currently be accounted for at the whole-forest scale due to their extreme patchiness and the inability to extrapolate beyond a localized area. Net immobilization of NH<sub>4</sub><sup>+</sup> is the largest ecosystem flux, indicating N retention. Denitrification is the largest loss of N, equating to 35% of total N input. Burial equates to about 29% of total inputs and is the second largest loss of N. Total inputs slightly exceed total outputs, currently suggesting net N balance in mangroves. Mangrove PON export equates to ≈95% of PON export from the world’s tropical rivers, but only 1.5% of the entire world’s river discharge. Mangrove N<sub>2</sub>O emissions, denitrification, and burial contribute 0.4%, 0.5–2.0% and 6%, respectively, to the global coastal ocean, which are disproportionate to their small worldwide area.https://www.mdpi.com/2504-3129/1/2/14biogeochemistrydenitrificationecosystemmangrove forestsmass balancenitrogen |
| spellingShingle | Daniel M. Alongi Nitrogen Cycling and Mass Balance in the World’s Mangrove Forests Nitrogen biogeochemistry denitrification ecosystem mangrove forests mass balance nitrogen |
| title | Nitrogen Cycling and Mass Balance in the World’s Mangrove Forests |
| title_full | Nitrogen Cycling and Mass Balance in the World’s Mangrove Forests |
| title_fullStr | Nitrogen Cycling and Mass Balance in the World’s Mangrove Forests |
| title_full_unstemmed | Nitrogen Cycling and Mass Balance in the World’s Mangrove Forests |
| title_short | Nitrogen Cycling and Mass Balance in the World’s Mangrove Forests |
| title_sort | nitrogen cycling and mass balance in the world s mangrove forests |
| topic | biogeochemistry denitrification ecosystem mangrove forests mass balance nitrogen |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2504-3129/1/2/14 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT danielmalongi nitrogencyclingandmassbalanceintheworldsmangroveforests |