This protocol handbook has been prepared in order to standardise sampling, analysis and calculations within the project "Nitrogen Cycling in Estuaries" (NICE). The protocol handbook is based on a workshop held from 30 September to 9 October, 1996 at the Aarhus University, Marine Biology Field Station in Rønbjerg, Denmark. The project aimed at investigating benthic nitrogen cycling in shallow coastal European waters with special emphasis on nitrogen removal via denitrification. In order to elucidate the regulating mechanisms for denitrification on a European scale a number of other variables and processes were also measured. Two of the major variables on a European scale affecting nitrogen cycling were expected to be tidal amplitude and climate and sites were selected to represent these differences. The sediments of shallow waters are very often inhabited by benthic primary producers and previous studies indicated that they have the capacity to control the sediment nitrogen cycling. One of the major aims of the project was therefore to investigate the role of benthic primary producers on the sediment nitrogen cycle. The benthic primary producers were divided into three functional groups: the benthic microalgae, the floating macroalgae and the rooted macrophytes. The experimental procedures needed to measure nitrogen cycling and associated variables in these three groups of primary producers are very different. Therefore there is a chapter for each of the groups detailing the experimental procedures. The chemical analysis and calculations are the same for all the groups and they are dealt with in the next chapters.
Protocol handbook for NICE - Nitrogen Cycling in Estuaries: a project under the EU research programme: Marine Science and Technology (MAST III)
CASTALDELLI, Giuseppe;
2000
Abstract
This protocol handbook has been prepared in order to standardise sampling, analysis and calculations within the project "Nitrogen Cycling in Estuaries" (NICE). The protocol handbook is based on a workshop held from 30 September to 9 October, 1996 at the Aarhus University, Marine Biology Field Station in Rønbjerg, Denmark. The project aimed at investigating benthic nitrogen cycling in shallow coastal European waters with special emphasis on nitrogen removal via denitrification. In order to elucidate the regulating mechanisms for denitrification on a European scale a number of other variables and processes were also measured. Two of the major variables on a European scale affecting nitrogen cycling were expected to be tidal amplitude and climate and sites were selected to represent these differences. The sediments of shallow waters are very often inhabited by benthic primary producers and previous studies indicated that they have the capacity to control the sediment nitrogen cycling. One of the major aims of the project was therefore to investigate the role of benthic primary producers on the sediment nitrogen cycle. The benthic primary producers were divided into three functional groups: the benthic microalgae, the floating macroalgae and the rooted macrophytes. The experimental procedures needed to measure nitrogen cycling and associated variables in these three groups of primary producers are very different. Therefore there is a chapter for each of the groups detailing the experimental procedures. The chemical analysis and calculations are the same for all the groups and they are dealt with in the next chapters.I documenti in SFERA sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
