Measured and modelled effects of temperature,dissolved oxygen and nutrient concentration on sediment-water nutrient exchange

Empirical models of sediment-water fluxes of NH₄ ⁺, NO₃ ^– were and PO₄ ^3– were formed based on published reports. The models were revised and parameters evaluated based on laboratory incubations of sediments collected from Gunston Cove, VA. Observed fluxes ranged from — 18 (sediments uptake) to 276 (sediment release) mg NH₄ ⁺ m^–2 day^–1, –17 to –509 mg NO₃ ^– m^–2 day^–1, and –16.4 to 8.9 mg PO₄ ^3– m^–2 day^–1. The model and observations indicated release of NH₄ ⁺ was enhanced by high temperature and by low DO. Uptake of NO₃ ^– was enhanced primarily by high NO₃ ^– concentration and to a lesser extent by high temperature and by low DO. Direction of PO₄ ^3– flux depended on concentration in the water. Release was enhanced by low DO. No effect of temperature on PO₄ ^3– flux was observed.     

Spatial and seasonal variation in greenhouse gas and nutrient dynamics and their interactions in the sediments of a boreal eutrophic lake

Dynamics of greenhouse gases, CH₄, CO₂ and N₂O, and nutrients, NO ₂ ^– + NO ₃ ^– , NH ₄ ⁺ and P, were studied in the sediments of the eutrophic, boreal Lake Kevätön in Finland. Undisturbed sediment cores taken in the summer, autumn and winter from the deep and shallow profundal and from the littoral were incubated in laboratory microcosms under aerobic and anaerobic water flow conditions. An increase in the availability of oxygen in water overlying the sediments reduced the release of CH₄, NH ₄ ⁺ and P, increased the flux of N₂O and NO ₂ ^– + NO ₃ ^– , but did not affect CO₂ production. The littoral sediments produced CO₂ and CH₄ at high rates, but released only negligible amounts of nutrients. The deep profundal sediments, with highest carbon content, possessed the greatest release rates of CO₂, CH₄, NH ₄ ⁺ and P. The higher fluxes of these gases in summer and autumn than in winter were probably due to the supply of fresh organic matter from primary production. From the shallow profundal sediments fluxes of CH₄, NH₄ ⁺ and P were low, but, in contrast, production of N₂O was the highest among the different sampling sites. Due to the large areal extension, the littoral and shallow profundal zones had the greatest importance in the overall gas and nutrient budgets in the lake. Methane emissions, especially the ebullition of CH₄ (up to 84% of the total flux), were closely related to the sediment P and NH ₄ ⁺ release. The high production and ebullition of CH₄, enhances the internal loading of nutrients, lake eutrophication status and the impact of boreal lakes to trophospheric gas budgets.     

Intensity of the Microbiological Processes of the Methane Cycle in Different Types of Baltic Lakes

The intensity of the microbiological processes of methane formation (MF) and methane oxidation (MO) was determined in the sediments and water of different types of Baltic lakes. The emission of methane from the lake sediments and methane distribution in the water column of the lakes were studied as functions of the lake productivity and hydrologic conditions. During summers, the intensity of MF in the lake sediments and waters varied from 0.001 to 106 ml CH₄/(dm³ day) and from 0 to 3.2 ml CH₄/(l day), respectively, and the intensity of MO in the sediments and water varied from 0 to 11.2 ml CH₄/(dm³ day) and from 0 to 1.1 ml CH₄/(l day), respectively. The total methane production (MP) in the lakes varied from 15 to 5000 ml CH₄/(m² day). In anoxic waters, the MP comprised 9–18% of the total PM in the lakes. The consumption of organic carbon for methanogenesis varied from 0.03 to 9.7 g/(m² day). The role of the methane cycle in the degradation of organic matter in the lakes increased with their productivity.     

Selenate Reduction to Elemental Selenium by Anaerobic Bacteria in Sediments and Culture: Biogeochemical Significance of a Novel, Sulfate-Independent Respiration

Interstitial water profiles of SeO₄²⁻, SeO₃²⁻, SO₄²⁻, and Cl⁻ in anoxic sediments indicated removal of the seleno-oxyanions by a near-surface process unrelated to sulfate reduction. In sediment slurry experiments, a complete reductive removal of SeO₄²⁻ occurred under anaerobic conditions, was more rapid with H₂ or acetate, and was inhibited by O₂, NO₃⁻, MnO₂, or autoclaving but not by SO₄²⁻ or FeOOH. Oxidation of acetate in sediments could be coupled to selenate but not to molybdate. Reduction of selenate to elemental selenium was determined to be the mechanism for loss from solution. Selenate reduction was inhibited by tungstate and chromate but not by molybdate. A small quantity of the elemental selenium precipitated into sediments from solution could be resolublized by oxidation with either nitrate or FeOOH, but not with MnO₂. A bacterium isolated from estuarine sediments demonstrated selenate-dependent growth on acetate, forming elemental selenium and carbon dioxide as respiratory end products. These results indicate that dissimilatory selenate reduction to elemental selenium is the major sink for selenium oxyanions in anoxic sediments. In addition, they suggest application as a treatment process for removing selenium oxyanions from wastewaters and also offer an explanation for the presence of selenite in oxic waters.     

Heterotrophic microbial activity in shallow aquifer sediments of Long Island,New York

Bacterial numbers and activities (as estimated by glucose uptake and total thymidine incorporation) were investigated at two sites in Long Island, New York aquifer sediments. In general, bacterial activities were higher in shallow (1.5–4.5 m below the water table or BWT), oxic sediments than in deep (10–18 m BWT), anoxic sediments. The average total glucose uptake rates were 0.18 ± 0.10 ng gdw^–1 h^–1 in shallow sediments and 0.09 ± 0.11 ng gdw^–1 h^–1 in deep sediments; total thymidine incorporation rates were 0.10 ± 0.13 pmol gdw^–1 h^–1 and 0.03 ± 0.03 pmol gdw^–1 h^–1 in shallow and deep sediments, respectively. Incorporation of glucose was highly efficient, as only about 10% of added label was recovered as CO₂. Bacterial abundance (estimated from acridine orange direct counts) was 2.5 ± 2.0 × 10⁷ cells gdw^–1 and 2.0 ± 1.3 × 10⁷ cells gdw^–1 in shallow and deep sediments, respectively. These bacterial activity and abundance estimates are similar to values found in other aquifer environments, but are 10- to 1000-fold lower than values in soil or surface sediment of marine and estuarine systems. In general, cell specific microbial activities were lower in sites from Connetquot Park, a relatively pristine site, when compared to activities found in sites from Jamesport, which has had a history of aldicarb (a pesticide) contamination. To our knowledge, this is the first report of bacterial activity measurements in the shallow, sandy aquifers of Long Island, New York.Correspondence to: D.G. Capone     

Relation between phosphate and organic matter in fish-pond sediments of the Deroua fish farm (Béni-Mellal, Morocco): implications for pond management

An experimental approach of the phosphate exchange across the water–sediment interface in fish ponds of the Deroua farm (Béni-Mellal, Morocco) is needed to understand the phosphate dynamics in these ponds in relation to their water quality. During this study, we conducted experiments to determine the P-fractions of the different pond sediments and to estimate the release from these sediments of phosphate available for algal uptake. We also determined the amount of phosphate needed to saturate the sediments of two different fish ponds under anoxic and oxic conditions. Phosphate release from sediments comes mainly from Fe(OOH)P and is more important in ponds lined with sheets. The accumulation of organic matter in sediments favours the installation of anoxic conditions and enhances the phosphate release from CaCO₃P, labile in these pond sediments. Under experimental conditions, org-P plays a minor role in the P-release. Oxic conditions, to the contrary, have an inhibitory effect on the P-release from sediments. About 80–98% of the P-adsorbed onto different pond sediments was recovered in the inorg-P-fractions. Aeration induces the oxidation of FeS to Fe(OOH) which can adsorb phosphate from solution. Besides, the presence of bacteria in pond sediments was essential to promote phosphate release under anoxic conditions by controlling the oxidation state of iron and the mineralization of the organic matter. Sheet-lined ponds, when insufficiently dried, accumulate a large quantity of organic matter in their sediments. After a decrease in pH, P is released from CaCO₃P and enhances the phytoplankton productivity responsible for renewed accumulation of organic matter. Org-C concentrations in sediments over 20 mg g^–1 d.w. favour the formation of toxic factors (Fe²⁺, Mn²⁺, NO₂ ^– and H₂S) harmful for carp growth. An extended period of drying efficiently enhances the mineralization of organic matter.     

Emission and oxidation of methane in Equisetum fluviatile stands growing on organic sediment and sand bottoms

Methane emission and rhizospheric CH₄ oxidation were studied in stands of Equisetum fluviatile, a common cryptogam in boreal lakes. The experiment was performed in mesocosms with organic sediment or sand bottoms under natural variation of temperature and light using the light-oxic – dark-anoxic chamber (LO/DA) technique. Net CH₄ emission from the organic sediment during the growing season varied between 3.4 and 19.0 mg m^–2 h^–1, but from sand the net CH₄ emission was only 3–10% of that measured from the organic sediment. In the organic sediment net CH₄ emission was very significantly correlated with sediment temperature (r² = 0.92). In the sand mesocosms the variation of net CH₄ emission was better correlated with the shoot biomass than with sediment temperature variation during the growing season, indicating that methanogens were severely limited by substrate availability and were probably dependent on substrates produced by E. fluviatile. The proportion of the methane oxidized of the potential CH₄ emission in summer did not differ significantly between the bottom types. The net CH₄ emission during the growing season as a proportion of the seasonal maximum of the shoot biomass was significantly higher in the organic sediment mesocosms (6.5%) than in sand (1.7%). The high CH₄ emissions observed from dense well-established E. fluviatile stands in the field appear to be more related to temperature-regulated turnover of detritus in the anaerobic sediment and less to CH₄ oxidation and seasonal variation in plant growth dynamics     

Organic matter diagenesis at the oxic/anoxic interface in coastal marine sediments,with emphasis on the role of burrowing animals

The present paper reviews the current knowledge on diagenetic carbon transformations at the oxic/anoxic interface in coastal marine sediments. Oxygen microelectrodes have revealed that most coastal sediments are covered only by a thin oxic surface layer. The penetration depth of oxygen into sediments is controlled by the balance between downward transport and consumption processes. Consumption of oxygen is directly or indirectly caused by respiration of benthic organisms. Aerobic organisms have the enzymatic capacity for complete oxidation of organic carbon. Anaerobic decay occurs stepwise, involving several types of bacteria. Large organic molecules are first fermented into small moieties. These are then oxidized completely by anaerobic respirers using a sequence of electron acceptors: Mn⁴⁺, NO₃ ^-, Fe³⁺, SO₄ ^2- and CO₂. The quantitative role of each electron acceptor depends on the sediment type and water depth. Since most of the sediment oxygen uptake is due to reoxidation of reduced metabolites, aerobic respiration is of limited importance. It has been suggested that sediments contain three major organic fractions: (1) fresh material that is oxidized regardless of oxygen conditions; (2) oxygen sensitive material that is only degraded in the presence of oxygen; and (3) totally refractory organic matter. Processes occurring at the oxic/anoxic boundaries are controlled by a number of factors. The most important are: (1) temperature, (2) organic supply, (3) light, (4) water currents, and (5) bioturbation. The role of bioturbation is important because the infauna creates a three-dimensional mosaic of oxic/anoxic interfaces in sediments. The volume of oxic burrow walls may be several times the volume of oxic surface sediment. The infauna increases the capacity, but not the overall organic matter decay in sediments, thus decreasing the pool of reactive organic matter. The increase in decay capacity is partly caused by injection of oxygen into the sediment, and thereby enhancing the decay of old, oxygen sensitive organic matter several fold. Finally, some future research directions to improve our understanding of diagenetic processes at the oxic/anoxic interface are suggested.     

Oxygenation of anoxic sediments triggers hatching of zooplankton eggs

Many coastal marine systems have extensive areas with anoxic sediments and it is not well known how these conditions affect the benthic–pelagic coupling. Zooplankton lay their eggs in the pelagic zone, and some sink and lie dormant in the sediment, before hatched zooplankton return to the water column. In this study, we investigated how oxygenation of long-term anoxic sediments affects the hatching frequency of dormant zooplankton eggs. Anoxic sediments from the brackish Baltic Sea were sampled and incubated for 26 days with constant aeration whereby, the sediment surface and the overlying water were turned oxic. Newly hatched rotifers and copepod nauplii (juveniles) were observed after 5 and 8 days, respectively. Approximately 1.5 × 10⁵ nauplii m⁻² emerged from sediment turned oxic compared with 0.02 × 10⁵ m⁻² from controls maintained anoxic. This study demonstrated that re-oxygenation of anoxic sediments activated a large pool of buried zooplankton eggs, strengthening the benthic–pelagic coupling of the system. Modelling of the studied anoxic zone suggested that a substantial part of the pelagic copepod population can derive from hatching of dormant eggs. We suggest that this process should be included in future studies to understand population dynamics and carbon flows in marine pelagic systems.     

Nitrogen transformations in microenvironments of river beds and riparian zones

The soil of flooded riparian zones, the rhizosphere of riparian plants, biofilms at solid surfaces in the river, and the surface layer of sediments all constitute important environments for the oxidative or reductive transformations of inorganic nitrogen compounds. The exact microzonation and coupling of the processes have recently been studied intensively with ¹⁵N enrichment methods and microsensors for NH₄⁺, NO₂⁻, NO₃⁻, and N₂O. Microsensor analyses of gradients in sediments and biofilms have shown that nitrate production takes place in an aerobic surface zone that has a maximum thickness of a few millimeters in most shallow-water sediments and may be as thin as 100 μm in biofilms from very eutrophic environments. In the anoxic zone, denitrification is also concentrated in a zone of maximum a few millimeters, and typically half of the nitrate produced by nitrification is denitrified while the other half escapes to the water. The supply of nitrate from above is primarily controlled by the oxic layer acting as a diffusion barrier, and therefore denitrification is generally a linear function of the nitrate concentration in the water. The overlying water is thus a much more important source of nitrate for denitrification if the concentration is high. The rate and location of denitrification are also affected by bioturbating animals, benthic microphytes, plants, and bacteria performing dissimilatory nitrate reduction to ammonium (DNRA).     

Phosphorus metabolism in coral reef communities: exchange between the water column and bottom biotopes

Exchange of phosphate between components of the reef bottom and the water column were studied on reefs around Heron Island (Great Barrier Reef), both in aquaria and in in situ enclosures, using radioactive phosphorus (³²P) as a tracer. Living corals, dead corals, coral rubble overgrown with periphyton, and soft sediments of coral sand were used in experiments. In all of these components of bottom reef biotopes, two opposite flows of inorganic phosphate were recorded and measured, i.e. the rate of PO₄-P uptake from water (A_c), and its release (A_e). At ambient PO₄-P concentrations in water of 0.1– 0.3 µmoll^–1, both flows varied in living corals and coral rubble between 10 and 70 µg P kg^–1 h^–1, 3–10 mg P m^–2 day^–1, and in coral sand between 10 and 30 µg P kg^–1 h^–1, or 2–7 mg P m^–2 day^–1. Under the latter concentration range (which is typical for coral reef areas), the reciprocal PO₄-P flows almost balanced each other, so that net uptake (A_t) was very low. Often it approached zero or was positive, showing that a net PO₄-P release had taken place. The uptake flow (A_c) in living coral was much more dependent on the PO₄-P content in overlying water than was the release flow (A_e). The influence of conditions of illumination upon the values of A_c and A_e was comparatively low. The data obtained are used to discuss problems of phosphorus balance and dynamics in coral reef ecosystems.     

Porewater acid/base chemistry in near-shore regions of an acidic lake

Sediment porewaters in the near-shore region (within 1 m of the shoreline) of an acidic lake (Dart's Lake) were monitored during the summer of 1983 to investigate whether spatial variations in porewater acid/base chemistry were significant in this region of the lake. Previous investigations of Dart's Lake porewaters have indicated that within deeper waters (>2m depth), sediment porewaters are elevated in alkalinity relative to overlying lake water. Within the near-shore region, porewaters both considerably more and less acidic than the lake water were observed. Both reduction of strong acid anions (SO₄ ^2–, NO₃ ^–) and the mobilization of base cations were significant mechanisms of alkalinity production in porewaters exhibiting reducing conditions. In sediments reflecting oxic conditions, porewaters were generally more acidic than the lakewater. Measurement of groundwater seepage into the lake at the near-shore sites indicated that oxic sites exhibited elevated inputs of groundwater when compared to sites where reducing conditions existed. The acidic porewaters associated with high groundwater flows suggests that groundwater inputs to the lake may be a source of acidity (not alkalinity) on a whole-lake basis.     

No Longer a Paradox: The Interaction Between Physical Transport and Biological Processes Explains the Spatial Distribution of Surface Water Methane Within and Across Lakes

Lakes play an important role in the global carbon cycle, emitting significant amounts of the carbonic greenhouse gases, CO₂ and methane (CH₄). Nearly all lake studies have reported oxygenated surface waters oversaturated with (and thus continuously emitting) CH₄, yet no consistent explanation exists to account for why CH₄, which is produced in anoxic zones and consumed in the presence of oxygen, remains in oxic waters across the range of lake sizes. Here, we developed a physical model that defines the spatial CH₄ distribution in the surface waters of lakes as a function of CH₄ transport from the littoral zone including air–water gas exchange, and tested this in a set of 14 lakes that ranged widely in size (0.07–19,000 km²). Although the model adequately resolved the overall CH₄ decline within a lake relative to distance from shore across the range of lake sizes, discrepancies between observations and predictions suggest that other processes modulate surface CH₄ distributions. Coupled trends in the stable carbon isotopic signature of CH₄ further indicate that the spatial pattern in 30% of the lakes was dominated by a net loss via oxidation, whereas a net input of ¹³C-depleted CH₄ dominated the spatial pattern in 70% of the lakes, suggesting the predominance of pelagic CH₄ production in the oxic epilimnia of these lakes. The spatial patterns imposed by the interaction between physical and biological processes may result in a size-dependent underestimation of whole-lake CH₄ emissions when based on center samples. Whereas the actual contributions of oxidation and eplimnetic CH₄ production are still not well understood, our results demonstrate that the ubiquitous CH₄ oversaturation observed in most lakes can be explained through the interaction between horizontal transport of littoral CH₄, air–water gas exchange and the balance between epilimnetic CH₄ oxidation and production.     

Seasonal variation of methane emissions from a temperate swamp

Methane flux measurements were made at four sites in a freshwater temperate swamp over the 13 month period of April 1985 through May 1986. Emissions were highly variable both between sites and over time at any one site. Ebullition from sediments was an important component of methane release. Although release of methane through bubbling occurred in only 19% of the measurements made between April and June 1985, when instrumentation allowed us to separate diffusive and bubble fluxes, ebullition accounted for 34% of the total flux during this period. Methane release rates showed a strong seasonal variation, with highest emission rates observed in early spring and again in late summer, which was associated with changes in plant growth and physiology. Emission rates were partially correlated with sediment temperature, but the relationship was not straightforward, and resembled a step function. Emissions responded strongly to temperature change through the range of 10–16°C. At winter sediment temperatures between 4–9°C, CH₄ flux continued at low rates (0–28 mg CH₄ m^–2d^–1; average = 7.9 mg CH₄m^–2d^–1) and appeared insensitive to changes in sediment temperature. Annual methane emission from three constantly flooded sites (mean water depth = 35 cm) was 43.7 +/- 7.8 gm^–2 (standard error); annual flux from a bank site was 41.4 +/- 20.5 gm^–2. A comparison of flux measurements from fresh and saline wetlands in the immediate area of Newport News Swamp emphasizes the importance of edaphic factors in controlling flux.     

Methane emissions from a full-scale A/A/O wastewater treatment plant

Methane (CH₄) emissions from a full-scale anaerobic/anoxic/oxic (A/A/O) wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) (Jinan, China) were investigated during spring and summer of 2010. Results showed that the major emission sources of CH₄ performed the following descending order: anaerobic tanks, oxic tanks, aerated grit chambers and sludge concentration tanks. The total annual fluxes of CH₄ emissions from the Jinan WWTP were 1.69 × 10⁴ kg yr⁻¹, with the emission factors of per capita emissions of 11.3 g CH₄ person⁻¹ yr⁻¹ and flow-based emissions of 1.55 × 10⁻⁴ g CH₄ (L of wastewater)⁻¹. The estimated source strength of methane for all WWTPs in China was 6.2 Gg yr⁻¹ (1 Gg = 10⁹ g). The most significant factors influencing methane emissions were dissolved oxygen concentration in aerated grit chamber and oxic tank and water temperature in high density settler tanks.     

Winter CO2 CH4 and N2O fluxes on some natural and drained boreal peatlands

CO₂ and CH₄ fluxes during the winter were measured at natural and drained bog and fen sites in eastern Finland using both the closed chamber method and calculations of gas diffusion along a concentration gradient through the snowpack. The snow diffusion results were compared with those obtained by chamber, but the winter flux estimates were derived from chamber data only. CH₄ emissions from a poor bog were lower than those from an oligotrophic fen, while both CO₂ and CH₄ fluxes were higher in theCarex rostrata- occupied marginal (lagg) area of the fen than in the slightly less fertile centre. Average estimated winter CO₂-C losses from virgin and drained forested peatlands were 41 and 68 g CO₂-C m^–2, respectively, accounting for 23 and 21% of the annual total CO₂ release from the peat. The mean release of CH₄-C was 1.0 g in natural bogs and 3.4 g m^–2 in fens, giving rise to winter emissions averaging to 22% of the annual emission from the bogs and 10% of that from the fens. These wintertime carbon gas losses in Finnish natural peatlands were even greater than reported average long-term annual C accumulation values (less than 25g C m^–2). The narrow range of 10–30% of the proportion of winter CO₂ and CH₄ emissions from annual emissions found in Finnish peatlands suggest that a wider generalization in the boreal zone is possible. Drained forested bogs emitted 0.3 g CH₄-C m^–2 on the average, while the effectively drained fens consumed an average of 0.01 g CH₄-C m^–2. Reason for the low CH₄. efflux or net oxidation in drained peatlands probably lies in low substrate supply and thus low CH₄ production in the anoxic deep peat layers. N₂O release from a fertilized grassland site in November–May was 0.7 g N₂O m^–2, accounting for 38% of the total annual emission, while a forested bog released none and two efficiently drained forested fens 0.09 (28% of annual release) and 0.04 g N₂O m^–2 (27%) during the winter, respectively.     

Pore water nutrient profiles and dynamics in soft bottoms of the northern Baltic Sea

Chemical profiles of nutrients at the sediment–water interface were measured in the northern Baltic Sea. A whole core squeezer technique capable of mm-scale resolution was used to obtain the vertical profiles of NO₃ ^–, NO₂ ^–, o-P, NH₄ ⁺ and Si in the soft bottom sediments. The profiles were compared with nutrient flux and denitrification measurements. In the Gulf of Finland, the profiles revealed a marked chemical zonation in NO₃ ^– and NO₂ ^– distribution indicating strong potential of nitrification just under the sediment surface followed by a layer of denitrification down to a depth of 30 mm. Below the depth of 20 mm NO₃ ^– was usually absent, whereas other nutrients were increasing steadily in concentration. A distinct minimum of NO₃ ^– was observed at the sediment–water interface, suggesting NO₃ ^– uptake by a microbial biofilm and/or active denitrification at the suboxic microniches usually present in organic-rich sediments. At the deep stations in the Baltic Proper, the NO₃ ^– concentration in pore water, as well as denitrification, were very low. The concentrations of NH₄ ⁺, o-P and Si were usually increasing steadily with depth.     

Seasonal microbial activity in Antarctic freshwater lake sediments

Summary Seasonal fluctuations in population numbers and activity were monitored in bottom sediments of oligotrophic Moss Lake, mesotrophic Heywood Lake and eutrophic Amos Lake on Signy Island, South Orkney Islands, during 1976–78. Heywood and Amos Lakes became anoxic under winter ice cover (8–10 months) and significant populations of facultatively anaerobic heterotrophs and sulphate-reducing bacteria developed. In contrast, Moss Lake surface sediments never became anoxic and anaerobic bacteria were virtually absent. Direct microscopic counts and viable plate counts fluctuated relatively little in Moss Lake throughout the study period, whereas distinct seasonality was observed in the more enriched lake systems. Similarly, measurements of oxygen consumption and dark ¹⁴CO₂ uptake by mud cores indicated no obvious seasonal fluctuations in Moss Lake data, in contrast to the marked seasonal pattern observed in data from the other lakes. In these latter systems, oxygen uptake rates were highest in summer (c. 400 mg O₂ m^-2 d^-1) and virtually undetectable in winter. Comparison of oxygen uptake with oxygen concentration and temperature revealed differences, between lakes, in uptake response to oxygen concentration, whereas uptake response to temperature did not differ significantly between lakes. Chemosynthetic production in the Signy Island lake sediments was in the range 1.6–35.3 g C m^-2 (mud surface) d^-1 with highest values recorded in Amos Lake under winter ice cover and anoxic conditions. The findings from this and earlier studies of the three lakes have been assembled to indicate the relative importance of green plants and bacteria to the carbon cycle in these permanently cold systems.     

Effects of a transient oxic period on mineralization of organic matter to CH4 and CO2 in anoxic peat incubations

Rates of organic matter mineralization in peatlands, and hence production of the greenhouse gases CH₄ and CO₂, are highly dependent on the distribution of oxygen in the peat. Using laboratory incubations of peat, we investigated the sensitivity of the anoxic production of CH₄ and CO₂ to a transient oxic period of a few weeks’ duration. Production rates during 3 successive anoxic periods were compared with rates in samples incubated in the presence of oxygen during the second period. In surface peat (5–10‐cm depth), with an initially high level of CH₄ production, oxic conditions during period 2 did not result in a lower potential CH₄ production rate during period 3, although production was delayed ～1 week. In permanently anoxic, deep peat (50–55‐cm depth) with a comparatively low initial production of CH₄, oxic conditions during period 2 resulted in zero production of CH₄ during period 3. Thus, the methanogens in surface peal—but not in deep peat—remained viable after several weeks of oxic conditions. In contrast to CH₄ production, the oxic period had a negligible effect on anoxic CO₂ production during period 3, in surface as well as deep peat. In both surface and deep peat, CO₂ production was several times higher under oxic than under anoxic conditions. However, for the first 2 weeks of oxic conditions, CO₂ production in the deep peat was very low. Still, deep peat obviously contained facultative microorganisms that, after a relatively short period, were able to maintain a considerably higher rate of organic matter mineralization under oxic than under anoxic conditions.     

Release of fatty acid-binding protein and long chain fatty acids from isolated rat heart after ischemia and subsequent calcium paradox

To obtain insight into the relation between the release of heart-type fatty acid-binding protein (H-FABP_c) and of long-chain fatty acids (FA) from injured cardiac tissue, rat hearts were Langendorff perfused according to the following scheme: 30 min normoxia, 60 min ischemia, 30 min reperfusion, 10 min Ca²⁺ free perfusion and finally 10 min Ca²⁺ repletion. During this protocol right ventricular (Q _rv ) and interstitial effluent samples (Q _i ) were collected at regular intervals. During reperfusion a total of 0.8±0.1 nmol H-FABP_c but no FA were detected in the effluents. However, during Ca²⁺ readmission, 45±4 nmol H-FABP_c (80–90% of total tissue content) was released with an initial (first 3 min) simultaneous release of FA (FA/H-FABP_c ratio 0.90±0.07 mol/mol). Thereafter, FA release continued at 10–15 nmol per min mainly inQ _rv while the rate of H-FABP_c release decreased. During Ca²⁺ repletion, tissue FA content raised rapidly from 168±20 to 1918±107 nmol/g dry weight. These findings suggest that after severe cardiac damage initially FA is released bound to H-FABP_c, whereas further FA release occurs in a non-protein bound manner.