High-precision measurements of N2 fluxes indicated denitrification occurs within major sedimentary facies in Port Phillip Bay. The dataset includes integrated fluxes of biogenic N2, ammonia, nitrate, and nitrite, showing a stoichiometric C:N ratio of 5.7 in muddy sediments covering about 70% of the seafloor. Denitrifying efficiencies of 75-85% were observed at organic carbon loadings of ~15-25 mmol m-2 day-1.
Use Cases
- Modeling nitrogen removal efficiency in coastal sediments based on denitrification rates of ~1.3 mmol N2 m-2 day-1.
- Assessing water quality impacts based on the return of biologically available ammonium at sites with high organic carbon loadings (>100 mmol m-2 day-1).
- Studying microbial process coupling (ammonification, nitrification, denitrification) in marine sediments.
- Calibrating benthic chamber experiments using 15NO3 tracer data to differentiate in-situ nitrate use from exogenous sources.
Strengths
- Includes high-precision measurements of biogenic N2 fluxes.
- Reports specific denitrification rates (~1.3 mmol N2 m-2 day-1) and efficiencies (75-85%).
- Covers major sedimentary facies, with muddy sediments representing about 70% of the seafloor.
- Provides stoichiometric C:N ratio (5.7) for organic matter in sediments.
Limitations
- Column-level documentation is absent; field semantics must be inferred after download.
- Row count is unknown, which may limit suitability assessment.
- Last updated 2026-05-14 04:58:03.353935; freshness should be verified.
Provenance
- Source
- Geoscience Australia Data
- Collection Method
- Direct determinations from benthic chamber water measurements and isotopic tracer (15NO3) experiments.
- Geography
- Port Phillip Bay