N Cycling Processes Across an Oyster Aquaculture Chronosequence
We started work on this project in the summer of 2014. Our goal is to determine how nitrogen cycling processes change under oyster aquaculture through time. To do this we are using a novel in situ incubation technique to measure sediment oxygen demand as well as fluxes of dissolved inorganic nitrogen and phosphorus. Additionally we are measuring rates of net N2 and N2O fluxes across the sediment water interface to quantify rates of denitrification - an important natural N removing mechanism. We are collaborating with the EPA and with Jim Arnoux of East Beach Oysters.