Nutrient fluxes from deep sediment support nutrient budget in the oligotrophic waters of the Gulf of Aqaba |
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| Authors: | Mohammed Rasheed Saber Al-Rousan Riyad Manasrah Fuad Al-Horani |
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| Institution: | (1) Marine Science Station, P.O. Box 195, Aqaba, 77110, Jordan |
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| Abstract: | The role of deep sediment in supporting nutrient budget in the Gulf of Aqaba has been investigated by estimating the flux
of inorganic nitrogen, phosphate and silicate. Fluxes were calculated directly by pore water profiles and indirectly by chamber
incubations carried out onboard the RV Meteor cruise. The results showed that maximum potential fluxes calculated by chamber
incubations were higher than those calculated by porewater profiles for all nutrients (6.4–28.5 fold). This has been attributed
to the additional flux due to bioturbation and flux from advective porewater exchange in the case of chamber incubation, while
porewater fluxes represent diffusive ones. Using a rough estimation considering flux results in addition to the sediment area
and water mass of the Gulf of Aqaba, we estimate that 3.3 × 105, 6.4 × 104 and 6.5 × 106 kg year−1 of inorganic nitrogen, phosphate and silicate respectively are effused from deep sediments to the water column. This quanitity
would certainly support the primary productivity in the oligotrophic water in the Gulf of Aqaba. |
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| Keywords: | Nutrients flux sediment porewater Gulf of Aqaba |
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