Abstract:

We measured nitrification potential and denitrification potential in four marshes in Terrebonne Bay every 2 to 3 months beginning in March 2013 and continuing through April 2014. Two of the sites were oiled following the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill, and the remaining two sites were unoiled. At each site we sampled along a 20-m transect from the marsh edge collecting soil cores at 5-m intervals (5, 10, 15, and 20 m). In addition to nitrification and denitrification, we measured the abundances of ammonia-oxidizing archaea, ammonia-oxidizing bacteria, denitrification bacteria, and a variety of soil properties.

Suggested Citation:

Roberts, Brian and John Marton. 2016. Nitrification and denitrification potential of marsh soils, Terrebonne Bay (LA), 2013-2014. Distributed by: GRIIDC, Harte Research Institute, Texas A&M University–Corpus Christi. doi:10.7266/N7KS6PHW

Publications:

Schutte, C. A., Marton, J. M., Bernhard, A. E., Giblin, A. E., & Roberts, B. J. (2020). No Evidence for Long-term Impacts of Oil Spill Contamination on Salt Marsh Soil Nitrogen Cycling Processes. Estuaries and Coasts. doi:10.1007/s12237-020-00699-z

Purpose:

This dataset was developed as part of a research project investigating the effects of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill on salt marsh biogeochemistry. This particular project was directed to determine the seasonal and spatial patterns of nitrification, denitrification, and microbial abundance in oiled and unoiled marshes.

Data Parameters and Units:

Region- TB (Terrebonne Bay) Site- Site Identifier (1-4) Latitude (decimal degrees) Longitude (decimal degrees) Oil status- Indicates whether the marsh received Macondo Oil (Oiled) or not (Unoiled) Plot- Location along sampling transect Distance (m)—Distance from marsh edge Month- Month of collection Year- Year of collection Incubation salinity--salinity soils incubated at to determine rates (psu) Nitrification potential (nM NO3+ per dry gram of soil per day) Denitrification potential (nM N2O per dry gram of soil per day) determined via denitrification enzyme assays AOA abundance—abundance of ammonia-oxidizing archaea (amoA gene copies gdw-1) in the top 5 cm of soil AOB abundance—abundance of ammonia-oxidizing bacteria (amoA gene copies gdw-1) in the top 5 cm of soil Denitrifier abundance—abundance of denitrifying bacteria (nirS gene copies / gdw) in the top 5cm of soil pH- Soil pH at time of collection in the top 5cm of soil Bulk density- soil bulk density (grams per cubic centimeter) in the top 5cm of soil Organic C- Soil organic carbon (%) in the top 5cm of soil Total N- Soil total nitrogen (%) in the top 5cm of soil Total P- Soil total phosphorus (µg of phosphorus per dry gram of soil) in the top 5cm of soil C:N- Soil carbon to nitrogen ratio (mol:mol) in the top 5cm of soil N:P- Soil nitrogen to phosphorus ratio (mol:mol) in the top 5cm of soil C:P- Soil carbon to phosphorus ratio (mol:mol) in the top 5cm of soil Water Content- Gravimetric soil water content (%) in the top 5cm of soil Extractable NO3-N- Potassium chloride extractable soil nitrate concentration (nM NO3-N per dry gram of soil) in the top 5cm of soil Extractable NH4-N- Potassium chloride extractable soil ammonium concentration (nM NH4-N per dry gram of soil) in the top 5cm of soil Extractable PO4-P- Sodium bicarbonate extractable soil phosphate concentration (nM PO4-P per dry gram of soil) in the top 5cm of soil

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