Total nitrogen in sediment

Total nitrogen in sediment

Source: ICRAM

Introduction

The production of biodeposits (faeces and pseudofaeces) due to mussel cultivation, can cause an increase in the total nitrogen concentrations in the sediment underneath mussel lines (Chamberlain, 2002; Aleffi et al., in press). In a recent study (Christensen et al., 2003) observed higher C/N ratios in surface sediments underneath mussel lines as compared to a reference site. The same is true for sediments underlying intensive fish farms, since the major fish species reared are carnivores that require high protein (= high nitrogen content) diets.

Procedure

Sampling, sample processing and analysis are identical to those described for organic carbon determination (above), but without the acidification steps.

References

Aleffi, I.F., Bettoso, N., Solis-Weiss, V., Tamberlich, F., Predonzani, S., Fonda-Umani, S., submitted to ICES – Journal of Marine Science. Effects of suspended mussel culture on the macrozoobenthos in the Gulf of Trieste (Northern Adriatic Sea, Italy).

Chamberlain, J., 2002. Modelling the environmental Impacts of Suspended Mussel (Mytilus edulis L.) Farming. Ph-D Thesis, Napier Univeristy, Edimburgh.

Christensen, P.B., Glud, R.N., Dalsgaard, T., Gillespie, P., 2003. Impacts of longline mussel farming on oxygen and nitrogen dynamics and biological communities of coastal sediments. Aquaculture 218: 567-588.