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Denitrification Rates in a Lake Superior Coastal Wetland
Citation:
KNUTH, M. L. AND J. R. KELLY. Denitrification Rates in a Lake Superior Coastal Wetland . Aquatic Ecosystem Health and Management. Taylor & Francis, Inc., Philadelphia, PA, 14(4):414-421, (2011).
Impact/Purpose:
To document research results.
Description:
In recent years, nitrogen has increased substantially in the Nation’s aquatic ecosystems mainly due to the increased use of fertilizers and land use practices. Denitrification is a process that can potentially mitigate this increased influx of fixed nitrate. Coastal wetlands are often considered places that can facilitate this process but the rates of denitrification remain largely unknown particularly in the Laurentian Great Lakes. It was found that denitrification rates in a Lake Superior coastal wetland are very low and that given the area of these ecosystems with respect to the entire Lake, it is unlikely that coastal wetlands would significantly impact the high levels of nitrate in Lake Superior.