Bottom trawling reduces benthic denitrification and has the potential to influence the global nitrogen cycle

Angus J. P. Ferguson; Joanne Oakes; Bradley D. Eyre

doi:10.1002/lol2.10150

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Bottom trawling reduces benthic denitrification and has the potential to influence the global nitrogen cycle

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Bottom trawling reduces benthic denitrification and has the potential to influence the global nitrogen cycle

Angus J. P. Ferguson, Joanne Oakes and Bradley D. Eyre

Limnology and oceanography letters, Vol.5(3), pp.237-245

06/2020

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/lol2.10150

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Abstract

Life Sciences & Biomedicine

Limnology

Marine & Freshwater Biology

Oceanography

Physical Sciences

Science & Technology

Bottom trawling and eutrophication are large stressors that are critically coupled. Here we show, using a before-after control-effect design, the significant reduction in denitrification as a result of experimental bottom trawling in a shallow coastal system. Trawl disturbance destroys the complex three-dimensional redox structures in surface sediments that maximize denitrification potential, resulting in up to a 50% reduction in net denitrification. The decrease in net denitrification also increased after each trawling event suggesting a declining resilience to trawling and eutrophication. Bottom trawling occurs at such a large scale that it could result in significant amounts of nitrogen being retained on the continental shelf. As such, impacts on the global ocean nitrogen cycle and associated eutrophication should be counted among the many negative consequences of extensive seafloor trawling.

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Title: Bottom trawling reduces benthic denitrification and has the potential to influence the global nitrogen cycle
Creators: Angus J. P. Ferguson - Southern Cross University
Joanne Oakes - Southern Cross University
Bradley D. Eyre - Southern Cross University
Publication Details: Limnology and oceanography letters, Vol.5(3), pp.237-245
Publisher: Wiley
Number of pages: 9
Grant note: Queensland Environmental Protection Authority Queensland Department of Primary Industries Healthy Land and Water LP0347801; DP0342956 / ARC; Australian Research Council
Identifiers: 991013104212902368
Copyright: © 2020 The Authors. Limnology and Oceanography Letters published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. on behalf of Association for the Sciences of Limnology and Oceanography. This is an open access article under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).
Academic Unit: Science; Centre for Coastal Biogeochemistry; Faculty of Science and Engineering
Language: English
Resource Type: Journal article

Bottom trawling reduces benthic denitrification and has the potential to influence the global nitrogen cycle

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