Benthic microbial decomposition in the Pichavaram mangroves, India

Rates and pathways of microbial decomposition were measured in 4 stands of mangrove forest in Pichavaram, Vellar-Coleroon estuarine complex, Tamil Nadu, India.Rates of total carbon oxidation were assessed. Measurements of fluxes of total carbon oxidation (Tcox), dissolved O2, and inorganic nutrients (nitrite, nitrate, ammonium, phophate, silicate) were made across the soil-water interface.Net rates of iron and manganese reduction were estimated with a core-incubation method. Sulphate reductions were measured using core injection technique.Data variables from the sites (2 disturbed and 2 undisturbed mangrove stands) cover sample depths, the seasons (wet/monsoon and dry/post-monsoon). Pore water samples were measured for: salinity (as practical salinity units), water content, surface soil temperature, and metal concentrations (micromolar for Fe and Mn; millimolar for S). To determine any alterations in biogeochemical activity and the influence of human-induced disturbance on these.To determine rates and pathways of microbial processes to better understand the role of mangroves in global carbon and nitrogen cycling.

在印度泰米尔纳德邦Vellar-Coleroon河口复合体的皮查瓦拉姆（Pichavaram）的4处红树林林分中，测定了微生物分解的速率与途径。本研究评估了总碳氧化速率：在土壤-水界面处测定了总碳氧化（Tcox）、溶解氧以及无机营养盐（亚硝酸盐、硝酸盐、铵盐、磷酸盐、硅酸盐）的通量。采用芯样培养法估算了铁和锰还原的净速率；采用芯样注入技术测定了硫酸盐还原速率。
本次研究的采样站点包含2处受干扰红树林林分与2处未受干扰红树林林分，采集的变量涵盖样品深度、季节类型（湿季/季风季与干季/后季风季）。对孔隙水样品测定了以下指标：盐度（以实用盐度单位计）、含水量、表层土壤温度，以及金属浓度（铁和锰的单位为微摩尔，硫的单位为毫摩尔）。
本研究的核心目标有二：一是明确生物地球化学活性的变化特征，以及人为干扰对其产生的影响；二是测定微生物过程的速率与途径，以深入理解红树林在全球碳氮循环中发挥的生态作用。