Potential denitrification rates in moderately oiled marshes at the Chandeleur Island, July 2015 to February 2016

The Deepwater Horizon oil spill has contributed to significant loss of marsh vegetation. Decreased marsh vegetation habitats can lead to a reduction in organic carbon and other key nutrients available for microbial communities in sediments. Potential denitrification rates were achieved by collecting 0-2 cm and 5-7 cm sediments in vegetated marsh and unvegetated intertidal marsh habitats. Sediments were treated with and without nitrate and rates will be determined using acetylene inhibition technique.