SBC LTER : Reef: Dissolved nitrogen fluxes from kelp forest sediment

Permeable marine sediments are biogeochemically active and may contribute dissolved nutrients to support primary production in coastal regions. This study examined the potential of permeable marine sediments near giant kelp forests in the Santa Barbara Channel, California to serve as a source of dissolved nutrients to the overlying water column to support the observed growth of kelp during summer months when nitrate availability is low. Over the course of three summers (2017-2019) sediment cores were collected at three nearshore kelp forest sites (ABUR, MICR, GOLB), and flow-through bioreactor incubations were conducted to measure nutrient fluxes. Data are contained in two tables: 1) changes in nutrient concentrations measured over the course of both control (seawater only) and experimental (seawater + sediment) incubations (µM hr-1) and 2) net fluxes of nutrients from sediments (µmol m-2 hr-1). This data package is to support manuscript “Lowman H., Hirsch M., Brezinkski M., and Melack J. Examining the Potential of Sandy Marine Sediments Surrounding Giant Kelp Forests to Provide Recycled Nutrients for Growth. Journal of Coastal Research.”