Nitrification rates in the NW Mediterranean Sea

This is the authors' abstract. We don't add key points for this paper.

During spring, ammonium oxidation and nitrite oxidation rates were measured in the NW basin of the Mediterranean Sea, from mesotrophic sites (Ligunan Sea and Gulf of Lions) to oligotrophc sites (Balearic Islands).Nitrification rates (average values for 37 measurements) ranged from 72 to 144 nmol of N oxidised 1-' d-', except in the RhBne River plume area where the rates increased to 264-504 nmol l-' d-' because of the riverine inputs of nitrogen.Maximal rates were located around the peak of nitrite within the nitracline at about 40 to 60 m and just above the phosphacline.At 1 station, relatively high values of nitrification (50 to 130 nmol 1-' d-l) were also measured deep in the water column (240 m).Day-to-day variations were measured demonstrating the response within a few hours to hydrological stress (wind-induced mixing of the water column) and showing the role of hydrological characteristics on the distribution of nitnfication rates.Because of the homogenous temperature (13'C) in the Mediterranean Sea, the spatial (geographical and vertical) fluctuations of nitnfying rates were linked to the presence of substrate due to mineralisation processes and/or Rhbne River inputs.We estimate the contribution of nitrate produced by nitrification to the N demand of phytoplankton to range from 16% at mesotrophic to 61 % at oligotrophic stations KEY WORDS: Mediterranean Sea .Nitrification .