Unveiling active nitrate and nitrite cycling in a eutrophic coastal bay, southern China from a dual isotope perspective

Abstract

Increased nutrient loading in coastal waters poses a threat to marine ecosystems. To develop effective management strategies, a clearer understanding of nitrogen cycle dynamics for the main species is crucial for understudied urbanized areas. By employing stable isotopes of nitrate (δ¹⁵N and δ¹⁸O) and the rarely reported nitrite isotopes, we found a decoupling between physical mixing and microbial transformative processes in the Xiamen Bay. During the dry season, dominated by endmember mixing, the SIAR (Stable Isotope Analysis in R) model identifies manure (50%) as the primary nitrate source, followed by fertilizer, sewage, and rainfall. Microbial processes govern nitrogen cycling during the wet season, as evidenced by the relatively low ε value (∼2.4‰) using the Rayleigh fractionation model. This likely reflects distinct environmental conditions in coastal waters compared to the open ocean, such as limited light and iron availability. Nitrite isotope ratios implicate ammonia oxidation and nitrite oxidation as the primary drivers of nitrite variability during the wet season. This suggests that seasonal nitrite accumulation in summer may result from a decoupling of these processes in response to temperature fluctuations. Theoretical calculations of the nitrite reservoir, based on key parameters like temperature and substrate concentration, further support this argument. Our findings highlight the highly dynamic nature of nitrate and nitrite cycling in coastal environments. This underscores the need for further research in these understudied coastal systems, particularly in the context of intensifying human activities and climate change.