La Tour du Valat

Institut de recherche pour la conservation des zones humides méditerranéennes

Titre :	Microbial activity profiles in Tagus estuary salt marsh sediments
Auteurs :	Ana Luisa Costa, Auteur ; M. Carolino, Auteur ; I. Caçador, Auteur
Type de document :	Article
Dans :	Hydrobiologia (587 AUG 2007)
Article en page(s) :	169-175
Résumé :	This study provides some results about microbial activity in salt marsh sediments. Microbial activity was determined by profiling extracellular enzyme activities in three Tagus estuary marshes and in two sediments horizons: surface layer (0-2 cm) and depth (8-10 cm). Five enzymatic activities were examined (beta-glucosidase, cellulase, alkaline phosphatase, potential nitrification and nitrate reductase). All extracellular enzymatic activities were highest in the surface layer and decreased with depth. beta-glucosidase and alkaline phosphatase prevailed both in surface sediments (1150 and 1200 eta mol h(-1) g(-1), respectively) and in deeper sediments (150 and 200 eta mol h(-1) g(-1), respectively). Microbial activities differed significantly between salt marshes. The marsh location in the estuary seemed to contribute to these differences: marshes located in the proximity of urbanised and industrial areas had higher microbial activities.

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