Estimation of oxygen consumption rates by using an oxygen microelectrode in Ganghwa intertidal flat

Abstract

We measured oxygen microprofiles using an oxygen microelectrode in Ganghwa intertidal flat in April and September. Oxygen consumption rate was calculated by using three different methods based on the oxygen microprofiles. The method using the PROFILE software was thought to be the most reliable among the three methods. The oxygen consumption rates calculated at station D1 by using the PROFILE software were 10.5 and 6.27 mmol m-2 d-l in April and September, respectively. At station D2, they were 10.9 mmol m-2 d-l in April and 5.39 mmol m-2 d-1 in September. There was little spatial variation, but large seasonal variation, with almost two times larger values in April than in September. The higher rate in April is ascribed to higher oxygen concentration in the seawater and higher organic carbon content in the surface sediments, which probably accelerate oxygen consumption for organic matter decomposition in the sediments. Aerobic remineralization rates estimated from the oxygen consumption rates ranged from 4.14 to 8.07 mmol C m-2 d-1 in Ganghwa intertidal flat, which were much lower than the anaerobic remineralization rate.