Denitrification rates of saltmarshes in six estuaries in England, September-November 2024
https://doi.org/10.5285/26efc506-a265-4bb1-8296-d6988ab8d714
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We surveyed two salt marshes in each of six estuaries (Solway, Morecambe Bay, Ribble, Humber, Blackwater, Chichester) between September and November 2024 to characterise national differences in denitrification rates and their relationship with potential drivers.
A key ecosystem service in coastal systems is the remediation of nutrient pollution through sediment burial, vegetative uptake and microbial processing. Denitrification is a facultative anaerobic process where microbial activity transforms nitrate (NO3-), which in high concentrations can be environmentally harmful, into the environmentally benign dinitrogen gas (N2). Denitrification's magnitude is considered particularly important in saltmarsh systems compared to other habitats, although an intermediate product, nitrous oxide (N2O), can also be given off and contribute to climate change.
A key ecosystem service in coastal systems is the remediation of nutrient pollution through sediment burial, vegetative uptake and microbial processing. Denitrification is a facultative anaerobic process where microbial activity transforms nitrate (NO3-), which in high concentrations can be environmentally harmful, into the environmentally benign dinitrogen gas (N2). Denitrification's magnitude is considered particularly important in saltmarsh systems compared to other habitats, although an intermediate product, nitrous oxide (N2O), can also be given off and contribute to climate change.
Publication date: 2026-01-19
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Format
Comma-separated values (CSV)
Spatial information
Study area
Spatial representation type
Tabular (text)
Spatial reference system
WGS 84
Temporal information
Temporal extent
2024-09-01 to 2024-11-30
Provenance & quality
We surveyed two salt marshes in each of six estuaries (Solway, Morecambe Bay, Ribble, Humber, Blackwater, Chichester) between September and November 2024 to characterise national differences in denitrification rates and their relationship with potential drivers.
A combination of classic vegetation survey techniques, core extraction, and subsequent laboratory processing were used to quantify relative variation in denitrification rates across environmental contexts.
A combination of classic vegetation survey techniques, core extraction, and subsequent laboratory processing were used to quantify relative variation in denitrification rates across environmental contexts.
Licensing and constraints
This dataset is available under the terms of the Open Government Licence 
Cite this dataset as:
Perring, M.P.; Aberg, D.; de la Barra, P.; Marshall-Potter, S.; Oswald, T.; McMahon, L.; Mossman, H.; Harley, J.; Spill, J.; Oakley, S.; Ebuele, V.; Lebron, I.; Tandy, S.; Burden, A.; Dunn, C.; Garbutt, A. (2026). Denitrification rates of saltmarshes in six estuaries in England, September-November 2024. NERC EDS Environmental Information Data Centre. https://doi.org/10.5285/26efc506-a265-4bb1-8296-d6988ab8d714
Related
Correspondence/contact details
Other contacts
Publisher
NERC EDS Environmental Information Data Centre
info@eidc.ac.uk
Rights holder
Environment Agency