INSITU METABOLISM OF AN OYSTER REEF

The in situ metabolism of an oyster reef in North Inlet, South Carolina, was observed for 1 yr using a portable plastic tunnel technique. The fluxes of oxygen, Chl a and ammonium to and from the reef were determined every 10.2 days (33 tidal cycles) for 1 yr and the technique of regression estimation was used Lo compute annual estimates. The oyster reef took up 6.5 kg.m-2 of oxygen and 23.7 g.m-2 of Chl a over the year. Ammonium release was 124.8 g.m-2 for the same period. The O:N ratio of the fluxes on the reef was almost-equal-to 30:1, indicating carbohydrate and lipid catabolism. Because of the high rates of Chl a and oxygen uptake and ammonium release observed with the in situ tunnel technique, oyster reefs should be considered even more important components in estuarine processes than previously thought.