Figure 7. Elemental fluxes resulting from coupled nitrification-denitrification
(determined stoichiometrically from N2 flux) in salt marsh creek sediments. The slope of
the line indicates the proportion of the cycling of that element resulting from coupled
nitrification-denitrification. An average of 46% of mineralized N is denitrified within
the sediments. O2 and CO2 fluxes due to autochthonous denitrification account for 18% and
10%, respectively of the total metabolism.