Balance of heterotrophic and autrophic processes in the Scheldt estuary and impact on the carbon-and nitrogenflows.

This NWO-supported Flemish-Dutch cooperation project aims to assess the balance between production and respiration processes at the scale of the entire Schelde estuary and at the level of isolated communities, considering simultaneously the carbon and nitrogen dynamics. More specific objectives include: (1) To assess system and functional group specific primary production; (2) To assess the assimilation of carbon and nitrogen by algae and bacteria; (3) To study the three major nitrogen cycling processes (denitrification, nitrification and ammonium regeneration).