Table 3. Pearson correlation matrix relating station characteristics to biogeochemical process rates.
| D14 | A14 | DNRA14 | SOD | Dn (%) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BPc | 0.97 | 0.59 | 0.95 | 0.66 | −0.09 |
| Total abundance | 0.95 | 0.56 | 0.97 | 0.64 | −0.11 |
| Polychaete abund. | 0.92 | 0.43 | 0.95 | 0.46 | 0.14 |
| Total biomass | 0.78 | 0.94 | 0.54 | 0.99 | −0.72 |
| Species richness | 0.86 | 0.44 | 0.98 | 0.62 | −0.14 |
Reported numbers are correlation coefficients (r-values). Bold values are correlations where P<0.05. BPc, community-wide bioturbation potential; Total abundance, mean infaunal abundance; D14, denitrification of 14NO3−; A14, anaerobic 14NH4+ oxidation; DNRA14, dissimilatory 14NO3− reduction to NH4+; SOD, sediment oxygen demand; Dn, proportion of D14 fuelled by sediment nitrification. The following parameters were tested, but were not significantly correlated with biogeochemical rates: bivalve abundance, amphipod abundance, C:N ratio of sediment (0–2 cm), sediment organic carbon concentration, site depth, temperature, porewater ammonium concentration, and bottom water nitrate, ammonium and dissolved oxygen concentrations.