Succession of macrobenthic fauna and nitrogen budget at two artificial tidal flats in Osaka Bay, Japan

Nitrogen budgets and predominant benthic organisms were examined at a matured artificial tidal flat of Osaka Nanko bird sanctuary and an artificial young tidal flat of Hannan Second District, Osaka Bay, Japan. At the Osaka Nanko bird sanctuary, indexes of the quality of the bottom sediment increased over the time course and no abiotic area was observed in the macrobenthic fauna. Dissolved inorganic nitrogen imported into the tidal flat changed its form and was exported in the form of dissolved organic nitrogen. As a result, total nitrogen was trapped at the tidal flat at an average rate of 138 mgN m−2 day−1. At the young tidal flat of Hannan Second District net exchange of nitrogen varied markedly among 2000, 2001, 2002 and 2003. In September 2000 when only 5 months had passed after construction, the tidal flat functioned as a site of source for nitrogen. However, it changed as a sink for nitrogen in 2001–2002 in relation to the growth of seaweeds (Ulva spp. and Gracilaria vermiculophylla) and clams (Tapes philippinarum). In 2003 nitrogen was again released from the artificial tidal flat due to the decrease of biomass of the dominant organisms. Comparing the nitrogen budget between the two sites on a per unit time and area basis, net exchanges of nitrogen by tidal exchange were apparently low and relatively constant at the tidal flat of Osaka Nanko bird sanctuary. This suggests that the aged artificial tidal flat of Osaka Nanko bird sanctuary has a stable ecosystem compared to the young artificial tidal flat of Hannan Second District.