Influence of a burrowing, metal-tolerant polychaete on benthic metabolism, denitrification and nitrogen regeneration in contaminated estuarine sediments

► Influence of a metal-tolerant polychaete on benthic fluxes in polluted sediments. ► O2 consumption doubled; 55% due to respiration, 45% associated with burrows. ► NOx fluxes were unaffected, but there was a 3-fold increase in denitrification. ► This species delivers an important ecosystem service removing N from polluted site.