The role of oyster in nitrous oxide emissions from oyster reefs

Oyster microbiomes may play a significant role in the biogeochemical N cycle and N2O emissions in estuarine and coastal ecosystems. Rates of denitrification and N2O production were measured from live oysters and oyster shells collected at a coastal lagoon and a tidal estuary in the Chesapeake Bay. Live oysters had the highest rates of denitrification and N2O production in both study sites. This indicates that oysters are an import N remover and a N2O source in coastal ecosystems