New Rhizon in situ sampler for pore water studies in aquatic sediments: For example nutrient input from submarine groundwater discharge in costal areas.
To investigate coastal biogeochemical cycles, especially at the sediment/water interface,improved sampling methods are necessary. For this purpose, we developed apore water in situ sampler with miniature sampling devices, so called Rhizons. Rhizonsoil moisture samplers have been used as sampling devices in unsaturated soilsfor the last ten years. In aquatic science they have been rarely used to extract porewater from sediments. This study presents a new developed Rhizon In Situ Sampler(RISS) as a non-destructive and inexpensive tool for in situ pore water sampling. Fieldexperiments, tracer studies and numerical modeling were combined to assess the suitabilityof Rhizons for pore water sampling. Our investigations show that the RISS isa very suitable alternative to classical methods for in situ sampling. Combined withan in situ benthic chamber system the RISS allows studies of benthic fluxes and porewater profiles at the same location with negligible effect on the incubated sedimentwater interface. This allows improved calculation and modeling of transport and reactionprocesses. Results of nutrient and freshwater input into surface water derivedby in situ sampling of tidal flat sediments of the Wadden Sea (Sahlenburg/Cuxhaven,Germany) are presented. Long term deployments of the RISS and repetitive pore watersampling at the same location might support future studies of seasonal variation ofbenthic processes in sediments of the coastal zone and open ocean
