The nitrogen cycle in tidal flats and eelgrass beds of Ise Bay

A tidal flat-sea grass bed ecosystem model was formulated and applied to Ise Bay to evaluate the purification capability of the shallow-water region where a new airport is expected to be built. The model results were in the range of the observed biomass for each state variable in the model. The purification capability of this shallow-water region is estimated from the model results. The inorganic nitrogen removal is estimated at 56 kg N day⁻¹; the organic particulate nitrogen removal by suspension feeders is 95 kg N day⁻¹; the organic nitrogen removal by harvest and fish predation is 25 kg N day⁻¹, and the purification capability of this site is 51 kg N day⁻¹. Potential loss of the sea grass bed by reclamation will reduce the removal ability of inorganic nitrogen as well as food sources for juvenile fishes.