02874nas a2200325   4500008004100000245007600041210006900117300001300186490000800199520193800207653001602145653005802161653000802219653002002227653001102247653002302258100002002281700002102301700001702322700001302339700001502352700001702367700001702384700001802401700001402419700001902433700001502452700001502467856006602482       2011                        eng d00aCross-stream comparison of substrate-specific denitrification potential0 aCrossstream comparison of substratespecific denitrification pote  a381 -3920 v1043 a<p>Headwater streams have a demonstrated ability to denitrify a portion of their nitrate (NO3 &minus;) load but there has not been an extensive consideration of where in a stream this process is occurring and how various habitats contribute to total denitrification capability. As part of the Lotic Intersite Nitrogen Experiment II (LINX II) we measured denitrification potential in 65 streams spanning eight regions of the US and draining three land-use types. In each stream, potential denitrification rates were measured in common substrate types found across many streams as well as locations unique to particular streams. Overall, habitats from streams draining urban and agricultural land-uses showed higher potential rates of denitrification than reference streams draining native vegetation. This difference among streams was probably driven by higher ambient nitrate concentrations found in urban or agricultural streams. Within streams, sandy habitats and accumulations of fine benthic organic matter contributed more than half of the total denitrification capacity (mg N removed m&minus;2 h&minus;1). A particular rate of potential denitrification per unit area could be achieved either by high activity per unit organic matter or lower activities associated with larger standing stocks of organic matter. We found that both small patches with high rates (hot spots) or more widespread but less active areas (cool matrix) contributed significantly to whole stream denitrification capacity. Denitrification estimated from scaled-up denitrification enzyme assay (DEA) potentials were not always dramatically higher than in situ rates of denitrification measured as 15N gas generation following 24-h 15N&ndash;NO3 tracer additions. In general, headwater streams draining varying land-use types have significant potential to remove nitrate via denitrification and some appear to be functioning near their maximal capacity.</p>10aComparative10aComparison of potential with realized denitrification10aDEA10adenitrification10astream10aSubstrate-specific1 aFindlay, S.E.G.1 aMulholland, P.J.1 aHamilton, S.1 aTank, J.1 aBernot, M.1 aBurgin, A.J.1 aCrenshaw, C.1 aDodds, W., K.1 aGrimm, N.1 aMcDowell, W.H.1 aPotter, J.1 aSobota, D.  uhttps://link.springer.com/article/10.1007%2Fs10533-010-9512-8