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This study focuses on the biogeochemical processes and budgets of nutrients and organic carbon in the Chiku Lagoon through periodic observations and data analyses. During the study, samples were collected bimonthly for measuring hydrochemistry (temp., salinity, pH and DO), nutrients (DIN, DIP and D-Si), carbon (DOC, POC) from the lagoon-associated water bodies. Results of temporal and spatial variations were used to model carbon fluxes and budgets in the Chiku Lagoon. Space and time variations of nutrients and other chemical inputs and distributions were highly significant in the lagoon, particularly during the typhoon period. Thus, the steady-state biogeochemical modelling for carbon budgets is only valid for a time scale shorter than a season. The water exchange rate of Chiku Lagoon ranges from 1.1 day (June 1997) to 10.6 day (September 1997) with an annual mean of 5.8 day. As a result, the residue time of nutrients varies coincidentally with water exchange rate. The annual removal of terrestrial nutrient inputs from the lagoon system is 69.4%, 47%, 27.7% and 42%, respectively, for DIN, DON, DIP and DOP. Consequently, the nonconservative fluxes of dissolved inorganic phosphorus (ΔDIP) and total phosphorus (ΔP) from the lagoon are -0.11 and -0.14 mole m-2 yr-1, respectively. The negative nonconservative phosphorus fluxes indicate that the lagoon is an autotrophic system (p-r>0). The ΔP and ΔDIP are respectively equivalent to internal organic carbon sinks on 14.8 and 12.2 mole m-2 yr-1, which may be one of the largest values reported from world''s lagoons. The Chiku Lagoon is also estimated to uptake 4.7 mole m-2 yr-1 inorganic carbon through oyster calcification. Although a net nitrogen fixation occurred during some observed periods, denitrification was slightly greater than nitrogen fixation when both were integrated through the whole span of observation [(nfix-denit)= -1.04 mole m-2 yr-1].
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