Ammonia Volatilization in a Mexican Bat Cave Ecosystem

Authors

Donald A. McFarlane, Claremont McKenna College; Pitzer College; Scripps CollegeFollow
Raymond C. Keeler
Hiroshi Mizutani, Senshu University of Ishinomaki

Document Type

Article

Department

Biology (CMC), WM Keck Science (CMC), Biology (Pitzer), WM Keck Science (Pitzer), Biology (Scripps), WM Keck Science (Scripps), WM Keck Science

Publication Date

1995

Abstract

Direct measurements of gaseous ammonia in the atmosphere of a dry bat cave containing several million insectivorous bats revealed a peak concentration of 1779 ppm (0.96 mg/dm³). Observations indicate that the origin of the gaseous ammonia is rapid microbial decomposition of bat urea, not chitinous guano. Modelling of ammonia distribution and diffusion indicates that ammonia production at the Cueva del Tigre is ∼257 g NH₃/day, equivalent to the decomposition of ∼454 g urea/day. Ammonia production is also characterized by significant isotopic fractionation favoring isotopically light (δ¹⁵N depleted) ammonia.

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DOI

10.1007/BF02181037

Recommended Citation

McFarlane, D.A., Keeler, R.C., and Mizutani, H. (1995). "Ammonia volatization in a Mexican bat cave ecosystem." Biogeochemistry, 30 1-8.