Journal
AQUATIC MICROBIAL ECOLOGY
Volume 36, Issue 3, Pages 271-284Publisher
INTER-RESEARCH
DOI: 10.3354/ame036271
Keywords
Nereis diversicolor; Corophium volutator; Cerastoderma edule; functional groups; bioturbation; microbial activity; organic matter processing
Categories
Ask authors/readers for more resources
Benthic invertebrates play a key role in the physical, chemical, and biological properties of the marine water-sediment interface. The influences of invertebrates on biogeochemical processes have mainly been attributed to their sediment reworking and bioirrigation activities. The aim of this study was to compare the influences of bioturbation activities by 3 dominant species of shallow water habitats (Cerastoderma. edule, Corophium volutator, and Nereis diversicolor) on microbial communities and biogeochemical processes in sediment cores. C. edule acted as a biodiffuser, mixing surface particles in the top 2 cm of the sediment. Despite this mixing activity, this species had little effect on O-2 consumption, water exchange between the water column and the sediment, microbial characteristics, and release of nutrients from the sediment, In contrast, C. Volutator and N. diversicolor produced burrows in the sediment that allowed transport of surface particles into biogenic structures. These 2 species doubled the solute exchange between the water column and the sediment, Such modifications of sediment structure and solute transport increased the O-2 consumption and the release of nutrients from the sediment. Both C. volutator and N. diversicolor stimulated the microbial communities as indicated by higher percentages of active bacteria. Reduction of the numbers of sulphate reducing bacteria was observed when the 3 invertebrates were present and could be attributed to the penetration of O-2 due to animal activities. N. diversicolor had a greater influence than C. volutator on pore water chemistry, ammonium release, and active bacteria. As N. diversicolor burrowed deeper in the sediment than C. volutator, it irrigated a greater volume of sediment. The modes of sediment reworking and structure building, irrigation behaviour, and burrowing depths were factors sufficient to assign the 3 species into different functional groups.
Authors
I am an author on this paper
Click your name to claim this paper and add it to your profile.
Reviews
Recommended
No Data Available