Marine Biodiversity and Ecosystem Functioning
EU Network of Excellence

 
Main Menu

· Home
· Contacts
· Data Systems
· Documents
· FAQ
· Links
· MarBEF Open Archive
· Network Description
· Outreach
· Photo Gallery
· Quality Assurance
· Register of Resources
· Research Projects
· Rules and Guidelines
· Training
· Wiki
· Worldconference

 

Register of Resources (RoR)

 People  |  Datasets  |  Literature  |  Institutes  |  Projects 

[ report an error in this record ]basket (1): add | show Print this page

one publication added to basket [312007]
Spatio-temporal variation in sediment ecosystem processes and roles of key biota in the Scheldt estuary
Fang, X.; Mestdagh, S.; Ysebaert, T.; Moens, T.; Soetaert, K.; Van Colen, C. (2019). Spatio-temporal variation in sediment ecosystem processes and roles of key biota in the Scheldt estuary. Est., Coast. and Shelf Sci. 222: 21-31. https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ecss.2019.04.001
In: Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science. Academic Press: London; New York. ISSN 0272-7714; e-ISSN 1096-0015
Peer reviewed article  

Available in  Authors 

Keyword
    Marine/Coastal
Author keywords
    Benthic macrofauna; Scheldt estuary; Bioturbation; Particle reworking; Bio-irrigation; Spatio-temporal variability

Authors  Top 
  • Fang, X.
  • Mestdagh, S.
  • Ysebaert, T., more

Abstract
    Bioturbation (i.e. particle reworking and bio-irrigation) is a key process in benthic coastal and estuarine ecosystems, and act as crucial control on important ecosystem functions, such as nutrient cycling. Particle reworking and bio-irrigation are affected by a wide array of environmental and biological factors and are therefore expected to be highly variable in heterogeneous ecosystems, such as estuaries. To assess the spatial and temporal variability of these benthic ecosystem processes in the Scheldt estuary (Belgium and the Netherlands), we carried out seasonal surveys during four seasons in 2015 and 2016, at three habitats with different hydrodynamic regimes (low-dynamic intertidal, high-dynamic intertidal, subtidal) in the three main salinity zones (polyhaline, mesohaline, oligohaline). Sediment communities were sampled and incubated in the laboratory; macrobenthos was identified and weighed. Luminophore tracers were applied to the incubation cores to measure sediment particle mixing and changes over time in the concentration of the inert tracer sodium bromide in the water column were used to estimate pore water exchange rate as a proxy for bio-irrigation. Particle reworking was quantified both by the rate of mixing, and the maximal penetration depth of luminophores. Luminophore profiles showed that biodiffusion was the dominant particle reworking mode. Both particle reworking and bio-irrigation were highly variable among seasons and habitats, and different species were found to contribute unevenly to both processes, and between habitats and seasons. Habitat structuring effects on populations, density-dependent interactions with the habitat, and temperature-driven variability in macrobenthos activity and living position are suggested to explain the observed spatial and temporal differences.

All data in the Integrated Marine Information System (IMIS) is subject to the VLIZ privacy policy Top | Authors 


If any information here appears to be incorrect, please contact us
Back to Register of Resources
 
Quick links

MarBEF WIKI

Erasmus Mundus Master of Science in Marine Biodiversity and Conservation (EMBC)
Outreach

Science
Responsive Mode Programme (RMP) - Marie Nordstrom, copyright Aspden Rebecca

WoRMS
part of WoRMS logo

ERMS 2.0
Epinephelus marginatus Picture: JG Harmelin

EurOBIS

Geographic System

Datasets

 


Web site hosted and maintained by Flanders Marine Institute (VLIZ) - Contact data-at-marbef.org