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www.hydrol-earth-syst-sci.net/6/999/2002/
doi:10.5194/hess-6-999-2002
© Author(s) 2002. This work is licensed
under a Creative Commons License.
Bioturbation, ecosystem functioning and community structure
1School of Biological Sciences, Gatty Marine Laboratory, University of St Andrews, Fife KY16 8LB, UK
2Leigh Marine Laboratory, PO Box 349, Warkworth, New Zealand
3Ocean Laboratory, University of Aberdeen, Newburgh, Aberdeenshire, Scotland. AB41 6AA, UK
4Environment, University of York, Heslington, York, YO10 5DD, UK
Email for corresponding author: clb3@st-andrews.ac.uk
Abstract. The effect of community structure on the functioning of the ecosystem is an important issue in ecology due to continuing global species loss. The influence of infaunal community structure on the functioning of marine systems is proposed here to act primarily through bioturbation of the sediment. Nutrient concentration in the water column, generated by release from the sediment, was used as a measure of ecosystem functioning. In situ and laboratory experiments showed a significant difference in nutrient concentrations with different species treatments. Bioturbation profiles showing the incorporation of tracer particles also differed between communities with different dominant species. The behavioural differences between infaunal species, generating different modes and rates of bioturbation, are therefore proposed to influence nutrient release. The presence and quantity of bioturbating infauna also influenced the amount of sediment suspended in the water column. The increase in surface area available for microbial activity may generate an increase in nutrient cycling. Abiotic influences on sediment structure, such as flow, may have a similar effect on nutrient concentration. Annular flumes used in both laboratory and in situ experiments to generate flow conditions produced a significant increase in ammonia (NH4-N) production in macrofaunal treatments. Flow may influence the behaviour of macrofaunal species, causing changes in NH4-N production through modifying bioturbation of the sediment.
Keywords: bioturbation, community structure, ccosystem functioning, estuaries, flow, infauna
Final Revised Paper (PDF, 758 KB)
Citation: Biles, C. L., Paterson, D. M., Ford, R. B., Solan, M., and Raffaelli, D. G.: Bioturbation, ecosystem functioning and community structure, Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 6, 999-1005, doi:10.5194/hess-6-999-2002, 2002. Bibtex EndNote Reference Manager XML
