Influence of macrofaunal assemblages and environmental heterogeneity on microphytobenthic production in experimental systems
Journal article
Authors | Dyson, Kirstie E., Bulling, Mark T., Solan, Martin, Hernandez-Milian, Gema, Raffaelli, D., White, Piran C. L. and Paterson, David M. |
---|---|
Abstract | Despite the complexity of natural systems, heterogeneity caused by the fragmentation of habitats has seldom been considered when investigating ecosystem processes. Empirical approaches that have included the influence of heterogeneity tend to be biased towards terrestrial habitats; yet marine systems offer opportunities by virtue of their relative ease of manipulation, rapid response times and the well-understood effects of macrofauna on sediment processes. Here, the influence of heterogeneity on microphytobenthic production in synthetic estuarine assemblages is examined. Heterogeneity was created by enriching patches of sediment with detrital algae (Enteromorpha intestinalis) to provide a source of allochthonous organic matter. A gradient of species density for four numerically dominant intertidal macrofauna (Hediste diversicolor, Hydrobia ulvae, Corophium volutator, Macoma balthica) was constructed, and microphyto- benthic biomass at the sediment surface was measured. Statistical analysis using generalized least squares regression indicated that heterogeneity within our system was a significant driving factor that interacted with macrofaunal density and species identity. Microphytobenthic biomass was highest in enriched patches, suggesting that nutrients were obtained locally from the sediment–water interface and not from the water column. Our findings demonstrate that organic enrichment can cause the development of heterogeneity which influences infaunal bioturbation and consequent nutrient generation, a driver of microphytobenthic production. |
Despite the complexity of natural systems, heterogeneity caused by the fragmentation of habitats has | |
Year | 2013 |
Journal | Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences |
ISSN | 0962-8452 |
1471-2954 | |
Digital Object Identifier (DOI) | https://doi.org/10.1098/rspb.2007.0922 |
Web address (URL) | http://hdl.handle.net/10545/292721 |
hdl:10545/292721 | |
Publication dates | 24 May 2013 |
Publication process dates | |
Deposited | 24 May 2013, 08:43 |
Rights | Archived with thanks to Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences |
File | File Access Level Open |
File | File Access Level Open |
File | File Access Level Open |
https://repository.derby.ac.uk/item/95624/influence-of-macrofaunal-assemblages-and-environmental-heterogeneity-on-microphytobenthic-production-in-experimental-systems
Download files
28
total views0
total downloads0
views this month0
downloads this month