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Cryogenic defaunation of sediments in the field

Cryogenic defaunation of sediments in the field
Cryogenic defaunation of sediments in the field
Ecological experiments designed to examine the effects of macrofaunal biodiversity may require the defaunation of intertidal sediments; however, many current techniques result in physical disruption of the sediments. A method of field-based cryogenic defaunation, which has advantages over existing methodologies, was developed to provide macrofaunal defaunation of intertidal cohesive sediment with minimum physical disruption. A sediment core transport apparatus and polystyrene freezing chamber allow the use of liquid nitrogen for effective freezing of a whole core of sediment in the field. Freezing the whole core intact minimises physical disturbance to the sediment and retains the topography of the sediment surface and sediment grain distribution with minimal effect on sediment properties and the microphytobenthos. This method is effective at removing up to 97% of infaunal macrofauna abundance from the sediment. Hediste diversicolor were found to be the most resistant species, with a 71% reduction in species abundance. Sediments defaunated in this way can be replaced in situ or removed to the laboratory for experimentation. This method of cryogenic defaunation would also be suitable for the defaunation of other marine or terrestrial sediments.
Macrofauna, biodiversity, mudflat, manipulation
0749-0208
1537-1540
Hale, R.
e5dfde12-523c-4000-ad0e-3431ffeafac1
Jacques, R.O.
2a503fd7-8c0a-491d-b27c-7240bf5570a4
Tolhurst, T.J.
53466d1f-6491-4b7c-9812-702cd0d391d5
Hale, R.
e5dfde12-523c-4000-ad0e-3431ffeafac1
Jacques, R.O.
2a503fd7-8c0a-491d-b27c-7240bf5570a4
Tolhurst, T.J.
53466d1f-6491-4b7c-9812-702cd0d391d5

Hale, R., Jacques, R.O. and Tolhurst, T.J. (2015) Cryogenic defaunation of sediments in the field. Journal of Coastal Research, 31 (6), 1537-1540. (doi:10.2112/JCOASTRES-D-14-00081.1).

Record type: Article

Abstract

Ecological experiments designed to examine the effects of macrofaunal biodiversity may require the defaunation of intertidal sediments; however, many current techniques result in physical disruption of the sediments. A method of field-based cryogenic defaunation, which has advantages over existing methodologies, was developed to provide macrofaunal defaunation of intertidal cohesive sediment with minimum physical disruption. A sediment core transport apparatus and polystyrene freezing chamber allow the use of liquid nitrogen for effective freezing of a whole core of sediment in the field. Freezing the whole core intact minimises physical disturbance to the sediment and retains the topography of the sediment surface and sediment grain distribution with minimal effect on sediment properties and the microphytobenthos. This method is effective at removing up to 97% of infaunal macrofauna abundance from the sediment. Hediste diversicolor were found to be the most resistant species, with a 71% reduction in species abundance. Sediments defaunated in this way can be replaced in situ or removed to the laboratory for experimentation. This method of cryogenic defaunation would also be suitable for the defaunation of other marine or terrestrial sediments.

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More information

Published date: November 2015
Keywords: Macrofauna, biodiversity, mudflat, manipulation
Organisations: Ocean and Earth Science

Identifiers

Local EPrints ID: 384944
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/384944
ISSN: 0749-0208
PURE UUID: d59a469a-e730-49dc-9d92-aac83ebf0840
ORCID for R. Hale: ORCID iD orcid.org/0000-0001-5079-5954

Catalogue record

Date deposited: 09 Dec 2015 16:58
Last modified: 14 Mar 2024 22:07

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Contributors

Author: R. Hale ORCID iD
Author: R.O. Jacques
Author: T.J. Tolhurst

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