Benthic-pelagic coupling: effects on nematode communities along southern European continental margins
Benthic-pelagic coupling: effects on nematode communities along southern European continental margins
Along a west-to-east axis spanning the Galicia Bank region (Iberian margin) and the Mediterranean basin, a reduction in surface primary productivity and in seafloor flux of particulate organic carbon was mirrored in the in situ organic matter quantity and quality within the underlying deep-sea sediments at different water depths (1200, 1900 and 3000 m). Nematode standing stock (abundance and biomass) and genus and trophic composition were investigated to evaluate downward benthic-pelagic coupling. The longitudinal decline in seafloor particulate organic carbon flux was reflected by a reduction in benthic phytopigment concentrations and nematode standing stock. An exception was the station sampled at the Galicia Bank seamount, where despite the maximal particulate organic carbon flux estimate, we observed reduced pigment levels and nematode standing stock. The strong hydrodynamic forcing at this station was believed to be the main cause of the local decoupling between pelagic and benthic processes. Besides a longitudinal cline in nematode standing stock, we noticed a west-to-east gradient in nematode genus and feeding type composition (owing to an increasing importance of predatory/scavenging nematodes with longitude) governed by potential proxies for food availability (percentage of nitrogen, organic carbon, and total organic matter). Within-station variability in generic composition was elevated in sediments with lower phytopigment concentrations. Standing stock appeared to be regulated by sedimentation rates and benthic environmental variables, whereas genus composition covaried only with benthic environmental variables. The coupling between deep-sea nematode assemblages and surface water processes evidenced in the present study suggests that it is likely that climate change will affect the composition and function of deep-sea nematodes.
e59954
Pape, E.
54cfd4bd-9e20-4f66-bf0f-b4bb4e47f7aa
Jones, D.O.B.
44fc07b3-5fb7-4bf5-9cec-78c78022613a
Manini, E.
d5affc91-bf60-4d54-8d24-2efa8a9178fb
Bezerra, T.N.
97a977e2-560b-4671-860d-163bd569f4d4
Vanreusel, A.
086a3d54-88cb-4152-b33a-a0c710b2cd3b
2 April 2013
Pape, E.
54cfd4bd-9e20-4f66-bf0f-b4bb4e47f7aa
Jones, D.O.B.
44fc07b3-5fb7-4bf5-9cec-78c78022613a
Manini, E.
d5affc91-bf60-4d54-8d24-2efa8a9178fb
Bezerra, T.N.
97a977e2-560b-4671-860d-163bd569f4d4
Vanreusel, A.
086a3d54-88cb-4152-b33a-a0c710b2cd3b
Pape, E., Jones, D.O.B., Manini, E., Bezerra, T.N. and Vanreusel, A.
(2013)
Benthic-pelagic coupling: effects on nematode communities along southern European continental margins.
PLoS ONE, 8 (4), .
(doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0059954).
Abstract
Along a west-to-east axis spanning the Galicia Bank region (Iberian margin) and the Mediterranean basin, a reduction in surface primary productivity and in seafloor flux of particulate organic carbon was mirrored in the in situ organic matter quantity and quality within the underlying deep-sea sediments at different water depths (1200, 1900 and 3000 m). Nematode standing stock (abundance and biomass) and genus and trophic composition were investigated to evaluate downward benthic-pelagic coupling. The longitudinal decline in seafloor particulate organic carbon flux was reflected by a reduction in benthic phytopigment concentrations and nematode standing stock. An exception was the station sampled at the Galicia Bank seamount, where despite the maximal particulate organic carbon flux estimate, we observed reduced pigment levels and nematode standing stock. The strong hydrodynamic forcing at this station was believed to be the main cause of the local decoupling between pelagic and benthic processes. Besides a longitudinal cline in nematode standing stock, we noticed a west-to-east gradient in nematode genus and feeding type composition (owing to an increasing importance of predatory/scavenging nematodes with longitude) governed by potential proxies for food availability (percentage of nitrogen, organic carbon, and total organic matter). Within-station variability in generic composition was elevated in sediments with lower phytopigment concentrations. Standing stock appeared to be regulated by sedimentation rates and benthic environmental variables, whereas genus composition covaried only with benthic environmental variables. The coupling between deep-sea nematode assemblages and surface water processes evidenced in the present study suggests that it is likely that climate change will affect the composition and function of deep-sea nematodes.
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Published date: 2 April 2013
Organisations:
Marine Biogeochemistry
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Local EPrints ID: 362568
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/362568
ISSN: 1932-6203
PURE UUID: df53091e-5e40-4528-a229-d6b6c86af69a
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Date deposited: 26 Feb 2014 13:50
Last modified: 14 Mar 2024 16:09
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Author:
E. Pape
Author:
D.O.B. Jones
Author:
E. Manini
Author:
T.N. Bezerra
Author:
A. Vanreusel
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