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Observation and quantification of in situ animal-sediment relations using time-lapse sediment profile imagery (t-SPI)

Observation and quantification of in situ animal-sediment relations using time-lapse sediment profile imagery (t-SPI)
Observation and quantification of in situ animal-sediment relations using time-lapse sediment profile imagery (t-SPI)
The effect of flow and biodiversity on ecosystem functioning was investigated in an estuarine system using in situ benthic chambers. Macrofaunal communities were artificially assembled to manipulate both species richness and functional trait richness. In addition, naturally occurring communities were sampled in order to determine the effect of macrofaunal and sediment disruption. Ecosystem functioning was assessed by measurement of nutrient release (NH4–N) from the sediment, a process essential for primary production. Natural and assembled communities were found to differ significantly, demonstrating the effect of experimental manipulation on the system. Flow was found to have a highly significant effect on ecosystem functioning in both natural and assembled communities in treatments containing macrofauna. No significant difference between static and flow treatments was found in macrofaunal-free controls, indicating that flow generates an effect through promoting changes in bioturbatory activity of the infauna causing greater disruption to the sediment. In assembled communities, functional richness significantly increased ecosystem functioning. Species richness had no influence in assembled communities.
0171-8630
179 - 191
Solan, M.
c28b294a-1db6-4677-8eab-bd8d6221fecf
Kennedy, R.
8bebba0c-f251-465d-bfb7-3df6f7cd2973
Solan, M.
c28b294a-1db6-4677-8eab-bd8d6221fecf
Kennedy, R.
8bebba0c-f251-465d-bfb7-3df6f7cd2973

Solan, M. and Kennedy, R. (2003) Observation and quantification of in situ animal-sediment relations using time-lapse sediment profile imagery (t-SPI). Marine Ecology Progress Series, 179 - 191. (doi:10.3354/meps228179).

Record type: Article

Abstract

The effect of flow and biodiversity on ecosystem functioning was investigated in an estuarine system using in situ benthic chambers. Macrofaunal communities were artificially assembled to manipulate both species richness and functional trait richness. In addition, naturally occurring communities were sampled in order to determine the effect of macrofaunal and sediment disruption. Ecosystem functioning was assessed by measurement of nutrient release (NH4–N) from the sediment, a process essential for primary production. Natural and assembled communities were found to differ significantly, demonstrating the effect of experimental manipulation on the system. Flow was found to have a highly significant effect on ecosystem functioning in both natural and assembled communities in treatments containing macrofauna. No significant difference between static and flow treatments was found in macrofaunal-free controls, indicating that flow generates an effect through promoting changes in bioturbatory activity of the infauna causing greater disruption to the sediment. In assembled communities, functional richness significantly increased ecosystem functioning. Species richness had no influence in assembled communities.

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Published date: 12 February 2003

Identifiers

Local EPrints ID: 455833
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/455833
ISSN: 0171-8630
PURE UUID: a9af95d4-2c2f-4024-963e-e453104b3a34
ORCID for M. Solan: ORCID iD orcid.org/0000-0001-9924-5574

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Date deposited: 06 Apr 2022 16:30
Last modified: 17 Mar 2024 03:15

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Contributors

Author: M. Solan ORCID iD
Author: R. Kennedy

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