The spatial distributions of (1) surface sediment characteristics (D0.5, Sediment Surface Area (SSA), Particulate Organic Carbon (POC), Chlorophyll-a (Chl-a), Phaeophytin-a (Phaeo-a), Total and Enzymatically Hydrolyzable Amino Acids (THAA, EHAA), δ13C) and (2) sediment profile image (apparent Redox Potential Discontinuity (aRPD), numbers and depths of biological traces) characteristics were quantified based on the sampling of 32 stations located within the West Gironde Mud Patch (Bay of Biscay, NE Atlantic) in view of (1) assessing the spatial structuration of a temperate river-dominated ocean margin located in a high-energy area, (2) disentangling the impacts of hydrodynamics and bottom trawling on this structuration, and (3) comparing the West Gironde Mud Patch with the Rhône River Prodelta (located in a low-energy area). Results support the subdivision of the West Gironde Mud Patch in a proximal and a distal part and show (1) the existence of depth gradients in surface sedimentary organics characteristics and bioturbation within the distal part; (2) no evidence for a significant effect of bottom trawling, as opposed to Bottom Shear Stress, on the West Gironde Mud Patch spatial structuration; and (3) major discrepancies between spatial structuration in the West Gironde Mud Patch and the Rhône River Prodelta, which were attributed to differences in tidal regimes, sedimentation processes, and local hydrodynamics, which is in agreement with current river-dominated ocean margin typologies.
The samples of Prasiola crispa for study of associated fauna were collected on the rocks in the region adjacent to the penguin rookery at the Henri Arctowski Polish Research Station at (Admiralty Bay, Antarctic). The preliminary results showed that Tardigrades and Nematodes are the most abundant organisms of the associated fauna of P. crispa, being found in extremely high density. Others invertebrates were found in low densities (<70 ind.cm-2) along with Acari, Rotifer and Collembola. The specific identifications are still underway, however, the results obtained so far are suggesting that the density and the diversity of the microfauna of P. crispa is strongly conditioned by ice-melt water and the degree of humidity in the thallus of this alga.
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