Benthic–pelagic coupling in the oligotrophic Cretan Sea

Duineveld, G.C.A.; Τσελεπίδης, Α.; Witbaard, Rob; Bak, Rolf P. M.; Berghuis, E.M.; Nieuwland, G.; Weele, Joël van der; Kok, A.

doi:10.1016/s0079-6611(00)00029-x

Cited by 37 publications

(21 citation statements)

References 63 publications

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“…Polychaetes may have exerted a significant pressure by grazing or competition on nanofauna while effectively consuming detritus particles with its microbial components. The decrease in the abundance of nanofauna with an increase in depth is in accordance with observations by Duineveld et al (2000) from the Cretan Sea.…”

Section: Quantitative Estimatessupporting

confidence: 90%

Deep-sea heterotrophic nanoflagellates of the Eastern Mediterranean Sea: qualitative and quantitative aspects of their pelagic and benthic occurrence

Arndt¹,

Hausmann²,

Wolf³

2003

Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser.

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Due to the significant lack of information on the community structure of deep-sea nanoflagellates and other nanofauna components as a potentially important component of deepsea matter fluxes, the aim of the present study was to check whether there is a specific deep-sea nanofauna (< 20 µm) community. Studies were carried out in the deep oligotrophic basins of the Eastern Mediterranean Sea around Greece (1249 to 4260 m depth). Direct microscopic counts and quantitative cultivation techniques were used to estimate the abundance and community structure of heterotrophic flagellates and amoebae from abyssopelagial samples and deep-sea sediments. Euglenids and bodonids were the dominant groups comprising about 2/3 of the abundance and biomass of flagellate nanofauna. Our direct counts clearly demonstrate that attention also has to be paid to species which seldom appear in crude cultures. The records of hemimastigid-like forms were remarkable in this respect. Among the 35 deep-sea nanofauna taxa identified here, 8 never appeared in cultures and 18 taxa were found only in cultures. At least 9 taxa have not been previously recorded from the deep sea. Meteora sporadica seems to be the first record of an endemic deep-sea heterotrophic nanoprotist. The variety of functional groups recorded indicates the nanofauna as part of a complex microbial food web in the deep sea. Estimates of potential maximum growth rates of fresh isolates from deep-sea waters ranged from 1 to 6.3 d -1 (Ancyromonas, Amastigomonas, Bodo, Caecitellus, Cafeteria, Kiitoksia, Massisteria, Percolomonas). There was considerable clonal variability.KEY WORDS: Protozoa · Biodiversity · Flagellates · Nanofauna · Amoebae · Growth rate · Deep-sea benthos · Deep-sea plankton Resale or republication not permitted without written consent of the publisher

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Section: Quantitative Estimatessupporting

confidence: 90%

Deep-sea heterotrophic nanoflagellates of the Eastern Mediterranean Sea: qualitative and quantitative aspects of their pelagic and benthic occurrence

Arndt¹,

Hausmann²,

Wolf³

2003

Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser.

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“…The amount of labile (bioavailable) organic matter in marine sediments can be extrapolated according to Manini et al (2003) for coastal lagoons, Mazzola et al (1999) for fish farm sediments, Pusceddu et al (2005) for Thermaikos Gulf, Danovaro et al (2002) for N Adriatic Sea), Danovaro et al (1994) for seagrass sediments, Fabiano et al (1995) Danovaro et al (1999aDanovaro et al ( , 2002, Witbaard et al (2000), Duineveld et al (2000), Tselepides et al (2000) and Lykousis et al (2002).…”

Section: Biopolymeric and Bioavailable Organic Carbon Relationships: mentioning

confidence: 99%

Quantity and bioavailability of sediment organic matter as signatures of benthic trophic status

Pusceddu¹,

Dell’Anno²,

Fabiano³

et al. 2009

Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser.

222

214

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Tools used for assessing marine trophic status are generally based on water column characteristics, which, however, may provide unreliable classification of the benthic trophic status. Here, we provide evidence from the literature that quantity and bioavailability of sediment organic matter are reliable proxies to assess benthic marine trophic status. We compiled data on the protein, carbohydrate and lipid concentration of sediments from different oceanic and coastal regions and varying water depths. The concentration of these 3 components as a whole (biopolymeric carbon) was found to be significantly correlated (r = 0.84) with the total organic carbon concentration, suggesting that the biopolymeric fraction is representative of the total organic carbon pool. However, the systematic variation of the biopolymeric fraction was higher than that of total organic carbon concentrations, suggesting that biopolymeric carbon is a more sensitive proxy of benthic trophic status than is the total carbon pool. Furthermore, biopolymeric carbon was significantly correlated to the amount of phytopigments, indicating that biopolymeric carbon accumulation in the sediment is related to inputs of algal carbon. Biopolymeric carbon concentrations were also positively correlated to the sediment community oxygen consumption, suggesting that the progressive accumulation of biopolymeric carbon could be an additional co-factor potentially responsible for hypoxic or anoxic events. The enzymatically digestible and algal fractions of biopolymeric carbon decreased in sediments with increasing biopolymeric carbon content (i.e. eutrophic systems), suggesting that organic carbon in eutrophic sediments is mostly refractory in nature. We propose that a biopolymeric carbon concentration in the sediment of > 2.5 mg C g -1 , being associated with a bioavailable fraction of <10%, can be considered as a threshold level at which benthic consumers may experience mostly refractory organic carbon. KEY WORDS: Marine sediments · Organic matter · Trophic statusResale or republication not permitted without written consent of the publisher

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“…A comprehensive quantitative approach was undertaken by Stora et al (1999) with samples taken within and along the flanks of the Toulon Canyon. Other recent studies have focused mainly on functional aspects such as gradients of pelagic-benthic coupling, organic carbon mineralisation rates and environmental chemistry of deepsea sediments (Tahey et al, 1994;Danovaro et al, 1999;Duineveld et al, 2000;Guidi-Guilvard, 2002;Giordani et al, 2002). Cartes et al (2001) gave valuable quantitative information regarding the community structure of the bathyal suprabenthos in the Catalan Sea, which showed relatively high diversity at mid-bathyal depths.…”

Section: Macrofaunamentioning

confidence: 99%