Efficient burial of carbon in a submarine canyon

Masson, Douglas G.; Huvenne, Veerle A.I.; Stigter, Henko de; Wolff, George A.; Kiriakoulakis, Kostas; Arzola, R.G.; Blackbird, Sabena

doi:10.1130/g30895.1

Cited by 69 publications

(50 citation statements)

References 18 publications

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“…The sediment is predominantly of terrigenous silt and clay origin (Alt-Epping et al, 2007). The sediment is actively transported from the upper continental shelf to the canyon and out onto the abyssal plain by sediment gravity flows that occur on annual or longer timescales and are particularly vigorous during periods of winter storms (de Stigter et al, 2007;Masson et al, 2010). The currents flowing down the canyon lead to cycles of resuspension and deposition, alternating with intervals during which the sediment is deposited on the sea bed (de Stigter et al, 2007).…”

Section: Study Areamentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Large concentrations of organic C and biopolymeric C (BPC) have been observed within the middle section of the Nazaré Canyon, suggesting this canyon may act as a sink for OM burial (Schmidt et al, 2001; T. Amaro et al: The trophic biology of the holothurian Molpadia musculus 2007; Masson et al, 2010;Pusceddu et al, 2010). Sediments and OM are transported from the continental shelf down the canyon and into the deep sea (de Stigter et al, 2007;Oliveira et al, 2007;de Leo et al, 2010;Vetter et al, 2010).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The Nazaré Canyon is a major conduit of organic matter and sediment on the Portuguese margin, and one of the most spectacular topographic features of the NE Atlantic margin (de Stigter et al, 2007;Arzola et al, 2008;Masson et al, 2010). Large concentrations of organic C and biopolymeric C (BPC) have been observed within the middle section of the Nazaré Canyon, suggesting this canyon may act as a sink for OM burial (Schmidt et al, 2001; T. Amaro et al: The trophic biology of the holothurian Molpadia musculus 2007; Masson et al, 2010;Pusceddu et al, 2010).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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The trophic biology of the holothurian <i>Molpadia musculus</i>: implications for organic matter cycling and ecosystem functioning in a deep submarine canyon

et al. 2010

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Abstract. Megafaunal organisms play a key role in ecosystem functioning in the deep-sea through bioturbation, bioirrigation and organic matter cycling. At 3500 m water depth in the Nazaré Canyon, NE Atlantic, very high abundances of the infaunal holothurian Molpadia musculus were observed. To quantify the role of M. musculus in sediment cycling, sediment samples and holothurians were collected using an ROV and in situ experiments were conducted with incubation chambers. The biochemical composition of the sediment (in terms of proteins, carbohydrates and lipids), the holothurians' gut contents and holothurians' faecal material were analysed. In the sediments, proteins were the dominant organic compound, followed by carbohydrates and lipids. In the holothurian's gut contents, protein concentrations were higher than the other compounds, decreasing significantly as the material passed through the digestive tract. Approximately 33 ± 1% of the proteins were digested by the time sediment reached the mid gut, with a total digestion rate equal to 67 ± 1%. Carbohydrates and lipids were ingested in smaller amounts and digested with lower efficiencies (23 ± 11% and 50 ± 11%, respectively). As a result, the biopolymeric C digestion rate was on average 62 ± 3%. We estimated that the population of M. musculus could remove approximately 0.49 ± 0.13 g biopolymeric C and 0.13 ± 0.03 g N m −2 d −1 from the sediments. These results suggest that M. musculus plays a key role in the benthic tropho-dynamics and biogeochemical processes in the Nazaré Canyon.

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Section: Study Areamentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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The trophic biology of the holothurian <i>Molpadia musculus</i>: implications for organic matter cycling and ecosystem functioning in a deep submarine canyon

et al. 2010

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“…Submarine canyons play a crucial role in the redistribution of carbon and anthropogenic materials derived from marine primary production and terrestrial runoff (Weaver et al, 2004). They are considered major pathways for the transportation and burial of organic carbon, acting as buffers for carbon storage; burial of organic carbon in marine sediments moderates atmospheric CO 2 levels on geological time scales (Masson et al, 2010).…”

Section: Submarine Canyons On the Continental Slope (Eunis A681)mentioning

confidence: 99%

Assessment of goods and services, vulnerability, and conservation status of European seabed biotopes: a stepping stone towards ecosystem-based marine spatial management

et al. 2012

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The goal of ecosystem-based marine spatial management is to maintain marine ecosystems in a healthy, productive and resilient condition; hence, they can sustainably provide the needed goods and services for human welfare. However, the increasing pressures upon the marine realm threaten marine ecosystems, especially seabed biotopes, and thus a well-planned approach of managing use of marine space is essential to achieve sustainability. The relative value of seabed biotopes, evaluated on the basis of goods and services, is an important starting point for the spatial management of marine areas. Herein, 56 types of European seabed biotopes and their related goods, services, sensitivity issues, and conservation status were compiled, the latter referring to management and protection tools which currently apply for these biotopes at European or international level. Fishing activities, especially by benthic trawls, and marine pollution are the main threats to European seabed biotopes. Increased seawater turbidity, dredged sediment disposal, coastal constructions, biological invasions, mining, extraction of raw materials, shipping-related activities, tourism, hydrocarbon exploration, and even some practices of scientific research, also exert substantial pressure. Although some first steps have been taken to protect the European sea beds through international agreements and European and national legislation, a finer scale of classification and assessment of marine biotopes is considered crucial in shaping sound priorities and management guidelines towards the effective conservation and sustainability of European marine resources.

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“…They can represent either a sink for particulate matter of autochthonous origin (i.e. derived from biological productivity of surface waters and/or exported from the land), or a source of organic material fueling the deep ocean's interior by lateral transport (Buscail and Germain, 1997;Bauer and Druffel 1998;Canals et al, 2006;Sampéré et al, 2008;Sanchez-Vidal et al, 2008;Masson et al, 2010;Pusceddu et al, 2010). Nevertheless, the extent to which such material is transported and distributed downslope is not consistent along latitudinal or longitudinal gradients, nor constant in time, mainly due to differences in hydrodynamic, topographic, climatic and ecological conditions (Liu et al, 2010).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Trophic state of benthic deep-sea ecosystems from two different continental margins off Iberia

et al. 2013

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The bioavailability of organic matter in benthic deep-sea ecosystems, commonly used to define their trophic state, can greatly influence key ecological processes such as biomass production and nutrient cycling. Here, we assess the trophic state of deep-sea sediments from open slopes and canyons of the Catalan (NW Mediterranean) and Portuguese (NE Atlantic) continental margins, offshore east and west Iberia, respectively, by using a biomimetic approach based on enzymatic digestion of protein and carbohydrate pools. Patterns of sediment trophic state were analyzed in relation to increasing water depth, including repeated samplings over a 3 yr period in the Catalan margin. Two out of the three sam- pling periods occurred a few months after dense shelf water cascading events. The benthic deep-sea ecosystems investi- gated in this study were characterized by high amounts of bioavailable organic matter when compared to other deep- sea sediments. Bioavailable organic matter and its nutritional value were significantly higher in the Portuguese margin than in the Catalan margin, thus reflecting differences in pri- mary productivity of surface waters reported for the two re- gions. Similarly, sediments of the Catalan margin were char- acterized by significantly higher food quantity and quality in spring, when the phytoplankton bloom occurs in surface wa- ters, than in summer and autumn. Differences in the benthic trophic state of canyons against open slopes were more ev- ident in the Portuguese than in the Catalan margin. In both continental margins, bioavailable organic C concentrations did not vary or increase with increasing water depth. Overall our findings suggest that the intensity of primary production processes along with the lateral transfer of organic particles, even amplified by episodic events, can have a role in controlling the quantity and distribution of bioavailable organic detritus and its nutritional value along these continental margin ecosystems

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Efficient burial of carbon in a submarine canyon

Cited by 69 publications

References 18 publications

The trophic biology of the holothurian <i>Molpadia musculus</i>: implications for organic matter cycling and ecosystem functioning in a deep submarine canyon

The trophic biology of the holothurian <i>Molpadia musculus</i>: implications for organic matter cycling and ecosystem functioning in a deep submarine canyon

Assessment of goods and services, vulnerability, and conservation status of European seabed biotopes: a stepping stone towards ecosystem-based marine spatial management

Trophic state of benthic deep-sea ecosystems from two different continental margins off Iberia

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Efficient burial of carbon in a submarine canyon

Cited by 69 publications

References 18 publications

The trophic biology of the holothurian &lt;i&gt;Molpadia musculus&lt;/i&gt;: implications for organic matter cycling and ecosystem functioning in a deep submarine canyon

The trophic biology of the holothurian &lt;i&gt;Molpadia musculus&lt;/i&gt;: implications for organic matter cycling and ecosystem functioning in a deep submarine canyon

Assessment of goods and services, vulnerability, and conservation status of European seabed biotopes: a stepping stone towards ecosystem-based marine spatial management

Trophic state of benthic deep-sea ecosystems from two different continental margins off Iberia

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The trophic biology of the holothurian <i>Molpadia musculus</i>: implications for organic matter cycling and ecosystem functioning in a deep submarine canyon

The trophic biology of the holothurian <i>Molpadia musculus</i>: implications for organic matter cycling and ecosystem functioning in a deep submarine canyon