In situ experimental evidence of the fate of a phytodetritus pulse at the abyssal sea floor

Witte, Ursula; Wenzhöfer, Frank; Sommer, Stefan; Boetius, Antje; Heinz, Petra; Aberle, Nicole; Sand, M.; Cremer, A.; Abraham, Wolf‐Rainer; Jørgensen, Bo Barker; Pfannkuche, Olaf

doi:10.1038/nature01799

Cited by 230 publications

(223 citation statements)

References 29 publications

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“…Niche separation between different surface-sediment feeding foraminiferans is demonstrated by the composition of algal pigments in the cytoplasm, confirming previous experimental results (Heinz et al, 2001;Nomaki et al, 2005Nomaki et al, , 2009Witte et al, 2003). The high ratios of chlorophyll a and Pheo a pigments in Miliolinella 1 and Miliolinella 2 shows that they were feeding on fresh phytodetritus.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 75%

“…But it has also been shown that many deep-sea foraminiferans are associated with phytodetrital aggregates (Cornelius and Gooday, 2004) and can give a fast response to pulses of phytodetritus (Gooday, 1988(Gooday, , 2002. The response of foraminiferans to phytodetritus exposure has been extensively documented both in situ and experimentally (Enge et al, 2011;Heinz et al, 2001;Nomaki et al, 2005Nomaki et al, , 2009Witte et al, 2003). Indirectly, the distribution of benthic foraminiferal faunas, e.g., dominated by Epistominella exigua (Brady, 1884) in various Southern Ocean environments are a reflection of the importance of phytodetritus pulses (Mackensen et al, 1993(Mackensen et al, , 1995.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Algal pigments in Southern Ocean abyssal foraminiferans indicate pelagobenthic coupling

Cedhagen

Cheah

Bracher

et al. 2014

Deep Sea Research Part II: Topical Studies in Oceanography

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a b s t r a c tThe cytoplasm of four species of abyssal benthic foraminiferans from the Southern Ocean (around 511S; 121W and 501S; 391W) was analysed by High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) and found to contain large concentrations of algal pigments and their degradation products. The composition of the algal pigments in the foraminiferan cytoplasm reflected the plankton community at the surface. Some foraminiferans contained high ratios of chlorophyll a/degraded pigments because they were feeding on fresher phytodetritus. Other foraminiferans contained only degraded pigments which shows that they utilized degraded phytodetritus. The concentration of algal pigment and corresponding degradation products in the foraminiferan cytoplasm is much higher than in the surrounding sediment. It shows that the foraminiferans collect a diluted and sparse food resource and concentrate it as they build up their cytoplasm. This ability contributes to the understanding of the great quantitative success of foraminiferans in the deep sea. Benthic foraminiferans are a food source for many abyssal metazoans. They form a link between the degraded food resources, phytodetritus, back to the active metazoan food chains.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 75%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Algal pigments in Southern Ocean abyssal foraminiferans indicate pelagobenthic coupling

Cedhagen

Cheah

Bracher

et al. 2014

Deep Sea Research Part II: Topical Studies in Oceanography

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“…H2: The increase in food inputs to the sediment stimulates the benthos, resulting in a quick increase in benthic activity, bioturbation, and pigment degradation products Sediment communities have been reported to quickly respond to pulses of phytodetritus reaching the sea Xoor by increasing their consumption of oxygen (Witte et al 2003;Renaud et al 2008). High SOD values have been recorded in April/May in Franklin Bay by Renaud et al (2007) as a possible consequence of increasing ice algal inputs.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A multiple biomarker approach to tracking the fate of an ice algal bloom to the sea floor

2010

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“…Accordingly, the relationship is not simple, as the physiological response of macrofauna to the input of OC is non-linear. Some species partially remineralize OC boosting microbial activities [Witte et al, 2003b], whereas others cause subduction of fresh OC deep into their burrows where OC may be isolated from the abundant aerobes of the WSI [Levin et al, 1997]. Moreover, feeding strategies may affect the magnitude of macrofaunal metabolism as some species (e.g., suspension feeders) may react to the temporal change in OC fluxes whereas others (e.g., deep-deposit feeders) may not.…”

Section: Direct Infaunal Metabolization Of Organic Carbonmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Infaunal populations from the continental slope off North Carolina ingested a large fraction of a pulse OC input within few days whereas the remainder was subducted down to > 10 cm sediment depth in association with the burrow excavation activities [Blair et al, 1996;Levin et al, 1997]. Approximately 17% of a pulse OC input to a continental slope site off the west coast of Norway was processed (i.e., fully or partially remineralized) by macrofauna [Witte et al, 2003a;Witte et al, 2003b]. The concurrent oxygen consumption was significantly increased due to macrofaunal respiration, even though macrofauna were responsible for less than 5% of the total sedimentary biomass.…”

Section: Direct Infaunal Metabolization Of Organic Carbonmentioning

confidence: 99%

Biogeochemical consequences of infaunal activities

Furukawa¹

2005

Coastal and Estuarine Studies

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The public reporting burden for this collection of Information is estimated to average 1 hour per response, including the time for reviewing instructions, searching existing data sources, gathering and maintaining the data needed, and completing and reviewing the collection of information. Send comments regarding this burden estimate or any other aspect of this collection of information, including suggestions for reducing the burden, Activities of sedimentary infauna have significant consequences on overall sedimentary diagenesis. Infauna directly participate in sedimentary processes by organic matter metabolization coupled to aerobic respiration and metabolite excretion. In addition, they indirectly influence the diagenetic pathways by changing the transport regimes of dissolved and particulate species as well as by modifying microbial habitats. The couplings between infaunal activities and their biogeochemical consequences have been studied in recent years, but many of the results and conclusions remain site-and species-specific due to the diverse and highly interrelated ways in which sedimentary infauna interact with the transport. reaction, and microbial regimes. A generalized understanding of infauna-influenced sedimentary systems will require (It a systematic classification of the infauna-sediment interaction mechanisms Activities of sedimentary infauna have significant consequences on overall sedimentary diagenesis. Infauna directly participate in sedimentary processes by organic matter metabolization coupled to aerobic respiration and metabolite excretion. In addition, they indirectly influence the diagenetic pathways by changing the transport regimes of dissolved and particulate species as well as by modifying microbial habitats. The couplings between infaunal activities and their biogeochemical consequences have been studied in recent years, but many of the results and conclusions remain site-and species-specific due to the diverse and highly interrelated ways in which sedimentary infauna interact with the transport, reaction, and microbial regimes. A generalized understanding of infauna-influenced sedimentary systems will require (1) a systematic classification of the infauna-sediment interaction mechanisms and (2) a comprehensive model framework that incorporates all known effects of infauna-sediment interactions associated with transport, reaction, and microbial regimes.

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In situ experimental evidence of the fate of a phytodetritus pulse at the abyssal sea floor

Cited by 230 publications

References 29 publications

Algal pigments in Southern Ocean abyssal foraminiferans indicate pelagobenthic coupling

Algal pigments in Southern Ocean abyssal foraminiferans indicate pelagobenthic coupling

A multiple biomarker approach to tracking the fate of an ice algal bloom to the sea floor

Biogeochemical consequences of infaunal activities

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