Particle bioturbation in Massachusetts Bay: Preliminary results using a new deliberate tracer technique

Wheatcroft, Robert A.; Ölmez, I.; Pink, Francis X.

doi:10.1357/0022240943076803

Cited by 46 publications

(38 citation statements)

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“…glass beads, isotopically labelled algae, inert solutes, radionuclides, metal-doped sediment and fluorescent luminophores; Wheatcroft et al 1994, Blair et al 1996, Gerino et al 1998, Sandnes et al 2000, Berg et al 2001, Green et al 2002, Forster et al 2003. The use of such tracers allows the average concentration of particles within the sediment profile to be characterised following a short incubation period, but the process of tracer recovery can be extremely time consuming and is not without error.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

In situ quantification of bioturbation using time-lapse fluorescent sediment profile imaging (f-SPI), luminophore tracers and model simulation

Solan¹,

Wigham²,

Hudson³

et al. 2004

Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser.

136

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In order to link actual biological data on bioturbation to the abstract parameters in bioturbation models, high-resolution data on the frequency and lengths of particle displacements are required. The temporal variation in bioturbation for a subtidal macrofaunal assemblage was studied non-invasively and in situ using an optically modified fluorescence sensitive time-lapse sediment profile imaging camera (f-SPI), fluorescent-dyed sediment particles (luminophores) and mathematical modelling. This combined approach allowed tracer particles to be non-invasively tracked and their displacements monitored at an unprecedented spatial (78 µm) and temporal (every 10 min) resolution for extended periods of time (16 h). The redistribution of luminophores was digitally acquired from sequential images and compared to model predictions, with particle transport modelled as (1) a diffusive process, allowing the biodiffusion coefficient, D b , to be estimated, and (2) a non-local process, allowing a reworking activity constant, a, to be calculated. Model predictions of luminophore particle transport for the final image of the f-SPI sequence gave: D b = 1.26 × 10 2 cm 2 yr -1; a = 5.23 × 10 -2 cm -1 yr -1. Discrete values of a fluctuated widely throughout the sequence and allowed discrete bioturbation events to be identified. Time-lapse movie sequences revealed that most of the bioturbation observed during the deployment could be directly attributed to the behaviour of the brachyuran crab Hyas araneus. Our findings demonstrate that f-SPI provides a rapid and non-invasive means to visualise and quantify, in situ, the extent and influence of discrete infaunal bioturbation events on particle mixing. This technique provides detailed information on the spatial and temporal resolution of such bioturbation events, which could significantly improve existing models of bioturbation.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

In situ quantification of bioturbation using time-lapse fluorescent sediment profile imaging (f-SPI), luminophore tracers and model simulation

Solan¹,

Wigham²,

Hudson³

et al. 2004

Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser.

136

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“…Rates of organic matter and con-tarninant degradation, the dissolution of various biogenic components (CaC03 and SiOz), microbial activity, and pore-water-concentration profiles of nearly all dissolved chemical species are affected by the intensity of bioturbation (Berner 1980, Wheatcroft et al 1990, Gerino et al 1998, Soetaert et al 1998. The mechanisms and rates of sediment particlemixing are typically estimated by changes in depth profiles of either naturally occurring, particle-reactive radionuclides (Boudreau 1986), or by inert particles naturally or artificially introduced as tracers; these include isotopically labelled particles, glass beads, fluorescent particles and metal-doped sediment (Wheatcroft 1992, Wheatcroft et al 1994, Madsen et al 1997, Gerino et al 1998, Hansen et al 1999. The mixing of such tracers is typically modelled quantitatively as a 1-dimensicnal (vertically) diifusive prccess and a Siodiffusion coefficient (Db) is estimated, analogous to a standard Fickian diffusivity (Berner 1980, Smith et al 1993, Gerino et al 1998).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Influence of particle type and faunal activity on mixing of di(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate (DEHP) in natural sediments

Sandnes¹,

Forbes²,

Hansen³

et al. 2000

Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser.

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The influence of faunal activity and particle type on sed~rnent-mixing processes of the particle-bound, organic contaminant di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) were examined over a 48 d experimental period with natural box-cosm sedments. A dual-labelling radiotracer technique using 14C-DEHP and 51Cr determined the fate and utilization of DEHP associated with either sediment or phytoplankton particles. Particle-mixing was est~mated using a l-dimensional transient-state biodiffusion model and expressed as & coefficients. Sediment 51Cr depth profiles fitted t h s simple biodiffusion model well, indicating randomized, vertical particle mixing. Particle reworking rates were approximately 9-fold higher in faunated treatments compared to defaunated control sedirnents, thus quantifying the importance of benthic fauna as agents of physical transport. Biodiffusion rates in faunated boxcosms were significantly higher in phytoplankton compared to sediment I4C-DEHP particle treatments (p < 0.05). This was attributed to an experimental urchin effect resulting from natural variations in the density of the large macrofaunal urchin Echinocardium cordatum between particle treatments. Sediment-mixing rates were independent of particle type when this urchin effect was removed. Examination of I4C and 51Cr relative depth profiles showed the 2 tracers to be coupled in defaunated sedirnents and decoupled with animals present. This effect was also independent of particle-type, indicating no selective transport associated with the particle-type treatments. The decoupling of tracers in faunated treatments, with I4C-DEHP having consistently higher depth-weighted mean values than the 5'Cr tracer, suggested a decrease in surface I4C-DEHP concentrations through degradation processes at the sediment-water interface. Sediment-mixing rates increased significantly with increasing total community biomass, indicating that size (biomass) may be the single most important community parameter determining sediment-mixing intensity. Downward particle transport was strongly correlated with E. cordaturn abundance (p < 0.01), the dominant species in the benthic community in terms of size. E. cordatum densities also correlated strongly with the number of benthic infaunal species present in the box-cosms, with maximum infaunal species numbers occurring at intermediate E. cordata densities. This is in accordance with theories on intermediate disturbance. The 2 I4C-DEHP particle-type treatments had no significant effect on E. cordata body sizes or DEHP body burden. The large urchin E. cordatum clearly dominated sediment-mixing, and did so in a 'non-selective' manner.

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“…Broad classifications of sediment modification potential and bioturbation were made and each species was assigned a bioturbation score. Four classes of bioturbation were used: (1) biodiffusers, which mix at random with the sediment (Gerino et al 1993); (2) conveyor-belt species, which actively transport sediment from some depth to the surface as a result of sub-surface deposit feeding or burrow excavation (Gerino et al 1993;Wheatcroft et al 1994); (3) regenerators, which transport sediment from the surface to some depth and (4) surface depositors, which both feed and deposit faeces at the surface (Dauwe et al 1998). Bioturbation scores were calculated according to the feeding and burrowing behaviour and motility of each species, using the scheme in Swift (1993).…”

Section: Sediment Propertiesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The activity of benthic animals has a profound effect on their environment (de Wilde 1991;Meadows 1991;Wheatcroft et al 1994), resulting in significant alteration of the sediment properties (Winston and Anderson 1971;Rhoads 1974;Jones and Jago 1993). These physical, chemical and biological changes may have some effect on sediment stability and erosion (Widdows et al 1998a,b).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Methods used include the deliberate addition of inert particles (e.g. glass beads) to the sediment (Mahut and Graf 1987;Wheatcroft 1992), the use of labelled particles Wheatcroft et al 1994;Krezoski et al 1995) to act as tracers, the measurement of natural radionuclide deficits (Smethie et al 1981;Wheatcroft and Martin 1996) within the sediment and various techniques to directly measure sediment displacement (Rhoads 1967;Hickson 1994;Retraubun et al 1996). The degree of bioturbation is species specific and is closely related to the feeding mode and depth of the organism concerned, together with its motility, size and abundance as well as community composition (Rhoads 1974;Rhoads and Boyer 1982).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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The effects of chemical pollution on the bioturbation potential of estuarine intertidal mudflats

Mazik¹,

Elliott²

2000

Helgoland Marine Research

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Bioturbation by benthic infauna has important implications for the fate of contaminants as well as for changes to the sediment structure, chemistry and transport characteristics. There is an extensive literature dealing with the influence of sedimentary variables on the structure and function of infaunal marine and estuarine organisms but less is known of the converse, the influence of biota on sedimentary structure. Although some work has been carried out regarding spatial and temporal patterns of bioturbation, little attention has been given to the effects of pollution. The paper gives a framework of animal sediment relationships in an intertidal environment and discusses the general role of macrofauna in structuring and modifying sedimentary features. A brief outline of the various techniques used for quantifying the degree of bioturbation is given and some of these techniques have then been used to demonstrate the effect of a petrochemical discharge on the bioturbation potential of intertidal communities in the Humber estuary, eastern England. These studies indicate an increase in bioturbation with increasing distance from the source of pollution, not only because of differences in abundance, animal size and depth of activity but also because of the difference in species composition between the communities. As a means of interpreting the responses, the species present have been broadly classified in terms of their feeding strategy and sediment modification potential. The paper concludes by discussing the potential impact, in terms of effect on sediment transport, of selectively removing the different guilds (by pollution).

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Particle bioturbation in Massachusetts Bay: Preliminary results using a new deliberate tracer technique

Cited by 46 publications

References 0 publications

In situ quantification of bioturbation using time-lapse fluorescent sediment profile imaging (f-SPI), luminophore tracers and model simulation

In situ quantification of bioturbation using time-lapse fluorescent sediment profile imaging (f-SPI), luminophore tracers and model simulation

Influence of particle type and faunal activity on mixing of di(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate (DEHP) in natural sediments

The effects of chemical pollution on the bioturbation potential of estuarine intertidal mudflats

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