Spatial and temporal patterns of microphytobenthos communities along the marine-terrestrial boundary in the German Wadden Sea

Abstract

Microphytobenthos (MPBs) are the main primary producers in shallow marine ecosystems, such as the Wadden Sea. We investigated the spatial and temporal dynamics of MPB communities across the marine-terrestrial boundary over three seasons (spring, summer, and fall) on three East Frisian Islands (Norderney, Spiekeroog, and Wangerooge) in the German Wadden Sea. Natural transects were compared with 12 experimental islands (salt marsh vegetated vs. initially bare islands) established on the tidal flats of Spiekeroog for studying dispersal-mediated community assembly. Sediment cores were taken along triplicate transects and on three elevation levels of the experimental islands, corresponding to the pioneer (pio) zone, the lower salt (LS) marsh, and the upper salt (US) marsh. On both the natural transects and the experimental islands, the highest MPB biomass was observed in the pio zone, where vegetation-driven sediment stabilization and high-mud content could have promoted MPB biomass in this marine-terrestrial transition zone. On the experimental islands, MPB biomass and diversity significantly decreased with elevation regardless of the season, indicating that the rarely submerged upper salt marsh level supported minimal MPB growth. The MPB biomass was also higher on initially vegetated than on bare islands, which was the most pronounced on the US level. On the tidal flat transects, the MPB biomass significantly increased with elevation up to the pio zone before decreasing again in the LS marsh. Temperature, sediment water content, and grain size significantly affected transect MPB biomass. MPB diversity, on the other hand, was not related to elevation but was rather determined by temperature, mean grain size, and mud content. Our study suggests that extending MPB studies into the “terrestrial” domain of salt marshes enhances our understanding of the microalgae–plant interaction in this important boundary zone.

Abundance, biomass and species richness of macrozoobenthos along an intertidal elevation gradient

“…We used the dissolved inorganic nutrients and Chl a biomass informed by Yong et al. (2022), who took samples at the exact same locations and time as our macrozoobenthos samples. Dissolved inorganic nutrients were sampled using rhizon samplers (CSS 5 cm; 0.15 μm membrane pore size; 19.21.23F; Rhizosphere Research Products, Wageningen, Netherlands) that were inserted 2 cm in the sediment and connected to syringes.…”

“…(2015) with slight modifications that can be found in Yong et al. (2022). In summary, Chl a was extracted from sediment subsamples (5 g) in 96% ethanol and the resulting supernatants were measured in triplicates using a Synergy MX plate reader (BioTek Instruments, Vermont, USA).…”

“…In the field, samples were stored in the dark, cooled with ice packs and immediately frozen at −80°C after returning to the laboratory. The extraction and analysis of the pigment Chl a was performed after the method of Thrane et al (2015) with slight modifications that can be found in Yong et al (2022). In summary, Chl a was extracted from sediment subsamples (5 g) in 96% ethanol and the resulting supernatants were measured in triplicates using a Synergy MX plate reader (BioTek Instruments, Vermont, USA).…”

“…Microphytobenthos contributes to a large extent to the primary production of tidal flats and supports higher trophic levels, like macrozoobenthos, with essential fatty acids and energy by contributing large fractions to their nutrition (Christianen et al., 2017; Hope et al., 2020; MacIntyre et al., 1996). Microphytobenthos biomass generally increases with elevation and cohesiveness of the sediment, most likely due to the longer exposure time and therefore light availability, higher nutrient concentration and less resuspension of the sediment (Colijn & Dijkema, 1981; Underwood & Kromkamp, 1999; Yong et al., 2022). While opportunistic species do best in habitats with high organic enrichment, equilibrium species can better cope with lower concentrations (Linton & Taghon, 2000; Pearson & Rosenberg, 1978).…”