Temporal and spatial variations of biodeposits—A preliminary investigation of the role of fecal pellets in the Sylt-Rømø tidal area

Austen, I.

doi:10.1007/bf02908716

Cited by 9 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 16 publications

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“…The %POM in the <63 pm fraction increased by an average of 41 % between June and September for Sites 1, 2 and 3, compared to only 5% for Site 5 with minimal suspension-and deposit-feeding activity. These findings support the observations of Austen (1997), who found that benthic fauna played an important role in modifying the composition of surficial sediments and established positive relationships between animal abundance and % mud content and faecal pellet volume in tidal flats. Data for 1997 indicate that the %POM in the flne fraction and the silt content of the Molenplaat subsequently decline over winter before increasing again during the spring-summer.…”

Section: Biodeposition and Sediment Propertiessupporting

confidence: 91%

Influence of biota on spatial and temporal variation in sediment erodability and material flux on a tidal flat (Westerschelde, The Netherlands)

Widdows¹,

Brinsley²,

Salkeld³

et al. 2000

Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser.

133

107

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Annular flumes were used to quantlfy benthic-pelaqc exchanges in relation to changes in current velocity and sediment biota. Various physical, chemical and biological parameters were determined for 4 sites on the Molenplaat tidal flat in the Westerschelde (The Netherlands) during 2 field campaigns in May-June and August-September 1996. These Pcluded: the mass of sediment eroded, maximum and mean erosion rates, critical erosion velocity (Ucfi,), suspension feeding/biodeposition rate, oxygen and ammonium fluxes, density of macrofauna species, chlorophyll a (chl a), colloidal carbohydrate, and physical properties of the sediment. The study showed marked and statistically significant spatial and temporal differences in the potential for sediment erosion. Sites in the centre of the tidal flat were less erodable than those on the edge. All sites on the tidal flat had a significantly (p < 0.001) lower erosion potential in June (i.e. higher U,,, and lower erosion rates) compared to September.The presence of a well-developed microphytobenthos community in June resulted in a statistically significant relationship between U,,, and chl a/colloidal carbohydrate (r = +0.85, p = 0.01). There was a significant relationship (r = +0.88, p = 0.005) between sediment erodab~lity (mass of sediment eroded and erosion rate) and the density of the clam Macoma balthica, a major bioturbator of the surface sedi m e n t~. Analysis of the data also demonstrated significant relationships between clearance rate and Cerastoderma edule biomass (r = +0.91, p < 0.001), and between sedment chl a/colloidal carbohydrate and C. edule biomass (r = +0.92; p < 0.001), reflecting the influence of suspension feeders on both the water column and the sediment, through their biodeposits. The significant increase in sediment erodability between June and September reflected the shift in the overall balance between the major 'biostabilisers' (microphytobenthos) and 'bio-destabilisers' (bioturbating bivalves). T h s interpretation of field-derived correlations is consistent with previously established relationships and mechanistic understanding derived from controlled flume experiments.

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Section: Biodeposition and Sediment Propertiessupporting

confidence: 91%

Influence of biota on spatial and temporal variation in sediment erodability and material flux on a tidal flat (Westerschelde, The Netherlands)

Widdows¹,

Brinsley²,

Salkeld³

et al. 2000

Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser.

133

107

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“…Study site-The field study was carried out in Königshafen (55Њ02ЈN, 008Њ26ЈE), an intertidal bay of Sylt Island (North Sea) with a mean tidal range of 1.7 m in its southern part (Austen 1997). Water temperatures range between Ϫ2ЊC and 23ЊC (Reise 1985), salinities from 23‰ in winter to 33‰ in summer (Kristensen et al 1997).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Advective particle transport into permeable sediments—evidence from experiments in an intertidal sandflat

Huettel

Rusch

2000

Limnology & Oceanography

120

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Advective transport of artificial and natural particles into permeable sediments was demonstrated in situ by field experiments in an intertidal Wadden Sea sandflat. Using dyed sediment, advective interfacial solute exchange was shown to reach down at least 1.5 cm below surface. Particle depth distributions depended on sediment permeability and particle size. Sandy sediments were found to efficiently trap particulate material. At the beginning of the local phytoplankton spring bloom, an average m 2 of coarse-grained sediment received 850-mg organic carbon per day by filtration of 14 liters of overlying water per hour. We discuss the relative importance of different transport mechanisms, and data from parallel studies on natural sediments at the same site are interpreted in close correlation to the results of the in situ experiment.Deposition and resuspension are considered a major link between water column and the sediment (van Raaphorst et al. 1998), and on the inner shelf (water depth Ͻ100 m) suspended matter concentrations in the order of 0.

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“…On ). Thus, in the investigated regions the mixed and muddy sediments were composed of up to 80 vol% of fecal pellets (AuSTEN 1995). The faeces of Heteromastusfilformis and Hydrobia ulvae dominate.…”

Section: Sediments and Sediment Distributionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Sediments and suspended matter in the sylt-Rømø tidal area: A summary of Results Collected in the “SWAP”-project

Köster¹,

Ricklefs²

1998

Senckenbergiana maritima

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The Sylt-Romo tidal basin has evolved during the last 5000 to 5500 years. In 1992 it covered 401.4 km z, of which 60O/o were subtidal areas and 40% were intertidal flats. With the beginning of the last century reliable maps became avai[able fbr this part of the Wadden Sea. Since that time significant losses of sediment in subtidal areas can be demonstrated.The main part (114.7 km 2, 72%) of the intertidal flats is built up of sand. Sandy deposits also prevail in the subtidal areas. Muddy sands with 10 to 50O/o silt and clay forma nearshore, more of less narrow belt along the islands, dams and main land coasts. They cover 39 km 2 or 250/o of the intertidal region. Muddy intertidal flats and salt marshes enclose less than 10 km 2 each. This sediment distribution partero exhibits the typical zoning of the dep• in an intertidal bay. The spatial distribution of the fine-grained suspended sediments largely fbllows this pattern. In the Sylt-Romo tidal area the net accumulation rate ofthese sediments ofabout 58000 t/a is relatively low. Dieses Sedimentverteilungsmuster gibt die typische Zoniemng einer Bucht des Gezeitenbereiches wieder. Die r/iumliche Verteilung der supendierten, feink6migen Sedimente folgt ira wesentlichen diesem Muster. Die Ablagemngsrate derartiger Sedimente ira Syh-Romo Wattenmeer ist mit 58000 t/a vergleichsweise gering.

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Temporal and spatial variations of biodeposits—A preliminary investigation of the role of fecal pellets in the Sylt-Rømø tidal area

Cited by 9 publications

References 16 publications

Influence of biota on spatial and temporal variation in sediment erodability and material flux on a tidal flat (Westerschelde, The Netherlands)

Influence of biota on spatial and temporal variation in sediment erodability and material flux on a tidal flat (Westerschelde, The Netherlands)

Advective particle transport into permeable sediments—evidence from experiments in an intertidal sandflat

Sediments and suspended matter in the sylt-Rømø tidal area: A summary of Results Collected in the “SWAP”-project

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