Tube-dwelling nematodes: tube construction and possible ecological effects on sediment-water interfaces

Nehring, Stefan; Jensen, Per H.; Lorenzen, S.

doi:10.3354/meps064123

Cited by 41 publications

(27 citation statements)

References 14 publications

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“…Also, meiofauna may have been responsible for this tracer migration. These small (<1 mm) organisms build microstructures that destabilize surficial sediments (Nehring et al 1990, Giere 1993, Tita et al 2000, Michaud et al 2003, allowing surficial particles to penetrate deeper into the sediments (Gerino et al 1998). However, particle displacement by meiofauna would have caused an increased penetration of the tracers with time, which was not the case in the controls between Days 5 and 30.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of temperature on in vitro sediment reworking processes by a gallery biodiffusor, the polychaete Neanthes virens

Ouellette¹,

Desrosiers²,

Gagné³

et al. 2004

Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser.

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Temperature-induced variations in bioturbation could affect sediment mixing processes in the marine benthic environment. In this study, sediment reworking by Neanthes virens (Sars), a widely distributed polychaete in muddy sand communities of northern temperate latitudes, was studied under different temperature conditions representing winter (1°C), spring and fall (6°C), summer (13°C), and tide pool (18°C) temperatures in the lower St. Lawrence Estuary, Québec, Canada. Sediment reworking was quantified using inert fluorescent particles (luminophores) deposited at the sediment surface. Based on the 1-D luminophore distributions obtained after 5 and 30 d, the use of the specific 'gallery-biodiffusor' model allowed us to quantify both biodiffusion (D b ) and biotransport (V b ) due to the organisms. Our results showed temperature effects on sediment transport. The lowest biotransport and biodiffusion coefficients were measured at 1 and 6°C and did not change with time. The highest biodiffusion occurred at 13°C for both sampling periods. At 18°C, biodiffusion was intermediate while biotransport was maximal. Differences between the 13°C biodiffusive transport and the other temperatures increased with time. Low transport values at 1 and 6°C suggest that a quiescent stage exists for this species at these temperatures, with sediment mixing occurring mostly during burrow construction. On the other hand, sediment mixing resulted from both the burrow construction and maintenance phases at higher temperatures (13 and 18°C).

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of temperature on in vitro sediment reworking processes by a gallery biodiffusor, the polychaete Neanthes virens

Ouellette¹,

Desrosiers²,

Gagné³

et al. 2004

Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser.

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“…This same region of sediments is inhabited by abundant interstitial meiofauna, typically ranging from -10 to 500 cme3. Permanent meiofauna, such as nematodes, and temporary meiofauna, such as juvenile polychaetes, build tubes, form networks of small channels, and agitate particles during feeding and burrowing (Severin et al 1982;Chandler and Fleeger 1984;Nehring et al 1990). These activities can cause the dcstruction of features such as macrofaunal tracks and trails during particle dispersion but can also create microtopography at the sediment-water interface (Cullen 1973 though there has been occasional speculation regarding the possible influence of meiofaunal activities on solute transport near sediment-water interfaces, to our knowledge there has been no corresponding qualitative or quantitative documentation published.…”

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confidence: 99%

Meiofauna and solute transport in marine muds

1992

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Meiofauna typically inhabit sedimentary zones having substantial concentration gradients in biogcochcmically important solutes such as 0,. Diffusion experiments with the conservative tracers Cl and Br-demonstrate that natural populations of meiofauna (-30-100 cm ') can increase transport rates of these solutes by factors of -1.7-2.3 x (for T > 1oOC) compared with uninhabited sediments. The effect varies seasonally, directly with temperature and probably with faunal composition. About 20-40% of the increase in transport is due to increased porosity (decreased tortuosity) caused by meiofaunal activities and would be accounted for in most estimates of diGsion. The remaining, larger portion, is apparently due more directly to biologically induced fluid motion and three-dimensional diffusion. Transport coefficients can bc resolved into two components with apparent activation energies of -3 and -10 kcal mol-I (Q,() -1.2 and 1.8, T = 1 O"-20°C) consistent with control by physical and metabolic processes. Measurements following addition of particular meiofaunal groups to otherwise natural populations suggest that nematodes, juvenile bivalves, and polychaetes have the greatesE effect. Transport activities of meiofauna must stimulate solute fluxes and reaction rates, particularly aerobic decomposition and associated processes such as nitrification in the oxic zones of marine sediments. In contrast, macrofauna commonly enhance solute transport to a greater extent (2-10 x) than do meiofauna and, while stimulating aerobic reactions, also dramatically promote anaerobic processes in organic-rich deposits.

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“…Certain species from intertidal mudflats build tubes consisting of sediment and small organic particles glued together by mucus secretions from, e.g., the ventral gland, affecting sediment stability and, at the same time, probably offering shelter against both hydrodynamic impacts and predation (Nehring et al 1990, Nehring 1993. Mucus production from ventral and caudal glands is widespread.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In addition to benefiting from any exo-enzymatic activity in the mucus (Riemann & Helmke 2002), bacteria may simply use the mucus for attachment or feed on it. The composition -and potential nutritive value for bacteria -of the nematode mucus is poorly known, but it does apparently contain a substantial share of acid mucopolysaccharides (Nehring et al 1990). In addition, C/N ratios of nematodes tend to be Table 1.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Do nematode mucus secretions affect bacterial growth?

Moens

Santos²,

Thompson³

et al. 2005

Aquat. Microb. Ecol.

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Many aquatic nematodes secrete mucus while moving, and prominent microbial growth on nematode mucus tracks has been observed. This has been interpreted as a mutualistic interaction in which nematodes may feed on the micro-organisms that colonise their tracks (i.e. the mucus-trap hypothesis). Because of recent evidence that nematodes can affect bacterial community composition, we tested whether bacterial communities growing on nematode mucus differ from extant communities. We characterised the bacterial epigrowth of tracks produced on agar by 2 estuarine nematode species (the facultative predator Adoncholaimus fuscus and the bacterivore Geomonhystera disjuncta) and compared it to that of artificial tracks and to the bacterial inocula. The experiment lasted 8 d, with bacterial community analyses (using fatty acid methyl ester [FAME] analysis) after 2, 4, 6 and 8 d. Although our experimental design promoted a low-diversity bacterial community, multidimensional scaling generally separated communities on nematode tracks from inocula, artificial track communities typically being intermediate and highly variable. In a total of 6 bacterial inocula spotted with A. fuscus, only 1 bacterial strain was recorded on nematode tracks, compared to 6 on artificial tracks and 7 in the inocula. In addition, colony morphology of this particular bacteria, Pseudoalteromonas tetraodonis, was less diverse on nematode tracks than on artificial tracks or inocula. Treatments with G. disjuncta yielded similar yet less consistent and less pronounced results. Our results suggest that nematode mucus may affect colonisation and succession patterns of bacteria. This may have important implications for food-web interactions and ecosystem functions involving both bacteria and nematodes.

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Tube-dwelling nematodes: tube construction and possible ecological effects on sediment-water interfaces

Cited by 41 publications

References 14 publications

Effects of temperature on in vitro sediment reworking processes by a gallery biodiffusor, the polychaete Neanthes virens

Effects of temperature on in vitro sediment reworking processes by a gallery biodiffusor, the polychaete Neanthes virens

Meiofauna and solute transport in marine muds

Do nematode mucus secretions affect bacterial growth?

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