IR Home
MEPS
Home
Editors
Forthcoming
Information
Subscribe
Journals
Home
MEPS
AME
CR
DAO
ESEP
ESR
Search
Subscribe
Book Series
EE Books
Top Books
ESEP Books
Order
EEIU Brochures
(pdf format)
Discussion Forums
Home
Research
IR Research
Institutions
International Ecology Institute
Eco-Ethics International Union
Foundation
Otto Kinne Foundation
 | |
MEPS 269:209-221 (2004)
|
Abstract
|
Disturbance and recruitment: a test of solute and substrate specificity using Mercenaria mercenaria and Capitella sp. 1
Roberta L. Marinelli1,*, Sarah Ann Woodin2
1Chesapeake Biological Laboratory, University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science, PO Box 38, Solomons, Maryland 20688, USA
2Department of Biological Sciences and Marine Science Program, University of South Carolina, Columbia, South Carolina 29208, USA
*Email: marinelli@cbl.umces.edu
ABSTRACT: Disturbances alter sediment surface chemistry, and this alteration promotes rejection of habitats by new benthic recruits. To date, the specific compound(s) affecting the rejection response have not been identified, but model predictions and
experimental evidence suggest that oxygen and ammonium concentrations are informative. We evaluated the recruitment response of the opportunistic polychaete Capitella sp. 1 to disturbed, undisturbed and recovering sediments, with parallel measures
of oxygen concentration at the sediment surface. Results suggest that Capitella sp. 1 avoid disturbed sediments, but the behavior was not consistent with surface oxygen concentration. We also manipulated porewater ammonium concentration and
examined the recruitment responses of Mercenaria mercenaria and Capitella sp. 1 to experimentally altered, as well as naturally disturbed, surfaces. Results suggest that M. mercenaria avoid disturbed habitats, regardless
of ammonium concentration; however, Capitella sp. 1 responses were consistent with avoidance of high ammonium environments. Finally, we tested a prediction of our disturbance recovery model: that chemical signals associated with
disturbance, and responses of recruits, vary as a function of the diagenetic regime. As predicted, chemical concentrations were more dramatically changed in disturbed muds relative to disturbed sands. Capitella sp. 1 rejected disturbed mud
surfaces having high ammonium/low oxygen but accepted habitats having low ammonium and high oxygen, including undisturbed mud and sand surfaces, and disturbed sand surfaces. M. mercenaria rejected disturbed sediments regardless of ammonium or
oxygen concentration, or sediment type. Our findings confirm that small-scale geochemical processes that are widespread in sedimentary habitats affect recruitment decisions.
KEY WORDS: Disturbance · Recruitment · Capitella · Mercenaria · Ammonium · Oxygen
Full text in pdf format
Published in MEPS Vol.
269
(2004) on March 25
Print ISSN: 0171-8630; Online ISSN: 1616-1599.
Copyright © Inter-Research, Oldendorf/Luhe, 2004
|
