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MEPS 294:35-49 (2005)
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Abstract
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Experimental recolonisation of Baltic Sea reduced sediments: survival of benthic macrofauna and effects on nutrient cycling
Karin Karlson1,*, Stefan Hulth2, Katja Ringdahl3, Rutger Rosenberg3
1Göteborg University, Department of Marine Ecology, Marine Botany, Box 461, 405 30 Göteborg, Sweden
2Göteborg University, Department of Chemistry, 412 96 Göteborg, Sweden
3Göteborg
University, Department of Marine Ecology, Kristineberg Marine Research Station, 450 34 Fiskebäckskil, Sweden
*Email: karin.karlson@kmf.gu.se
ABSTRACT: A recolonisation experiment was performed in vitro on highly reduced laminated Baltic Sea sediments initially devoid of larger benthic fauna. The survival capacity of 3 common benthic species Monoporeia affinis, Macoma
balthica and Marenzelleria viridis was investigated along with overall effects of bioturbation and bioirrigation on benthic reaction and transport processes. Benthic fluxes of oxygen and nutrients, sediment denitrification and nutrients in the
porewater were measured. Survival of M. affinis increased with time and sediment reworking, while no such feedback was observed for M. balthica and M. viridis. Macrofaunal irrigation and bioturbating activities significantly enhanced
solute fluxes in the manipulated cores compared to the control. Mass balance calculations indicated that net N-mineralisation in the manipulated cores was stimulated by 1 to 2 orders of magnitude compared to the control. Despite relatively high nitrate
fluxes from the overlying water to the sediment (~1 mmol m–2 d–1), measured rates of total denitrification were in general low (20 to 45 µmol N2 m–2 d–1) in all cores.
Denitrification, using nitrate supplied from the overlying water (Dw), was similar to coupled nitrification/denitrification (Dn), although Dw was significantly higher than Dn in the M. affinis cores. In
conjunction with high nitrate fluxes into the sediment and high ammonium fluxes to the overlying water, the generally low denitrification rates indicated dissimilatory nitrate reduction to ammonium (DNRA) as the main pathway for nitrate removal. Thus, the
main source of bottom water ammonium was overlying water nitrate, rather than ammonium produced in surface sediments during mineralisation of organic N.
KEY WORDS: Recolonisation · Bioturbation · Macrofauna · Baltic Sea · Reduced sediments· Benthic fluxes · Denitrification · Mineralisation
Full text in pdf format
Published in MEPS Vol.
294
(2005) on June 9
Print ISSN: 0171-8630; Online ISSN: 1616-1599.
Copyright © Inter-Research, Oldendorf/Luhe, 2005
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