Biofilm mediated intertidal sediments exhibit more complex erosional behaviour than abiotic systems. A major feature of intertidal systems is the exposure to repeated cycles of high and low shear created by tidal conditions and also less predictable episodic events, such as storms. There is very little information on how biofilm‐forming communities respond to these conditions. In this study, the effects of both single and repeated‐cycles of shear on the stability of newly developed bio‐sedimentary beds was examined. Cleaned sand, without any potential biostabilization, was used as the control. For the single‐cycle scenario, biofilms were incubated on a non‐cohesive sandy bed under prolonged low shear periods varying between 5 and 22 days, after which erosional stress was applied. No significant biostabilization was observed for the youngest bio‐sedimentary bed (after five days of low shear incubation). After 22 days, microbial communities were characterized by a firmly attached surface biofilm. To cause erosion, greater hydrodynamic stress (0.28 Pa) was required. The erosional behaviour of the underlying sand was also affected in that bedform ripples noted in the control system were no longer observed. Instead, a sudden ‘mass erosion’ took place (0.33 Pa). The one‐cycle scenario indicated that significant biostabilization of sand only occurred after a relative long calm period. Under repeated cycles of stress (five days of low stress followed by high stress event and re‐incubation, repeated for four cycles = 20 days), frequent cyclic disturbance did not degrade the system stability but enhanced biostabilization. The properties of the sub‐surface sediments were also affected where erosion rates were further inhibited. We hypothesize that organic material eroded from the bed acted as a ‘biofilm precursor’ supporting the development of new biofilm growth. A conceptual framework is presented to highlight the dynamics of bio‐sedimentary beds and the effects of growth history under repeated‐cycles. © 2019 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

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A notable feature of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill was the unprecedented formation of marine oil snow (MOS) that was observed in large quantities floating on the sea surface and that subsequently sedimented to the seafloor. Whilst the physical and chemical processes involved in MOS formation remain unclear, some studies have shown that extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) play a role in this process. Here, we report that during exposure of subarctic northeast Atlantic seawater to a chemical dispersant, whether in the presence/absence of crude oil, the dispersant stimulates the production of significant quantities of EPS that we posit serves as a key building block in the formation of MOS. This response is likely conferred via de novo synthesis of EPS by natural communities of bacteria. We also describe the formation of marine dispersant snow (MDS) as a product of adding chemical dispersants to seawater. Differential staining confirmed that MDS, like MOS, is composed of glycoprotein, though MDS is more protein rich. Using barcoded-amplicon Illumina MiSeq sequencing, we analyzed, for the first time, the bacterial communities associated with MDS and report that their diversity is not significantly dissimilar to those associated with MOS aggregates. Our findings emphasize the need to conduct further work on the effects of dispersants when applied to oil spills at sea, particularly at different sites, and to determine how the product of this (i.e., MOS and MDS) affects the biodegradation of the oil.

Cohesive extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) generated by microorganisms abundant on Earth are regarded as bed “stabilizers” increasing the erosion threshold in sedimentary systems. However, most observations of this phenomenon have been taken under steady flow conditions. In contrast, we present how EPS affect the bed movement under wave action, showing a destabilization of the system. We demonstrate a complex behavior of the biosedimentary deposits, which encompasses liquefaction, mass motion, varying bed formations and erosion, depending on the amount of EPS present. Small quantities of EPS induce higher mobility of the sediments, liquefying an otherwise stable bed. Bed with larger quantities of EPS undergoes a synchronized mechanical oscillation. Our analysis clarifies how biological cohesion can potentially put coastal wetlands at risk by increasing their vulnerability to waves. These findings lead to a revised understanding of the different roles played by microbial life, and their importance as mediators of seabed mobility.