Filtration and resuspension of particulate matter and phytoplankton on an intertidal mussel bed in the Oosterschelde estuary (SW Netherlands)

Abstract

In situ measurements were carried out on an intertidal mussel bed in the Oosterschelde estuary, SW Netherlands. Exchange of suspended particulate matter and phytoplankton between the water column and the mussel bed was measured with a Benthic Ecosystem Tunnel. In situ clearance rates of the mussel bed were compared to clearance rates of individual mussels measured in a field station under amblent conditions. Concentrations of suspended particulate matter (SPM) and particulate organic carbon (POC) in the water column above the tidal flat were affected by wind-induced resuspension. Chlorophyll a concentrations were higher during flood tides than during ebb tides, and were not affected by wind-induced resuspension. Clearance rates of the mussel bed ranged from 1.3 to 7.1 m3 m-2 h-'. In situ measured clearance rates generally were comparable to rates observed in measurements with individual mussels in a field station. Uptake of SPh4 and POC by the mussel bed was highly variable. Under calm weather conditions, uptake rates were correlated with inflow concentrations. Net uptake of phytoplankton was relatively higher than the uptake of POC, indicating that a major part of the POC was resuspended and exported from the mussel bed after filtration. In addition, wind stress induced considerable resuspension and export of SPM and POC from the mussel bed. Chlorophyll a uptake was less influenced by wind, and high rates of uptake, caused by mussel filtration, were observed. The result of filtration and resuspension processes was a net uptake by the mussel bed of particulate matter containing a relatively high proportion of phytoplankton: the mussel bed acted as a selective filter for phytoplankton.

Seasonal variation in C, N and P budgets and tissue composition of the mussel Mytilus edulis

“…Prins et al (1996) found that clearance rates measured in situ in the Oosterschelde estuary were reasonably similar to laboratory measurements. In our experiments, seston concentration and composition were in the same range in the laboratory and the field situation (Table 1).…”

The Effect of Turbidity Concentration and Body Size on the Filtration Rate and Pseudofaeces Production of the Mud Clam Polymesoda erosa (Solander, 1786) (Bivalvia: Corbiculidae)

“…The processing of suspended materials in the water column carried out by suspension filter feeders was significant in assessing trophic relationships in freshwater, estuarine and marine ecosystems (Prins 1996, Espinosa 2008, Manganaro 2009, Sarikhani & Javanshir 2010, Mamun & Khan 2011. This study suggested that natural population of in Loay-Loboc River was resilient in their environment, which agreed to experiments conducted by Yap and Mohd Azri (2009) and by Bayen .…”

Interannual variability of alongshore spring bloom dynamics in a coastal sea caused by the differential influence of hydrodynamics and light climate

“…Several rivers ( Fig. 1: Elbe, Weser, Ems, and Rhine through the Ijsselmeer) discharge into the German Bight supplying it with high nutrient loads (Beddig et al, 1997;Radach, 1992). Especially in the estuaries in the east, waters are highly turbid due to riverine suspended particulate matter.…”

“…It also decreases light availability for phytoplankton by increasing turbidity, which is suggested to be pivotal for phytoplankton bloom control (Townsend et al, 1994). In shallow coastal environments, vertical mixing may even raise phytoplankton mortality because of grazing by benthic filterfeeders (Cloern, 1996;Prins et al, 1996). In contrast, freshwater inputs from rivers may lead to a haline stratification in Published by Copernicus Publications on behalf of the European Geosciences Union.…”