The impact of polychaete (Nereis virens Sars) burrows on nitrification and nitrate reduction in estuarine sediments

Kristensen, Erik; Jensen, Mikael Hjorth; Andersen, Torben

doi:10.1016/0022-0981(85)90015-2

Cited by 136 publications

(95 citation statements)

References 28 publications

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“…Aller, 1982;Kristensen et al, 1985;Gilbert et al, 1995), information available on the roles of bioturbators in hyporheic ecological processes is very scarce. The impact of the activity of invertebrates on sediment structure has been observed in situ (Datry et al, 2003) and its influence on vertical exchanges of water has been documented through laboratory experiments (Mermillod-Blondin et al, 2003;), but few field studies have been carried out to quantify the consequences of this biological activity in contrasting natural situations (e.g.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The role of organisms in hyporheic processes: gaps in current knowledge, needs for future research and applications

Marmonier

Archambaud²,

Belaidi

et al. 2012

Ann. Limnol. - Int. J. Lim.

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-Fifty years after the hyporheic zone was first defined (Orghidan, 1959), there are still gaps in the knowledge regarding the role of biodiversity in hyporheic processes. First, some methodological questions remained unanswered regarding the interactions between biodiversity and physical processes, both for the study of habitat characteristics and interactions at different scales. Furthermore, many questions remain to be addressed to help inform our understanding of invertebrate community dynamics, especially regarding the trophic niches of organisms, the functional groups present within sediment, and their temporal changes. Understanding microbial community dynamics would require investigations about their relationship with the physical characteristics of the sediment, their diversity, their relationship with metabolic pathways, their interactions with invertebrates, and their response to environmental stress. Another fundamental research question is that of the importance of the hyporheic zone in the global metabolism of the river, which must be explored in relation to organic matter recycling, the effects of disturbances, and the degradation of contaminants. Finally, the application of this knowledge requires the development of methods for the estimation of hydrological exchanges, especially for the management of sediment clogging, the optimization of self-purification, and the integration of climate change in environmental policies. The development of descriptors of hyporheic *Corresponding author: pierre.marmonier@univ-lyon1.frArticle published by EDP Sciences Ann. Limnol. -Int. J. Lim. 48 (2012) [253][254][255][256][257][258][259][260][261][262][263][264][265][266] Available online at: Ó EDP Sciences, 2012 www.limnology-journal.org DOI: 10.1051/limn/2012009 zone health and of new metrology is also crucial to include specific targets in water policies for the long-term management of the system and a clear evaluation of restoration strategies.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The role of organisms in hyporheic processes: gaps in current knowledge, needs for future research and applications

Marmonier

Archambaud²,

Belaidi

et al. 2012

Ann. Limnol. - Int. J. Lim.

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“…For example, keystone species such as urchins or maldanid polychaetes that alter local community structure and small-scale sediment geochemistry have broad-scale effects on ecosystem function when integrated over larger scales (Levin et al 1997, Widdicombe & Austen 1998, Waldbusser et al 2004). The diagenetic setting, dictated by rates of organic input and internal geochemical cycling (Canfield et al 1993a,b, Thamdrup et al 1994, is an additional element of complexity that co-determines the outcome of ecosystem processes (Kristensen et al 1985). Lastly, physical-biological interactions related to boundary layer dynamics affect interfacial processes (Eckman 1983, Huettel et al 1998, with significant implications for resource utilization (Taghon et al 1980), population dynamics (Eckman 1996), and sedimentseawater exchange .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Macrofaunal modification of porewater advection: role of species function, species interaction, and kinetics

Waldbusser¹,

Marinelli²

2006

Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser.

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Sedimentary habitats are complex associations of biotic, chemical, and physical processes comprising 'ecosystem function'. The relative importance of these processes to biogeochemical cycling in highly reactive, permeable sediments remains poorly understood. We report results from several field experiments in a muddy-sand intertidal flat dominated by 2 functionally different types of bioturbating macrofauna in False Bay, Washington, USA: (1) the arenicolid polychaete Abarenicola pacifica and (2) 2 species of thalassinid shrimp (Upogebia pugettensis and Neotrypaea californiensis). Experimental plots composed primarily of one of the study taxa or mixed communities of both were evaluated for their effects on porewater advection, solute concentrations, and sediment characteristics. Fluorescein-impregnated acrylamide gels were used to infer rates of transport, and acrylamide gel peepers were used to record porewater concentrations of diagenetically important constituents among experimental plots. Laboratory studies evaluated rates of diffusive transport in non-bioturbated sediments for comparative analysis. We found that (1) functionally different macrofauna affect rates of porewater advection in permeable sediments, (2) organism effects are not attributable to changes in average measures of sediment granulometry, (3) species interactions may further complicate the advective environment and the resulting diagenetic processes, and (4) species effects vary according to reaction rate kinetics. We hypothesize that species-related effects on transport are due to inhibition of arenicolid feeding by thalassinid tubes that serve to block sediment fluidization and advective flow. Thus, specific behaviors and interactions among organisms appear to affect transport rates and sediment function in advectively permeable habitats. The results indicate the importance of integrating behavior, kinetics, and transport into future studies of sedimentary biodiversity and ecosystem function.

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“…Direct comparison of the causes and magnitudes of reported stimulation (from 114 to 950%) or inhibition is virtually impossible because both the macrofaunal species and the organism abundances are distinct to each study. Species-specific burrow properties such as mucous secretions, burrow wall construction, or irrigation behavior are known to affect nitrification and denitrification, and require characterization of individual species (Aller et al, 1983;Kristensen et al, 1985Kristensen et al, , 1991Mayer et al, 1995). In contrast, the likely effects of population abundance or burrow spacing, and the corresponding changes in transport-reaction structure, can in principle be isolated by geometrically simulating variations in the distances between burrows.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The influence of macrofaunal burrow spacing and diffusive scaling on sedimentary nitrification and denitrification: An experimental simulation and model approach

Gilbert

Aller²,

Hulth³

2003

Journal of Marine Research

107

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The influence of burrow spacing on sedimentary nitrification and denitrification was simulated experimentally using sediment plugs of different thicknesses immersed in aerated seawater reservoirs. Different plug thicknesses mimic different distances between oxygenated burrow centers and produce similar changes in aerobic-anaerobic reaction balances as a function of diffusive transport scaling. The thicknesses used were roughly equivalent to transport scales (interburrow spacing) that could be produced by burrow abundances of ϳ400 to 50,000 m Ϫ2 , depending on burrow lumen radii (e.g., 0.05-1 cm). Following the exposure of anoxic sediment plugs to aerated water, an efficient aerobic nitrification zone was established within the first ϳ2-3 millimeters of sediment. At pseudo-steady state, the thinnest plug (2 mm) simulating highest burrow density, was entirely oxic and the denitrification rate nil. Denitrification was stimulated in anoxic regions of the thicker plugs (5, 10, and 20 mm) compared to the initial value in experimental sediment. Maximum nitrification rates and the highest denitrification/nitrification ratio between oxic nitrification and adjacent denitrification zones occurred for the intermediate plug thickness of 5 mm. Of the oxic/anoxic composites, the thickest plug showed the least efficient coupling between nitrification/denitrification zones (lowest denitrification/nitrification ratio). Both the thickness of the oxic layer and the total net remineralization of dissolved inorganic N varied inversely with plug thickness. A set of diffusionreaction models was formulated assuming a range of possible nitrification kinetic functions. All model forms predicted optimal nitrification-denitrification and ammonification-denitrification coupling with relative oxic-anoxic zonation scales comparable to intermediate plug thicknesses (5-6 mm). However, none of the commonly assumed kinetic forms for nitrification could produce the observed NO 3 Ϫ profiles in detail, implying that natural sediment populations of nitrifiers may be less sensitive to O 2 than laboratory strains. Our experimental and model results clearly show that rates of N remineralization and the balance between stimulation/inhibition of denitrification are highly dependent on sedimentary biogenic structure and the particular geometries of irrigated burrow distributions.

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The impact of polychaete (Nereis virens Sars) burrows on nitrification and nitrate reduction in estuarine sediments

Cited by 136 publications

References 28 publications

The role of organisms in hyporheic processes: gaps in current knowledge, needs for future research and applications

The role of organisms in hyporheic processes: gaps in current knowledge, needs for future research and applications

Macrofaunal modification of porewater advection: role of species function, species interaction, and kinetics

The influence of macrofaunal burrow spacing and diffusive scaling on sedimentary nitrification and denitrification: An experimental simulation and model approach

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