NDLI: The Influence of Benthic Macrofauna on the Erodibility of Intertidal Sediments with Varying mud Content in Three New Zealand Estuaries

Content Provider	Springer Nature Link
Author	Harris, Rachel J. Pilditch, Conrad A. Greenfield, Barry L. Moon, Vicki Kröncke, Ingrid
Copyright Year	2015
Abstract	Fine sediment inputs can alter estuarine ecosystem structure and function. However, natural variations in the processes that regulate sediment transport make it difficult to predict their fate. In this study, sediments were sampled at different times (2011–2012) from 45 points across intertidal sandflat transects in three New Zealand estuaries (Whitford, Whangamata, and Kawhia) encompassing a wide range in mud (≤63 μm) content (0–56 %) and macrofaunal community structure. Using a core-based erosion measurement device (EROMES), we calculated three distinct measures of sediment erosion potential: erosion threshold (Ʈ $_{ c }$; N m$^{−2}$), erosion rate (ER; g m$^{−2}$ s$^{−1}$), and change in erosion rate with increasing bed shear stress (m $_{ e }$; g N$^{−1}$ s$^{−1}$). Collectively, these measures characterized surface (Ʈ $_{ c }$ and ER) and sub-surface (m $_{ e }$) erosion. Benthic macrofauna were grouped by functional traits (size and motility) and data pooled across estuaries to determine relationships between abiotic (mud content, mean grain size) and biotic (benthic macrofauna, microbial biomass) variables and erosion measures. Results indicated that small bioturbating macrofauna (predominantly freely motile species <5 mm in size) destabilized surface sediments, explaining 23 % of the variation in Ʈ $_{ c }$ (p ≤ 0.01) and 59 % of the variation in ER (p ≤ 0.01). Alternatively, mud content and mean grain size cumulatively explained 61 % of the variation in m $_{ e }$ (p ≤ 0.01), where increasing mud and grain size stabilized sub-surface sediments. These results highlight that the importance of biotic and abiotic predictors vary with erosion stage and that functional group classifications are a useful way to determine the impact of benthic macrofauna on sediment erodibility across communities with different species composition.
Starting Page	815
Ending Page	828
Page Count	14
File Format	PDF
ISSN	15592723
Journal	Estuaries
Volume Number	39
Issue Number	3
e-ISSN	15592731
Language	English
Publisher	Springer US
Publisher Date	2015-11-09
Publisher Place	New York
Access Restriction	One Nation One Subscription (ONOS)
Subject Keyword	Functional groups Bioturbation Infauna Mud Erosion potential Sediment transport Environment Ecology Freshwater & Marine Ecology Environmental Management Coastal Sciences Water and Health
Content Type	Text
Resource Type	Article
Subject	Ecology Aquatic Science Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics

Sl.	Authority	Responsibilities	Communication Details
1	Ministry of Education (GoI), Department of Higher Education	Sanctioning Authority	https://www.education.gov.in/ict-initiatives
2	Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur	Host Institute of the Project: The host institute of the project is responsible for providing infrastructure support and hosting the project	https://www.iitkgp.ac.in
3	National Digital Library of India Office, Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur	The administrative and infrastructural headquarters of the project	Dr. B. Sutradhar bsutra@ndl.gov.in
4	Project PI / Joint PI	Principal Investigator and Joint Principal Investigators of the project	Dr. B. Sutradhar bsutra@ndl.gov.in Prof. Saswat Chakrabarti will be added soon
5	Website/Portal (Helpdesk)	Queries regarding NDLI and its services	support@ndl.gov.in
6	Contents and Copyright Issues	Queries related to content curation and copyright issues	content@ndl.gov.in
7	National Digital Library of India Club (NDLI Club)	Queries related to NDLI Club formation, support, user awareness program, seminar/symposium, collaboration, social media, promotion, and outreach	clubsupport@ndl.gov.in
8	Digital Preservation Centre (DPC)	Assistance with digitizing and archiving copyright-free printed books	dpc@ndl.gov.in
9	IDR Setup or Support	Queries related to establishment and support of Institutional Digital Repository (IDR) and IDR workshops	idr@ndl.gov.in

Disturbance of intertidal soft sediment assemblages caused by swinging boat moorings

Lack of correlation between surface macrofauna, meiofauna, erosion threshold and biogeochemical properties of sediments within an intertidal mudflat and mangrove forest

Influence of benthic macrofauna on microbial production of methylmercury in sediments on the New England continental shelf

Spatial variability of the infauna adjacent to intertidal rocky shores in a subtropical estuary

Bioturbation functional roles associated with mangrove development in French Guiana, South America

Effects of algal mats on a tropical estuarine benthic system: sediment biogeochemistry and macrofauna

Weak diurnal changes in the biochemical properties and benthic macrofauna of urbanised mangrove forests and mudflats

Is Salinity Variability a Benthic Disturbance in Estuaries?

Data from: macrofaunal diversity patterns in coastal marine sediments: re-examining common metrics and methods (Dataset)

The Influence of Benthic Macrofauna on the Erodibility of Intertidal Sediments with Varying mud Content in Three New Zealand Estuaries

Similar Documents

Disturbance of intertidal soft sediment assemblages caused by swinging boat moorings

Lack of correlation between surface macrofauna, meiofauna, erosion threshold and biogeochemical properties of sediments within an intertidal mudflat and mangrove forest

Influence of benthic macrofauna on microbial production of methylmercury in sediments on the New England continental shelf

Spatial variability of the infauna adjacent to intertidal rocky shores in a subtropical estuary

Bioturbation functional roles associated with mangrove development in French Guiana, South America

Effects of algal mats on a tropical estuarine benthic system: sediment biogeochemistry and macrofauna

Weak diurnal changes in the biochemical properties and benthic macrofauna of urbanised mangrove forests and mudflats

Is Salinity Variability a Benthic Disturbance in Estuaries?

Data from: macrofaunal diversity patterns in coastal marine sediments: re-examining common metrics and methods (Dataset)

The Influence of Benthic Macrofauna on the Erodibility of Intertidal Sediments with Varying mud Content in Three New Zealand Estuaries