Search results for "benthos"
showing 10 items of 126 documents
Seagrass ecosystem response to long-term high CO2 in a Mediterranean volcanic vent
2014
We examined the long-term effect of naturally acidified water on a Cymodocea nodosa meadow growing at a shallow volcanic CO2 vent in Vulcano Island (Italy). Seagrass and adjacent unvegetated habitats growing at a low pH station (pH = 7.65 ± 0.02) were compared with corresponding habitats at a control station (pH = 8.01 ± 0.01). Density and biomass showed a clear decreasing trend at the low pH station and the below- to above-ground biomass ratio was more than 10 times lower compared to the control. C content and delta 13C of leaves and epiphytes were significantly lower at the low pH station. Photosynthetic activity of C. nodosa was stimulated by low pH as seen by the significant increase in…
Seawater carbonate chemistry and coralline algal diversity
2021
Calcified coralline algae are ecologically important in rocky habitats in the marine photic zone worldwide and there is growing concern that ocean acidification will severely impact them. Laboratory studies of these algae in simulated ocean acidification conditions have revealed wide variability in growth, photosynthesis and calcification responses, making it difficult to assess their future biodiversity, abundance and contribution to ecosystem function. Here, we apply molecular systematic tools to assess the impact of natural gradients in seawater carbonate chemistry on the biodiversity of coralline algae in the Mediterranean and the NW Pacific, link this to their evolutionary history and …
Shallow water marine sediment bacterial community shifts along a natural CO2 gradient in the Mediterranean Sea Off vulcano, Italy
2014
The effects of increasing atmospheric CO(2) on ocean ecosystems are a major environmental concern, as rapid shoaling of the carbonate saturation horizon is exposing vast areas of marine sediments to corrosive waters worldwide. Natural CO(2) gradients off Vulcano, Italy, have revealed profound ecosystem changes along rocky shore habitats as carbonate saturation levels decrease, but no investigations have yet been made of the sedimentary habitat. Here, we sampled the upper 2 cm of volcanic sand in three zones, ambient (median pCO(2) 419 µatm, minimum Omega (arag) 3.77), moderately CO(2)-enriched (median pCO(2) 592 µatm, minimum Omega (arag) 2.96), and highly CO(2)-enriched (median pCO(2) 1611…
On the ecology of littoral Oligochaeta of an oligotrophic Finnish lake
1982
In material sampled from 0.5–6 m on two sampling dates and three subareas the dominant Oligochaeta were Limnodrilus hoffmeisteri Claparede and Peloscolex ferox (Eisen), both composing more than 30% of the abundances of oligochaetes present. The numbers of Oligochaeta were mostly higher in August than in May. Regional differences could be found although the lake seems to be very homogenous. Temporal and vertical variations were detectable in separate subareas. The oligochaete biomass was maximal at 2 m depth. In soft bottom sediments the oligochaetes composed 15.9% of macrobenthos biomass and 12.2% of numbers, but on the stony bottom only 1.9% of numbers. The ratio of Oligochaeta/Chironomida…
Water quality in cutaway peatland lakes in Seda mire, Latvia
2011
Remediation of industrially-milled peatland is an important task in the sustainable management of natural resources. Several approaches for wetland restoration, depending on local climatic and hydrological conditions, topography, physico-chemical properties of peat, as well as peat mining techniques, have been developed worldwide. However, most of the restoration activities include regulation of hydrological regime and surface topography in order to reintroduce typical bog vegetation, especially, Sphagnum cover, and to restore the peatland’s ecosystem close to its original conditions (Gorham and Rochefort, 2003; Farrell and Doyle, 2003; Lamers et al., 2002). In many countries, a significant…
Chemosensitizers of the multixenobiotic resistance in amorphous aggregates (marine snow): etiology of mass killing on the benthos in the Northern Adr…
1998
Periodically appearing amorphous aggregates, 'marine snow', are formed in the sea and if settled as mars on the sea bottom cause death of benthic metazoans. Especially those animals are killed which are sessile filter feeders, e.g, sponges, mussels, or Anthozoa. The etiology of the toxic principle(s) is not yet well understood. Gel-like marine snow aggregates occurred in the Northern Adriatic during summer 1997. Samples of these aggregates were collected during the period July to September and the outer as well as the inner zones were analyzed for (i) cell toxicity, and (ii) chemosensitizing activity of the multixenobiotic resistance (MXR)mechanism. Organic extracts were prepared an…
A quantitative survey of the benthic meiofauna in the Gulf Of Riga (eastern Baltic Sea), with special reference to the structure of nematode assembla…
1998
Abstract The Gulf of Riga is relatively shallow and considered to be one of the most eutrophied areas in the Baltic Sea with an annual primary production estimated to 290 gCm-2 yr-1. Meiofauna sampling was carried out at 30 stations homogeneously spread over the Gulf of Riga, varying in depth and sediment structure. The average meiofauna abundance was 4800 ind/10 cm2, with a maximum of 17000 ind/10 cm2. Harpacticoid copepods were abundant all over the Gulf, averaging 425 ind/10 cm2. The highest number was found close to the mouth of the river Daugava, up to 1400 ind/10 cm2. Harpacticoids were significantly more abundant in sediments with medium organic content (loss on ignition (LOI) 5–10%)…
Habitat geometry of benthic substrata: effects on arrival and settlement of mobile epifauna
1996
Abstract The effect of substratum complexity on the early stages of colonization by mobile epifauna was assessed through a comparative study based on the architecture of artificial substrata. We conducted field observations over 4 years, on six types of small plastic substrata placed in the low intertidal zone of an exposed rocky shore, for varied immersion periods (1, 2, 4 and 12 wk). The use of artificial substrata allowed us to manipulate independently structural and spatial features of the habitat, such as total area, amount of folds, intercepting area, total volume, and interstitial volume. The invertebrate fauna colonizing over 300 sample units was recorded, and their densities compar…
Relazioni tra le caratteristiche geochimiche dei sedimenti e le comunità macrobentoniche nei laghi di Capo Peloro (Messina, italia)
2006
Ocean acidification as a driver of community simplification via the collapse of higher-order and rise of lower-order consumers
2017
AbstractIncreasing oceanic uptake of CO2 is predicted to drive ecological change as both a resource (i.e. CO2 enrichment on primary producers) and stressor (i.e. lower pH on consumers). We use the natural ecological complexity of a CO2 vent (i.e. a seagrass system) to assess the potential validity of conceptual models developed from laboratory and mesocosm research. Our observations suggest that the stressor-effect of CO2 enrichment combined with its resource-effect drives simplified food web structure of lower trophic diversity and shorter length. The transfer of CO2 enrichment from plants to herbivores through consumption (apparent resource-effect) was not compensated by predation, becaus…