Deposit-feeding worms control subsurface ecosystem functioning in intertidal sediment with strong physical forcing
OPEN ACCESS
Author / Producer
Date
2022-08
Publication Type
Journal Article
ETH Bibliography
yes
Citations
Altmetric
OPEN ACCESS
Data
Rights / License
Abstract
Intertidal sands are global hotspots of terrestrial and marine carbon cycling with strong hydrodynamic forcing by waves and tides and high macrofaunal activity. Yet, the relative importance of hydrodynamics and macrofauna in controlling these ecosystems remains unclear. Here we compare geochemical gradients and bacterial, archaeal, and eukaryotic gene sequences in intertidal sands dominated by subsurface deposit-feeding worms (Abarenicola pacifica) to adjacent worm-free areas. We show that hydrodynamic forcing controls organismal assemblages in surface sediments, while in deeper layers selective feeding by worms on fine, algae-rich particles strongly decreases the abundance and richness of all three domains. In these deeper layers, bacterial and eukaryotic network connectivity decreases, while percentages of clades involved in degradation of refractory organic matter, oxidative nitrogen and sulfur cycling increase. Our findings reveal macrofaunal activity as the key driver of biological community structure and functioning, that in turn influences carbon cycling in intertidal sands below the mainly physically controlled surface layer.
Permanent link
Publication status
published
External links
Editor
Book title
Journal / series
Volume
1 (4)
Pages / Article No.
Publisher
Oxford University Press
Event
Edition / version
Methods
Software
Geographic location
Date collected
Date created
Subject
Bioturbation; hydrodynamics; carbon cycling; community assembly; organismal networks
Organisational unit
09601 - Stoll, Heather / Stoll, Heather
09496 - Lever, Mark A. (ehemalig) / Lever, Mark A. (former)
Notes
Funding
163371 - Role of Bioturbation in Controlling Microbial Community Composition and Biogeochemical Cycles in Marine and Lacustrine Sediments (SNF)