Particle retention efficiency of a coastal ecosystem in the Northeastern Atlantic Ocean

Mendonca, Vanda; Sprung, Martin; Castro, Margarida; Canario, Adelino V. M.

http://hdl.handle.net/10400.1/3851

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Authors

Mendonca, Vanda

Sprung, Martin

Castro, Margarida

Canario, Adelino V. M.

Abstract(s)

Based on filtration rates obtained in situ at several habitats (mud flats, sand flats, and seagrass beds of Cymodocea nodosa), particle retention efficiency of benthic communities was estimated at Ria Formosa, a coastal lagoon in southern Portugal. The distinct physical characteristics of the water flow (water depth, current speed) at different tidal regimes (spring tide and neap tide) were also considered. Median filtration rates ranged 5.0−45.0 lm−2 h−1, despite the lack of dense bivalve beds or reefs. Based on median filtration rates of benthic communities on the studied substrate types, a model we developed showed that seagrass bed areas retained 15% of suspended particles during spring tide and 47% during neap tide. These retention efficiencies were much higher than those observed on mud flats (2.8% during spring tide, and 8% during neap tide), sand flats of finer grain size (8.8% during spring tide, and 50% during neap tide), and sand flats of coarser grain size (7% during spring tide, and 31% during neap tide). Removal of particles from water column was higher during the ebb tide than during flow tide, with particles of <5 μm diameter (especially diatoms, flagellates, and small-sized particulate matter) being the most commonly removed.

Keywords

Benthos-plankton interactions Ria Formosa lagoon Modelling Filter-feeding impacts

URI

http://hdl.handle.net/10400.1/3851

Citation

Mendonça, Vanda Mariyam; Sprung, Martin; Castro, Margarida; Canário, Adelino. Particle Retention Efficiency of a Coastal Ecosystem in the Northeastern Atlantic Ocean, Wetlands, 31, 6, 1175-1185, 2011.