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Sandy sediments as active biogeochemical reactors: compound cycling in the fast lane

dc.contributor.authorRocha, Carlos
dc.date.accessioned2018-12-07T14:58:36Z
dc.date.available2018-12-07T14:58:36Z
dc.date.issued2008
dc.description.abstractThe concept of assessing benthic biogeochemical standing stocks as an ecologically relevant parameter has been challenged by one of a dynamic nature: in sands, low standing stocks may mean low carbon burial efficiency due to rapid turnover aided by advective interfacial flows. This concept suggests that a large, diverse and very adaptable population of microbes is present in sands, and that these have a previously unforeseen biogeochemical importance. This view has profound consequences for the scientific outlook on the ecological role of permeable sediments and on the methodological strategies used in the study of coastal ecosystems. Based on a review of the current literature and results gathered at a coastal setting, progress within this new paradigm is examined and underlying questions are speculated upon. The evidence so far shows that, in permeable sediments and at timescales of seconds to a few hours, the dynamics of advective flow to a large extent control microbial diversity, the rates of microbial processes, the size of organic and inorganic pools, and even their respective changes. The importance of obtaining further information on the microbial diversity, the structure of different communities present in sands and their link to biogeochemical function arises from recent field studies. What is also clear from the available evidence is that only a combination of different techniques and approaches, some of which are under development on the fringes of previously almost water-tight research areas, will further understanding of the important functional role of microbial populations in benthic ecosystems.
dc.identifier.doi10.3354/ame01221
dc.identifier.issn0948-3055
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/10400.1/12110
dc.language.isoeng
dc.peerreviewedyes
dc.publisherInter-Research
dc.subjectPore-Water Exchange
dc.subjectMicrobial Community Structure
dc.subjectStirred Benthic Chambers
dc.subjectIn-Situ Hybridization
dc.subjectSylt-Romo Basin
dc.subjectPermeable Sediments
dc.subjectMarine-Sediments
dc.subjectIntertidal Sediments
dc.subjectNorth-Sea
dc.subjectAdvective Transport
dc.titleSandy sediments as active biogeochemical reactors: compound cycling in the fast lane
dc.typeconference object
dspace.entity.typePublication
oaire.citation.conferencePlaceUniv Algarve, Faro, Portugal
oaire.citation.endPage127
oaire.citation.issue1
oaire.citation.startPage119
oaire.citation.titleAquatic Microbial Ecology
oaire.citation.title10Th Symposium On Aquatic Microbial Ecology (Same 10)
oaire.citation.volume53
rcaap.rightsopenAccess
rcaap.typeconferenceObject

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