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Neoichnology and sediment distribution in tidal flats of the mud‐dominated mesotidal mira river estuary (Portugal)

2025-07-30Journal article Open access
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dc.contributor.authorShchepetkina, Alina
dc.contributor.authorDrago, Teresa
dc.contributor.authorSantos, Jacqueline
dc.contributor.authorAlberto, Ana
dc.contributor.authorFatela, Francisco
dc.contributor.authorFreitas, Maria da Conceição
dc.date.accessioned2025-10-08T11:19:18Z
dc.date.available2025-10-08T11:19:18Z
dc.date.issued2025-07-30
dc.description.abstractInvertebrate burrow morphologies and distributions are presented for the tidal flats of the middle and lower reaches of the tide-influenced (mesotidal), mud-dominated Mira River estuary (SW Portugal) as an analogue for interpreting the ichnology of palaeoestuarine successions. Burrow distributions are revealed using field observations of biogenic and physical sedimentary structures, trace makers, collected grab samples, push cores and lab measurements of grain size, organic matter and calcium carbonate content and linked to physico-chemical stresses. Estuarine tidal-flat surface open burrow distribution and bioturbation intensity are analysed in plan view using free scientific image analysis software (ImageJ) to obtain burrow density, total burrow area and minimum and maximum burrow diameters. The total tidal flat area occupied by organisms ranges from 0.8% to 4.1% in the middle estuary and is 1.4% in the lower estuary. These equate to a bioturbation index of one to two (BI 1–2). However, computed tomography (CT) of push cores (cross-sectional view) taken on the same tidal flats shows sparse to complete bioturbation intensity (BI 1–6), revealing that tidal flat sediments tend to be more biogenically reworked cumulatively over time with overprinting of subsequent tiers and/or recolonized. CT scanning also allows the identification of more burrow types, demonstrates infaunal tiering and provides insights into trace-fossil preservation potential. This research shows that the trace communities are heterogeneous and change spatially and temporally along the Mira River estuary, reflecting a physico-chemical gradient and seasonality. This trend signals changes in sediment composition, substrate type and consistency (sediment compaction and subaerial exposure), salinity, oxygenation, temperature, pH and interplay of tidal versus hydraulic energy.eng
dc.description.sponsorshipUIDP/50019/2020; UIBD/151497/2021
dc.identifier.doi10.1111/sed.70035
dc.identifier.eissn1365-3091
dc.identifier.issn0037-0746
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/10400.1/27803
dc.language.isoeng
dc.peerreviewedyes
dc.publisherWiley
dc.relationInstituto Dom Luiz
dc.relation.ispartofSedimentology
dc.rights.urihttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
dc.subjectCoastal sedimentation
dc.subjectComputed tomography
dc.subjectDigital image analysis
dc.subjectInfauna
dc.subjectPhysico-chemical stress
dc.titleNeoichnology and sediment distribution in tidal flats of the mud‐dominated mesotidal mira river estuary (Portugal)eng
dc.typejournal article
dspace.entity.typePublication
oaire.awardTitleInstituto Dom Luiz
oaire.awardURIinfo:eu-repo/grantAgreement/FCT/6817 - DCRRNI ID/UIDB%2F50019%2F2020/PT
oaire.citation.titleSedimentology: The Journal of the International Association of Sedimentologists
oaire.fundingStream6817 - DCRRNI ID
oaire.versionhttp://purl.org/coar/version/c_970fb48d4fbd8a85
person.familyNameSantos
person.givenNameJacqueline
person.identifier.orcid0000-0002-8838-0444
project.funder.identifierhttp://doi.org/10.13039/501100001871
project.funder.nameFundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia
relation.isAuthorOfPublicatione2d1e951-d081-48bf-a4a5-892c305ebbc6
relation.isAuthorOfPublication.latestForDiscoverye2d1e951-d081-48bf-a4a5-892c305ebbc6
relation.isProjectOfPublicationb6525feb-4941-452c-9b10-d43191620b9d
relation.isProjectOfPublication.latestForDiscoveryb6525feb-4941-452c-9b10-d43191620b9d

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