1
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Zhang S, Solan M, Tarhan L. Global distribution and environmental correlates of marine bioturbation. Curr Biol 2024:S0960-9822(24)00575-X. [PMID: 38781955 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2024.04.065] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2023] [Revised: 03/27/2024] [Accepted: 04/29/2024] [Indexed: 05/25/2024]
Abstract
The activities of marine sediment-dwelling invertebrates play a fundamental role in mediating major biogeochemical cycles and have profoundly shaped the evolution of marine systems. Yet there remains a paucity of global marine data describing bioturbation intensities and mixed layer depths and interrogating how these vary with multiple environmental and ecological factors at a system scale. We applied an ensemble of tree-based machine learning techniques to resolve a global map and determine the environmental and ecological correlates most closely associated with bioturbation. We find that bioturbation intensity and the depth of the sediment mixed layer each reflect different associations with a consortium of environmental and ecological parameters, and that bioturbation intensities are much more readily predicted than sediment mixed layer depths from these correlates. Furthermore, we find that the bioturbation intensity, the depth of the sediment mixed layer, and their environmental and ecological correlates differ between shallow marine and open-ocean settings. Our findings provide new insights into the importance of potential drivers of ancient sediment mixing recorded by geologic archives. These results also highlight that climate change may, in the near future, drive shifts in bioturbation and reciprocal fundamental changes in benthic functioning.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuang Zhang
- Department of Oceanography, Texas A&M University, 3146 TAMU, College Station, TX 77843, USA; Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, Yale University, P.O. Box 208109, New Haven, CT 06520, USA.
| | - Martin Solan
- Ocean and Earth Science, National Oceanography Centre, Southampton, University of Southampton, Waterfront Campus, European Way, Southampton SO14 3ZH, UK
| | - Lidya Tarhan
- Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, Yale University, P.O. Box 208109, New Haven, CT 06520, USA.
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2
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Porter A, Godbold JA, Lewis CN, Savage G, Solan M, Galloway TS. Microplastic burden in marine benthic invertebrates depends on species traits and feeding ecology within biogeographical provinces. Nat Commun 2023; 14:8023. [PMID: 38049431 PMCID: PMC10696022 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-43788-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2023] [Accepted: 11/20/2023] [Indexed: 12/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The microplastic body burden of marine animals is often assumed to reflect levels of environmental contamination, yet variations in feeding ecology and regional trait expression could also affect a species' risk of contaminant uptake. Here, we explore the global inventory of individual microplastic body burden for invertebrate species inhabiting marine sediments across 16 biogeographic provinces. We show that individual microplastic body burden in benthic invertebrates cannot be fully explained by absolute levels of microplastic contamination in the environment, because interspecific differences in behaviour and feeding ecology strongly determine microplastic uptake. Our analyses also indicate a degree of species-specific particle selectivity; likely associated with feeding biology. Highest microplastic burden occurs in the Yellow and Mediterranean Seas and, contrary to expectation, amongst omnivores, predators, and deposit feeders rather than suspension feeding species. Our findings highlight the inadequacy of microplastic uptake risk assessments based on inventories of environmental contamination alone, and the need to understand how species behaviour and trait expression covary with microplastic contamination.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adam Porter
- Department of Biosciences, University of Exeter, Geoffrey Pope Building, Exeter, EX4 4QD, UK.
| | - Jasmin A Godbold
- School of Ocean and Earth Science, National Oceanography Centre Southampton, University of Southampton, Waterfront Campus, Southampton, SO14 3ZH, UK
| | - Ceri N Lewis
- Department of Biosciences, University of Exeter, Geoffrey Pope Building, Exeter, EX4 4QD, UK
| | - Georgie Savage
- Department of Biosciences, University of Exeter, Geoffrey Pope Building, Exeter, EX4 4QD, UK
| | - Martin Solan
- School of Ocean and Earth Science, National Oceanography Centre Southampton, University of Southampton, Waterfront Campus, Southampton, SO14 3ZH, UK
| | - Tamara S Galloway
- Department of Biosciences, University of Exeter, Geoffrey Pope Building, Exeter, EX4 4QD, UK
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3
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Solan M, Spencer T, Paterson DM, Unsworth CA, Christie EK, Blight AJ, Brown J, Brooks H, Lichtman ID, Wei X, Li X, Thorne P, Leyland J, Godbold JA, Thompson C, Williams ME, Plater A, Moller I, Amoudry LO. Biological-physical interactions are fundamental to understanding and managing coastal dynamics. R Soc open sci 2023; 10:230155. [PMID: 37448479 PMCID: PMC10336386 DOI: 10.1098/rsos.230155] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2023] [Accepted: 06/21/2023] [Indexed: 07/15/2023]
Abstract
There is an urgent need to address coastal dynamics as a fundamental interaction between physical and biological processes, particularly when trying to predict future biological-physical linkages under anticipated changes in environmental forcing. More integrated modelling, support for observational networks and the use of management interventions as controlled experimental exercises should now be vigorously pursued.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martin Solan
- School of Ocean and Earth Science, National Oceanography Centre Southampton, University of Southampton, Waterfront Campus, European Way, Southampton SO14 3ZH, UK
| | - Tom Spencer
- Cambridge Coastal Research Unit, Department of Geography, University of Cambridge, Downing Place, Cambridge CB2 3EN, UK
| | - David M Paterson
- Scottish Oceans Institute, School of Biology, Sediment Ecology Research Group, University of St Andrews, St Andrews, Fife KY16 8LB, UK
| | - Christopher A Unsworth
- Marine Physics and Ocean Climate, National Oceanography Centre, Joseph Proudman Building, 6 Brownlow Street, Liverpool L3 5DA, UK
| | - Elizabeth K Christie
- Cambridge Coastal Research Unit, Department of Geography, University of Cambridge, Downing Place, Cambridge CB2 3EN, UK
| | - Andrew J Blight
- Scottish Oceans Institute, School of Biology, Sediment Ecology Research Group, University of St Andrews, St Andrews, Fife KY16 8LB, UK
| | - Jenny Brown
- Marine Physics and Ocean Climate, National Oceanography Centre, Joseph Proudman Building, 6 Brownlow Street, Liverpool L3 5DA, UK
| | - Helen Brooks
- Cambridge Coastal Research Unit, Department of Geography, University of Cambridge, Downing Place, Cambridge CB2 3EN, UK
- Environment Agency, Tyneside House, Skinnerburn Road, Newcastle Business Park, Newcastle upon Tyne NE4 7AR, UK
| | - I Dougal Lichtman
- Marine Physics and Ocean Climate, National Oceanography Centre, Joseph Proudman Building, 6 Brownlow Street, Liverpool L3 5DA, UK
| | - Xiaoyan Wei
- Marine Physics and Ocean Climate, National Oceanography Centre, Joseph Proudman Building, 6 Brownlow Street, Liverpool L3 5DA, UK
| | - Xiaorong Li
- Department of Geography and Planning, School of Environmental Sciences, University of Liverpool, Liverpool L69 7ZT, UK
- Energy and Environment Research Group, College of Engineering, Swansea University, Swansea SA2 8PP, UK
| | - Pete Thorne
- Marine Physics and Ocean Climate, National Oceanography Centre, Joseph Proudman Building, 6 Brownlow Street, Liverpool L3 5DA, UK
| | - Julian Leyland
- School of Geography and Environmental Science, University of Southampton, Highfield, Southampton SO17 1BJ, UK
| | - Jasmin A Godbold
- School of Ocean and Earth Science, National Oceanography Centre Southampton, University of Southampton, Waterfront Campus, European Way, Southampton SO14 3ZH, UK
| | - Charlie Thompson
- School of Ocean and Earth Science, National Oceanography Centre Southampton, University of Southampton, Waterfront Campus, European Way, Southampton SO14 3ZH, UK
- Channel Coastal Observatory, National Oceanography Centre, University of Southampton, Waterfront Campus, European Way, Southampton SO14 3ZH, UK
| | - Megan E Williams
- Marine Physics and Ocean Climate, National Oceanography Centre, Joseph Proudman Building, 6 Brownlow Street, Liverpool L3 5DA, UK
- Departamento de Ingeniería Hidráulica y Ambiental, Facultad de Ingeniería, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
- Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Andrew Plater
- Department of Geography and Planning, School of Environmental Sciences, University of Liverpool, Liverpool L69 7ZT, UK
| | - Iris Moller
- Cambridge Coastal Research Unit, Department of Geography, University of Cambridge, Downing Place, Cambridge CB2 3EN, UK
- Department of Geography, Trinity College Dublin, Museum Building, Dublin 2, Ireland
| | - Laurent O Amoudry
- Marine Physics and Ocean Climate, National Oceanography Centre, Joseph Proudman Building, 6 Brownlow Street, Liverpool L3 5DA, UK
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4
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März C, Freitas FS, Faust JC, Godbold JA, Henley SF, Tessin AC, Abbott GD, Airs R, Arndt S, Barnes DKA, Grange LJ, Gray ND, Head IM, Hendry KR, Hilton RG, Reed AJ, Rühl S, Solan M, Souster TA, Stevenson MA, Tait K, Ward J, Widdicombe S. Biogeochemical consequences of a changing Arctic shelf seafloor ecosystem. Ambio 2022; 51:370-382. [PMID: 34628602 PMCID: PMC8692578 DOI: 10.1007/s13280-021-01638-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2021] [Revised: 09/02/2021] [Accepted: 09/22/2021] [Indexed: 05/05/2023]
Abstract
Unprecedented and dramatic transformations are occurring in the Arctic in response to climate change, but academic, public, and political discourse has disproportionately focussed on the most visible and direct aspects of change, including sea ice melt, permafrost thaw, the fate of charismatic megafauna, and the expansion of fisheries. Such narratives disregard the importance of less visible and indirect processes and, in particular, miss the substantive contribution of the shelf seafloor in regulating nutrients and sequestering carbon. Here, we summarise the biogeochemical functioning of the Arctic shelf seafloor before considering how climate change and regional adjustments to human activities may alter its biogeochemical and ecological dynamics, including ecosystem function, carbon burial, or nutrient recycling. We highlight the importance of the Arctic benthic system in mitigating climatic and anthropogenic change and, with a focus on the Barents Sea, offer some observations and our perspectives on future management and policy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christian März
- School of Earth and Environment, University of Leeds, Leeds, LS2 9JT UK
| | - Felipe S. Freitas
- School of Earth Sciences, University of Bristol, Wills Memorial Building, Queens Road, Bristol, BS8 1QE UK
| | - Johan C. Faust
- School of Earth and Environment, University of Leeds, Leeds, LS2 9JT UK
- MARUM—Center for Marine Environmental Sciences, University of Bremen, Leobener Strasse 8, 28359 Bremen, Germany
| | - Jasmin A. Godbold
- Ocean and Earth Science, National Oceanography Centre Southampton, University of Southampton, Waterfront Campus, European Way, Southampton, SO14 3ZH UK
| | - Sian F. Henley
- School of GeoSciences, University of Edinburgh, James Hutton Road, Edinburgh, EH9 3FE UK
| | - Allyson C. Tessin
- Department of Geology, Kent State University, 221 McGilvrey Hall, 325 S. Lincoln St., Kent, OH 44242 USA
| | - Geoffrey D. Abbott
- School of Natural and Environmental Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 7RU UK
| | - Ruth Airs
- Plymouth Marine Laboratory, Prospect Place, Plymouth, PL1 3DH UK
| | - Sandra Arndt
- Department of Geosciences, Environment and Society, Université libre de Bruxelles, Brussels, Av. F.
Roosevelt 50, CP160/02, 1050 Brussels, Belgium
| | - David K. A. Barnes
- British Antarctic Survey, UKRI, High Cross, Maddingley Rd, Cambridge, CB3 0ET UK
| | - Laura J. Grange
- School of Ocean Sciences, Bangor University, Bangor, Gwynedd, LL57 2DG North Wales UK
| | - Neil D. Gray
- School of Natural and Environmental Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 7RU UK
| | - Ian M. Head
- School of Natural and Environmental Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 7RU UK
| | - Katharine R. Hendry
- School of Earth Sciences, University of Bristol, Wills Memorial Building, Queens Road, Bristol, BS8 1QE UK
| | - Robert G. Hilton
- Department of Geography, Durham University, Lower Mountjoy, South Rd, Durham, DH1 3LE USA
| | - Adam J. Reed
- Ocean and Earth Science, National Oceanography Centre Southampton, University of Southampton, Waterfront Campus, European Way, Southampton, SO14 3ZH UK
| | - Saskia Rühl
- Plymouth Marine Laboratory, Prospect Place, Plymouth, PL1 3DH UK
- Helmholtz Zentrum Hereon, Max-Planck-Straße 1, 21502 Geesthacht, Germany
| | - Martin Solan
- Ocean and Earth Science, National Oceanography Centre Southampton, University of Southampton, Waterfront Campus, European Way, Southampton, SO14 3ZH UK
| | - Terri A. Souster
- British Antarctic Survey, UKRI, High Cross, Maddingley Rd, Cambridge, CB3 0ET UK
- Department of Biosciences, Fisheries and Economics, UIT, Tromsø, Norway
| | - Mark A. Stevenson
- School of Natural and Environmental Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 7RU UK
- Department of Geography, Durham University, Lower Mountjoy, South Rd, Durham, DH1 3LE USA
| | - Karen Tait
- Plymouth Marine Laboratory, Prospect Place, Plymouth, PL1 3DH UK
| | - James Ward
- School of Earth Sciences, University of Bristol, Wills Memorial Building, Queens Road, Bristol, BS8 1QE UK
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5
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Touza J, Lacambra C, Kiss A, Amboage RM, Sierra P, Solan M, Godbold JA, Spencer T, White PCL. Coping and Adaptation in Response to Environmental and Climatic Stressors in Caribbean Coastal Communities. Environ Manage 2021; 68:505-521. [PMID: 34327556 PMCID: PMC8416820 DOI: 10.1007/s00267-021-01500-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2019] [Accepted: 07/01/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Cumulative and synergistic impacts from environmental pressures, particularly in low-lying tropical coastal regions, present challenges for the governance of ecosystems, which provide natural resource-based livelihoods for communities. Here, we seek to understand the relationship between responses to the impacts of El Niño and La Niña events and the vulnerability of mangrove-dependent communities in the Caribbean region of Colombia. Using two case study sites, we show how communities are impacted by, and undertake reactive short-term responses to, El Niño and La Niña events, and how such responses can affect their adaptive capacity to progressive environmental deterioration. We show that certain coping measures to climate variability currently deliver maladaptive outcomes, resulting in circumstances that could contribute to system 'lock-in' and engender undesirable ecological states, exacerbating future livelihood vulnerabilities. We highlight the significant role of social barriers on vulnerabilities within the region, including perceptions of state abandonment, mistrust and conflicts with authorities. Opportunities to reduce vulnerability include enhancing the communities' capacity to adopt more positive and preventative responses based on demonstrable experiential learning capacity. However, these will require close cooperation between formal and informal organisations at different levels, and the development of shared coherent adaptation strategies to manage the complexity of multiple interacting environmental and climatic pressures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julia Touza
- Department of Environment and Geography, University of York, Wentworth Way, York, YO10 5NG, UK.
- York Environmental Sustainability Institute, University of York, York, YO10 5NG, UK.
| | - Carmen Lacambra
- Grupo Laera, Avenida Carrera 9, No. 113-52 Oficina 1901, PBX 4863358, Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Alexandra Kiss
- Department of Environment and Geography, University of York, Wentworth Way, York, YO10 5NG, UK
| | - Rosa Mato Amboage
- Department of Environment and Geography, University of York, Wentworth Way, York, YO10 5NG, UK
| | - Paula Sierra
- Instituto de Investigaciones Marinas y Costeras (INVEMAR), Calle 25, n° 2-25, Playa Salguero, Santa Marta, Colombia
| | - Martin Solan
- Ocean and Earth Science, National Oceanography Centre Southampton, University of Southampton, Waterfront Campus, European Way, Southampton, SO14 3ZH, UK
| | - Jasmin A Godbold
- Ocean and Earth Science, National Oceanography Centre Southampton, University of Southampton, Waterfront Campus, European Way, Southampton, SO14 3ZH, UK
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Southampton, Highfield Campus, Southampton, SO17 1BJ, UK
| | - Thomas Spencer
- Cambridge Coastal Research Unit, Department of Geography, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB2 3EN, UK
| | - Piran C L White
- Department of Environment and Geography, University of York, Wentworth Way, York, YO10 5NG, UK
- Interdisciplinary Global Development Centre, University of York, York, YO10 5DD, UK
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6
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Reed AJ, Godbold JA, Solan M, Grange LJ. Reproductive traits and population dynamics of benthic invertebrates indicate episodic recruitment patterns across an Arctic polar front. Ecol Evol 2021; 11:6900-6912. [PMID: 34141264 PMCID: PMC8207403 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.7539] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2020] [Revised: 03/15/2021] [Accepted: 03/17/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Climate-induced changes in the ocean and sea ice environment of the Arctic are beginning to generate major and rapid changes in Arctic ecosystems, but the effects of directional forcing on the persistence and distribution of species remain poorly understood. Here, we examine the reproductive traits and population dynamics of the bivalve Astarte crenata and sea star Ctenodiscus crispatus across a north-south transect that intersects the polar front in the Barents Sea. Both species present large oocytes indicative of short pelagic or direct development that do not differ in size-frequency between 74.5 and 81.3º latitude. However, despite gametogenic maturity, we found low frequencies of certain size classes within populations that may indicate periodic recruitment failure. We suggest that recruitment of A. crenata could occur periodically when conditions are favorable, while populations of C. crispatus are characterized by episodic recruitment failures. Pyloric caeca indices in C. crispatus show that food uptake is greatest at, and north of, the polar front, providing credence to the view that interannual variations in the quantity and quality of primary production and its flux to the seafloor, linked to the variable extent and thickness of sea ice, are likely to be strong determinants of physiological fitness. Our findings provide evidence that the distribution and long-term survival of species is not only a simple function of adaptive capacity to specific environmental changes, but will also be contingent on the frequency and occurrence of years where environmental conditions support reproduction and settlement.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adam J. Reed
- School of Ocean and Earth ScienceNational Oceanography Centre SouthamptonUniversity of SouthamptonSouthamptonUK
| | - Jasmin A. Godbold
- School of Ocean and Earth ScienceNational Oceanography Centre SouthamptonUniversity of SouthamptonSouthamptonUK
| | - Martin Solan
- School of Ocean and Earth ScienceNational Oceanography Centre SouthamptonUniversity of SouthamptonSouthamptonUK
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7
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Solan M, Ward ER, Wood CL, Reed AJ, Grange LJ, Godbold JA. Correction to 'Climate-driven benthic invertebrate activity and biogeochemical functioning across the Barents Sea polar front'. Philos Trans A Math Phys Eng Sci 2021; 379:20200438. [PMID: 33641470 PMCID: PMC8805598 DOI: 10.1098/rsta.2020.0438] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
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8
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Solan M, Archambault P, Renaud PE, März C. The changing Arctic Ocean: consequences for biological communities, biogeochemical processes and ecosystem functioning. Philos Trans A Math Phys Eng Sci 2020; 378:20200266. [PMID: 32862816 PMCID: PMC7481657 DOI: 10.1098/rsta.2020.0266] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/08/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Martin Solan
- School of Ocean and Earth Science, National Oceanography Centre Southampton, University of Southampton, Waterfront Campus, European Way, Southampton SO14 3ZH, UK
- e-mail:
| | - Philippe Archambault
- ArcticNet, Québec Océan, Takuvik, Département de biologie, Université Laval, Québec, Canada
| | - Paul E. Renaud
- Akvaplan-niva, Fram Center for Climate and the Environment, 9296 Tromsø, Norway
- University Centre in Svalbard, Arctic Biology, 9171 Longyearbyen, Norway
| | - Christian März
- School of Earth and Environment, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT, UK
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9
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Solan M, Ward ER, Wood CL, Reed AJ, Grange LJ, Godbold JA. Climate-driven benthic invertebrate activity and biogeochemical functioning across the Barents Sea polar front. Philos Trans A Math Phys Eng Sci 2020; 378:20190365. [PMID: 32862817 PMCID: PMC7481672 DOI: 10.1098/rsta.2019.0365] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/06/2023]
Abstract
Arctic marine ecosystems are undergoing rapid correction in response to multiple expressions of climate change, but the consequences of altered biodiversity for the sequestration, transformation and storage of nutrients are poorly constrained. Here, we determine the bioturbation activity of sediment-dwelling invertebrate communities over two consecutive summers that contrasted in sea-ice extent along a transect intersecting the polar front. We find a clear separation in community composition at the polar front that marks a transition in the type and amount of bioturbation activity, and associated nutrient concentrations, sufficient to distinguish a southern high from a northern low. While patterns in community structure reflect proximity to arctic versus boreal conditions, our observations strongly suggest that faunal activity is moderated by seasonal variations in sea ice extent that influence food supply to the benthos. Our observations help visualize how a climate-driven reorganization of the Barents Sea benthic ecosystem may be expressed, and emphasize the rapidity with which an entire region could experience a functional transformation. As strong benthic-pelagic coupling is typical across most parts of the Arctic shelf, the response of these ecosystems to a changing climate will have important ramifications for ecosystem functioning and the trophic structure of the entire food web. This article is part of the theme issue 'The changing Arctic Ocean: consequences for biological communities, biogeochemical processes and ecosystem functioning'.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martin Solan
- School of Ocean and Earth Science, National Oceanography Centre Southampton, University of Southampton, Waterfront Campus, European Way, Southampton SO14 3ZH, UK
- e-mail:
| | - Ellie R. Ward
- School of Ocean and Earth Science, National Oceanography Centre Southampton, University of Southampton, Waterfront Campus, European Way, Southampton SO14 3ZH, UK
| | - Christina L. Wood
- School of Ocean and Earth Science, National Oceanography Centre Southampton, University of Southampton, Waterfront Campus, European Way, Southampton SO14 3ZH, UK
| | - Adam J. Reed
- School of Ocean and Earth Science, National Oceanography Centre Southampton, University of Southampton, Waterfront Campus, European Way, Southampton SO14 3ZH, UK
| | - Laura J. Grange
- School of Ocean Sciences, Bangor University, Bangor, Gwynedd LL57 2DG, UK
| | - Jasmin A. Godbold
- School of Ocean and Earth Science, National Oceanography Centre Southampton, University of Southampton, Waterfront Campus, European Way, Southampton SO14 3ZH, UK
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10
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Solan M, Bennett EM, Mumby PJ, Leyland J, Godbold JA. Benthic-based contributions to climate change mitigation and adaptation. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 2020; 375:20190107. [PMID: 31983332 DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2019.0107] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Innovative solutions to improve the condition and resilience of ecosystems are needed to address societal challenges and pave the way towards a climate-resilient future. Nature-based solutions offer the potential to protect, sustainably manage and restore natural or modified ecosystems while providing multiple other benefits for health, the economy, society and the environment. However, the implementation of nature-based solutions stems from a discourse that is almost exclusively derived from a terrestrial and urban context and assumes that risk reduction is resolved locally. We argue that this position ignores the importance of complex ecological interactions across a range of temporal and spatial scales and misses the substantive contribution from marine ecosystems, which are notably absent from most climate mitigation and adaptation strategies that extend beyond coastal disaster management. Here, we consider the potential of sediment-dwelling fauna and flora to inform and support nature-based solutions, and how the ecology of benthic environments can enhance adaptation plans. We illustrate our thesis with examples of practice that are generating, or have the potential to deliver, transformative change and discuss where further innovation might be applied. Finally, we take a reflective look at the realized and potential capacity of benthic-based solutions to contribute to adaptation plans and offer our perspectives on the suitability and shortcomings of past achievements and the prospective rewards from sensible prioritization of future research. This article is part of the theme issue 'Climate change and ecosystems: threats, opportunities and solutions'.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martin Solan
- School of Ocean and Earth Science, National Oceanography Centre Southampton, University of Southampton, Waterfront Campus, European Way, Southampton SO14 3ZH, UK
| | - Elena M Bennett
- Department of Natural Resource Sciences and McGill School of Environment, McGill University-Macdonald Campus, 21,111 Lakeshore Road, St Anne-de-Bellevue, Quebec, Canada H9X 3 V9
| | - Peter J Mumby
- Marine Spatial Ecology Lab, School of Biological Sciences, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Queensland 4072, Australia
| | - Julian Leyland
- School of Geography and Environmental Science, University of Southampton, Highfield Campus, Southampton, SO17 1BJ, UK
| | - Jasmin A Godbold
- School of Ocean and Earth Science, National Oceanography Centre Southampton, University of Southampton, Waterfront Campus, European Way, Southampton SO14 3ZH, UK.,School of Biological Sciences, University of Southampton, Highfield Campus, Southampton, SO17 1BJ, UK
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11
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Malhi Y, Franklin J, Seddon N, Solan M, Turner MG, Field CB, Knowlton N. Climate change and ecosystems: threats, opportunities and solutions. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 2020; 375:20190104. [PMID: 31983329 DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2019.0104] [Citation(s) in RCA: 126] [Impact Index Per Article: 31.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The rapid anthropogenic climate change that is being experienced in the early twenty-first century is intimately entwined with the health and functioning of the biosphere. Climate change is impacting ecosystems through changes in mean conditions and in climate variability, coupled with other associated changes such as increased ocean acidification and atmospheric carbon dioxide concentrations. It also interacts with other pressures on ecosystems, including degradation, defaunation and fragmentation. There is a need to understand the ecological dynamics of these climate impacts, to identify hotspots of vulnerability and resilience and to identify management interventions that may assist biosphere resilience to climate change. At the same time, ecosystems can also assist in the mitigation of, and adaptation to, climate change. The mechanisms, potential and limits of such nature-based solutions to climate change need to be explored and quantified. This paper introduces a thematic issue dedicated to the interaction between climate change and the biosphere. It explores novel perspectives on how ecosystems respond to climate change, how ecosystem resilience can be enhanced and how ecosystems can assist in addressing the challenge of a changing climate. It draws on a Royal Society-National Academy of Sciences Forum held in Washington DC in November 2018, where these themes and issues were discussed. We conclude by identifying some priorities for academic research and practical implementation, in order to maximize the potential for maintaining a diverse, resilient and well-functioning biosphere under the challenging conditions of the twenty-first century. This article is part of the theme issue 'Climate change and ecosystems: threats, opportunities and solutions'.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yadvinder Malhi
- Environmental Change Institute, School of Geography and the Environment, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3QY, UK
| | - Janet Franklin
- Department of Botany and Plant Sciences, University of California, Riverside, CA 92521, USA
| | - Nathalie Seddon
- Nature-based Solutions Initiative, Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, 11a Mansfield Road, Oxford OX1 3SZ, UK
| | - Martin Solan
- School of Ocean and Earth Science, National Oceanography Centre Southampton, University of Southampton, Waterfront Campus, European Way, Southampton SO14 3ZH, UK
| | - Monica G Turner
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53706, USA
| | - Christopher B Field
- Stanford Woods Institute for the Environment, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Nancy Knowlton
- National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian, MRC 163, PO Box 37012, Washington, DC 20013-7012, USA
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12
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Dolbeth M, Crespo D, Leston S, Solan M. Realistic scenarios of environmental disturbance lead to functionally important changes in benthic species-environment interactions. Mar Environ Res 2019; 150:104770. [PMID: 31421538 DOI: 10.1016/j.marenvres.2019.104770] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2019] [Revised: 08/01/2019] [Accepted: 08/04/2019] [Indexed: 05/13/2023]
Abstract
Changes in community structure concurrent with environmental forcing often form a precursor to changes in species diversity, and can have substantive consequences for ecosystem functioning. Here, we assess the effects of altered levels of evenness that are representative of different levels of eutrophication and changes in salinity associated with altered precipitation patterns, on the mediation of nutrient release by sediment-dwelling invertebrate communities. We find that an adjustment towards a more even distribution of species corresponds with an increase in sediment particle reworking that, in general, translates to increased levels of nutrient release. This response, however, is dependent on the functional role of each species in the community and is influenced by concomitant changes in salinity, especially when salinity extends beyond the range typically experienced by the community. Overall, our findings highlight the dynamic nature of species contributions to functioning and reinforce the importance of understanding when, and how, the mechanistic basis of species-environment interactions are modified as the influence of abiotic and biotic factors flex under periods of directional forcing.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Dolbeth
- CIIMAR - Interdisciplinary Centre of Marine and Environmental Research, Novo Edifício do Terminal de Cruzeiros do Porto de Leixões, Avenida General Norton de Matos s/n, 4450-208 Matosinhos, Portugal; CFE - Centre for Functional Ecology, Department of Life Sciences, University of Coimbra, Calçada Martim de Freitas, 3000-456, Coimbra, Portugal.
| | - D Crespo
- CFE - Centre for Functional Ecology, Department of Life Sciences, University of Coimbra, Calçada Martim de Freitas, 3000-456, Coimbra, Portugal; MARE - Marine and Environmental Sciences Centre, Politécnico de Leiria, Edifício CETEMARES, Av. Porto de Pesca, 2520-630, Peniche, Portugal
| | - S Leston
- CFE - Centre for Functional Ecology, Department of Life Sciences, University of Coimbra, Calçada Martim de Freitas, 3000-456, Coimbra, Portugal; REQUIMTE/LAQV - Pharmacy Faculty, University of Coimbra, Azinhaga de Santa Comba, 3000-548, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - M Solan
- Ocean and Earth Science, National Oceanography Centre, Southampton, University of Southampton, Waterfront Campus, European, Way, Southampton, SO14 3ZH, United Kingdom
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13
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Solan M, Ward ER, White EL, Hibberd EE, Cassidy C, Schuster JM, Hale R, Godbold JA. Worldwide measurements of bioturbation intensity, ventilation rate, and the mixing depth of marine sediments. Sci Data 2019; 6:58. [PMID: 31086191 PMCID: PMC6513814 DOI: 10.1038/s41597-019-0069-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2018] [Accepted: 04/11/2019] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
The activities of a diverse array of sediment-dwelling fauna are known to mediate carbon remineralisation, biogeochemical cycling and other important properties of marine ecosystems, but the contributions that different seabed communities make to the global inventory have not been established. Here we provide a comprehensive georeferenced database of measured values of bioturbation intensity (Db, n = 1281), burrow ventilation rate (q, n = 765, 47 species) and the mixing depth (L, n = 1780) of marine soft sediments compiled from the scientific literature (1864–2018). These data provide reference information that can be used to inform and parameterise global, habitat specific and/or species level biogeochemical models that will be of value within the fields of geochemistry, ecology, climate, and palaeobiology. We include metadata relating to the source, timing and location of each study, the methodology used, and environmental and experimental information. The dataset presents opportunity to interrogate current ecological theory, refine functional typologies, quantify uncertainty and/or test the relevance and robustness of models used to project ecosystem responses to change. Design Type(s) | data integration objective • species comparison design | Measurement Type(s) | Publication | Technology Type(s) | digital curation | Factor Type(s) | temporal_instant • geographic location • depth • Species • season | Sample Characteristic(s) | Polychaeta • Earth (Planet) • marine benthic biome • Malacostraca • Bivalvia • Echinoidea • Ophiuroidea |
Machine-accessible metadata file describing the reported data (ISA-Tab format)
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Affiliation(s)
- Martin Solan
- Ocean and Earth Science, National Oceanography Centre Southampton, University of Southampton, Waterfront Campus, European Way, Southampton, SO14 3ZH, UK.
| | - Ellie R Ward
- Ocean and Earth Science, National Oceanography Centre Southampton, University of Southampton, Waterfront Campus, European Way, Southampton, SO14 3ZH, UK
| | - Ellen L White
- Ocean and Earth Science, National Oceanography Centre Southampton, University of Southampton, Waterfront Campus, European Way, Southampton, SO14 3ZH, UK
| | - Elizabeth E Hibberd
- Ocean and Earth Science, National Oceanography Centre Southampton, University of Southampton, Waterfront Campus, European Way, Southampton, SO14 3ZH, UK
| | - Camilla Cassidy
- Ocean and Earth Science, National Oceanography Centre Southampton, University of Southampton, Waterfront Campus, European Way, Southampton, SO14 3ZH, UK
| | - Jasmin M Schuster
- Ocean and Earth Science, National Oceanography Centre Southampton, University of Southampton, Waterfront Campus, European Way, Southampton, SO14 3ZH, UK.,Department of Ocean Sciences, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John's, Newfoundland, NL, Canada
| | - Rachel Hale
- Ocean and Earth Science, National Oceanography Centre Southampton, University of Southampton, Waterfront Campus, European Way, Southampton, SO14 3ZH, UK
| | - Jasmin A Godbold
- Ocean and Earth Science, National Oceanography Centre Southampton, University of Southampton, Waterfront Campus, European Way, Southampton, SO14 3ZH, UK
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14
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Thomsen MS, Godbold JA, Garcia C, Bolam SG, Parker R, Solan M. Compensatory responses can alter the form of the biodiversity-function relation curve. Proc Biol Sci 2019; 286:20190287. [PMID: 30991928 PMCID: PMC6501933 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2019.0287] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2019] [Accepted: 03/29/2019] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
There is now strong evidence that ecosystem properties are influenced by alterations in biodiversity. The consensus that has emerged from over two decades of research is that the form of the biodiversity-functioning relationship follows a saturating curve. However, the foundation from which these conclusions are drawn mostly stems from empirical investigations that have not accounted for post-extinction changes in community composition and structure, or how surviving species respond to new circumstances and modify their contribution to functioning. Here, we use marine sediment-dwelling invertebrate communities to experimentally assess whether post-extinction compensatory mechanisms (simulated by increasing species biomass) have the potential to alter biodiversity-ecosystem function relations. Consistent with recent numerical simulations, we find that the form of the biodiversity-function curve is dependent on whether or not compensatory responses are present, the cause and extent of extinction, and species density. When species losses are combined with the compensatory responses of surviving species, both community composition, dominance structure, and the pool and relative expression of functionally important traits change and affect species interactions and behaviour. These observations emphasize the importance of post-extinction community composition in determining the stability of ecosystem functioning following extinction. Our results caution against the use of the generalized biodiversity-function curve when generating probabilistic estimates of post-extinction ecosystem properties for practical application.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthias S. Thomsen
- Ocean and Earth Science, National Oceanography Centre Southampton, University of Southampton, Waterfront Campus, European Way, Southampton SO14 3ZH, UK
| | - Jasmin A. Godbold
- Ocean and Earth Science, National Oceanography Centre Southampton, University of Southampton, Waterfront Campus, European Way, Southampton SO14 3ZH, UK
- Biological Sciences, University of Southampton, Highfield Campus, Southampton SO17 1BJ, UK
| | - Clement Garcia
- Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (Cefas), Pakefield Road, Lowestoft, Suffolk NR33 0HT, UK
| | - Stefan G. Bolam
- Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (Cefas), Pakefield Road, Lowestoft, Suffolk NR33 0HT, UK
| | - Ruth Parker
- Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (Cefas), Pakefield Road, Lowestoft, Suffolk NR33 0HT, UK
| | - Martin Solan
- Ocean and Earth Science, National Oceanography Centre Southampton, University of Southampton, Waterfront Campus, European Way, Southampton SO14 3ZH, UK
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15
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Dale H, Solan M, Lam P, Cunliffe M. Sediment microbial assemblage structure is modified by marine polychaete gut passage. FEMS Microbiol Ecol 2019; 95:5426820. [DOI: 10.1093/femsec/fiz047] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2019] [Accepted: 04/02/2019] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Harriet Dale
- Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom, The Laboratory, Citadel Hill, Plymouth, PL1 2PB, UK
- Ocean and Earth Science, University of Southampton, Waterfront Campus, National Oceanography Centre, European Way, Southampton, SO14 3ZH, UK
| | - Martin Solan
- Ocean and Earth Science, University of Southampton, Waterfront Campus, National Oceanography Centre, European Way, Southampton, SO14 3ZH, UK
| | - Phyllis Lam
- Ocean and Earth Science, University of Southampton, Waterfront Campus, National Oceanography Centre, European Way, Southampton, SO14 3ZH, UK
| | - Michael Cunliffe
- Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom, The Laboratory, Citadel Hill, Plymouth, PL1 2PB, UK
- Marine Biology and Ecology Research Group, School of Biological and Marine Sciences, University of Plymouth, Drake Circus, Plymouth, PL4 8AA, UK
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16
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Dale H, Taylor JD, Solan M, Lam P, Cunliffe M. Polychaete mucopolysaccharide alters sediment microbial diversity and stimulates ammonia-oxidising functional groups. FEMS Microbiol Ecol 2018; 95:5247715. [DOI: 10.1093/femsec/fiy234] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2018] [Accepted: 12/12/2018] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Harriet Dale
- Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom, The Laboratory, Citadel Hill, Plymouth, PL1 2PB, UK
- Ocean and Earth Science, University of Southampton, Waterfront Campus, National Oceanography Centre, European Way, Southampton, SO14 3ZH, UK
| | - Joe D Taylor
- School of Environment and Life Sciences, University of Salford, The Crescent, Salford, M5 4WT, UK
| | - Martin Solan
- Ocean and Earth Science, University of Southampton, Waterfront Campus, National Oceanography Centre, European Way, Southampton, SO14 3ZH, UK
| | - Phyllis Lam
- Ocean and Earth Science, University of Southampton, Waterfront Campus, National Oceanography Centre, European Way, Southampton, SO14 3ZH, UK
| | - Michael Cunliffe
- Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom, The Laboratory, Citadel Hill, Plymouth, PL1 2PB, UK
- Marine Biology and Ecology Research Group, School of Biological and Marine Sciences, University of Plymouth, Drake Circus, Plymouth, PL4 8AA, UK
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17
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Nicholls RJ, Brown S, Goodwin P, Wahl T, Lowe J, Solan M, Godbold JA, Haigh ID, Lincke D, Hinkel J, Wolff C, Merkens JL. Stabilization of global temperature at 1.5°C and 2.0°C: implications for coastal areas. Philos Trans A Math Phys Eng Sci 2018; 376:20160448. [PMID: 29610380 PMCID: PMC5897821 DOI: 10.1098/rsta.2016.0448] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 02/05/2018] [Indexed: 05/12/2023]
Abstract
The effectiveness of stringent climate stabilization scenarios for coastal areas in terms of reduction of impacts/adaptation needs and wider policy implications has received little attention. Here we use the Warming Acidification and Sea Level Projector Earth systems model to calculate large ensembles of global sea-level rise (SLR) and ocean pH projections to 2300 for 1.5°C and 2.0°C stabilization scenarios, and a reference unmitigated RCP8.5 scenario. The potential consequences of these projections are then considered for global coastal flooding, small islands, deltas, coastal cities and coastal ecology. Under both stabilization scenarios, global mean ocean pH (and temperature) stabilize within a century. This implies significant ecosystem impacts are avoided, but detailed quantification is lacking, reflecting scientific uncertainty. By contrast, SLR is only slowed and continues to 2300 (and beyond). Hence, while coastal impacts due to SLR are reduced significantly by climate stabilization, especially after 2100, potential impacts continue to grow for centuries. SLR in 2300 under both stabilization scenarios exceeds unmitigated SLR in 2100. Therefore, adaptation remains essential in densely populated and economically important coastal areas under climate stabilization. Given the multiple adaptation steps that this will require, an adaptation pathways approach has merits for coastal areas.This article is part of the theme issue 'The Paris Agreement: understanding the physical and social challenges for a warming world of 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels'.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert J Nicholls
- Faculty of Engineering and the Environment, University of Southampton, Highfield, Southampton SO17 1BJ, UK
| | - Sally Brown
- Faculty of Engineering and the Environment, University of Southampton, Highfield, Southampton SO17 1BJ, UK
| | - Philip Goodwin
- Ocean and Earth Science, National Oceanography Centre Southampton, University of Southampton, Waterfront Campus, European Way, Southampton SO14 3ZH, UK
| | - Thomas Wahl
- Civil, Environmental, and Construction Engineering and National Center for Integrated Coastal Research, University of Central Florida, 12800 Pegasus Drive, Orlando, FL 32816-2450, USA
| | - Jason Lowe
- Reading Unit, Met Office Hadley Centre, University of Reading, Reading, UK
- Priestley International Centre for Climate, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK
| | - Martin Solan
- Ocean and Earth Science, National Oceanography Centre Southampton, University of Southampton, Waterfront Campus, European Way, Southampton SO14 3ZH, UK
| | - Jasmin A Godbold
- Biological Sciences, University of Southampton, Highfield, Southampton SO17 1BJ, UK
- Ocean and Earth Science, National Oceanography Centre Southampton, University of Southampton, Waterfront Campus, European Way, Southampton SO14 3ZH, UK
| | - Ivan D Haigh
- Ocean and Earth Science, National Oceanography Centre Southampton, University of Southampton, Waterfront Campus, European Way, Southampton SO14 3ZH, UK
| | - Daniel Lincke
- Global Climate Forum, Neue Promenade 6, 10178 Berlin, Germany
| | - Jochen Hinkel
- Global Climate Forum, Neue Promenade 6, 10178 Berlin, Germany
| | - Claudia Wolff
- Geographisches Institut, Christian-Albrechts-Universität zu Kiel, Ludewig-Meyn-Strasse 14, 24098 Kiel, Germany
| | - Jan-Ludolf Merkens
- Geographisches Institut, Christian-Albrechts-Universität zu Kiel, Ludewig-Meyn-Strasse 14, 24098 Kiel, Germany
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18
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Crespo D, Solan M, Leston S, Pardal MA, Dolbeth M. Ecological consequences of invasion across the freshwater-marine transition in a warming world. Ecol Evol 2018; 8:1807-1817. [PMID: 29435255 PMCID: PMC5792526 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.3652] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2017] [Revised: 10/11/2017] [Accepted: 10/26/2017] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
The freshwater-marine transition that characterizes an estuarine system can provide multiple entry options for invading species, yet the relative importance of this gradient in determining the functional contribution of invading species has received little attention. The ecological consequences of species invasion are routinely evaluated within a freshwater versus marine context, even though many invasive species can inhabit a wide range of salinities. We investigate the functional consequences of different sizes of Corbicula fluminea-an invasive species able to adapt to a wide range of temperatures and salinity-across the freshwater-marine transition in the presence versus absence of warming. Specifically, we characterize how C. fluminea affect fluid and particle transport, important processes in mediating nutrient cycling (NH 4-N, NO 3-N, PO 4-P). Results showed that sediment particle reworking (bioturbation) tends to be influenced by size and to a lesser extent, temperature and salinity; nutrient concentrations are influenced by different interactions between all variables (salinity, temperature, and size class). Our findings demonstrate the highly context-dependent nature of the ecosystem consequences of invasion and highlight the potential for species to simultaneously occupy multiple components of an ecosystem. Recognizing of this aspect of invasibility is fundamental to management and conservation efforts, particularly as freshwater and marine systems tend to be compartmentalized rather than be treated as a contiguous unit. We conclude that more comprehensive appreciation of the distribution of invasive species across adjacent habitats and different seasons is urgently needed to allow the true extent of biological introductions, and their ecological consequences, to be fully realized.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Crespo
- Department of Life Sciences Centre for Functional Ecology-CFE University of Coimbra Coimbra Portugal
| | - Martin Solan
- Ocean and Earth Science National Oceanography Centre Southampton University of Southampton Southampton UK
| | - Sara Leston
- Department of Life Sciences Centre for Functional Ecology-CFE University of Coimbra Coimbra Portugal.,CNC-Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology Pharmacy Faculty University of Coimbra Coimbra Portugal.,MARE-Marine and Environmental Sciences Centre IPL, Escola Superior de Turismo e Tecnologia do Mar Peniche Portugal
| | - Miguel A Pardal
- Department of Life Sciences Centre for Functional Ecology-CFE University of Coimbra Coimbra Portugal
| | - Marina Dolbeth
- CIIMAR-Interdisciplinary Centre of Marine and Environmental Research of the University of Porto Novo Edifício do Terminal de Cruzeiros do Porto de Leixões Matosinhos Portugal
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19
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Wohlgemuth D, Solan M, Godbold JA. Species contributions to ecosystem process and function can be population dependent and modified by biotic and abiotic setting. Proc Biol Sci 2017; 284:rspb.2016.2805. [PMID: 28566482 PMCID: PMC5454255 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2016.2805] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2017] [Accepted: 05/03/2017] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
There is unequivocal evidence that altered biodiversity, through changes in the expression and distribution of functional traits, can have large impacts on ecosystem properties. However, trait-based summaries of how organisms affect ecosystem properties often assume that traits show constancy within and between populations and that species contributions to ecosystem functioning are not overly affected by the presence of other species or variations in abiotic conditions. Here, we evaluate the validity of these assumptions using an experiment in which three geographically distinct populations of intertidal sediment-dwelling invertebrates are reciprocally substituted. We find that the mediation of macronutrient generation by these species can vary between different populations and show that changes in biotic and/or abiotic conditions can further modify functionally important aspects of the behaviour of individuals within a population. Our results demonstrate the importance of knowing how, when, and why traits are expressed and suggest that these dimensions of species functionality are not sufficiently well-constrained to facilitate the accurate projection of the functional consequences of change. Information regarding the ecological role of key species and assumptions about the form of species–environment interactions needs urgent refinement.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Wohlgemuth
- Ocean and Earth Science, National Oceanography Centre Southampton, University of Southampton, Waterfront Campus, European Way, Southampton SO14 3ZH, UK
| | - Martin Solan
- Ocean and Earth Science, National Oceanography Centre Southampton, University of Southampton, Waterfront Campus, European Way, Southampton SO14 3ZH, UK
| | - Jasmin A Godbold
- Ocean and Earth Science, National Oceanography Centre Southampton, University of Southampton, Waterfront Campus, European Way, Southampton SO14 3ZH, UK.,Biological Sciences, University of Southampton, Highfield, Southampton, SO17 1BJ, UK
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20
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Snelgrove PVR, Soetaert K, Solan M, Thrush S, Wei CL, Danovaro R, Fulweiler RW, Kitazato H, Ingole B, Norkko A, Parkes RJ, Volkenborn N. Global Carbon Cycling on a Heterogeneous Seafloor. Trends Ecol Evol 2017; 33:96-105. [PMID: 29248328 DOI: 10.1016/j.tree.2017.11.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 63] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2017] [Revised: 10/25/2017] [Accepted: 11/07/2017] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
Diverse biological communities mediate the transformation, transport, and storage of elements fundamental to life on Earth, including carbon, nitrogen, and oxygen. However, global biogeochemical model outcomes can vary by orders of magnitude, compromising capacity to project realistic ecosystem responses to planetary changes, including ocean productivity and climate. Here, we compare global carbon turnover rates estimated using models grounded in biological versus geochemical theory and argue that the turnover estimates based on each perspective yield divergent outcomes. Importantly, empirical studies that include sedimentary biological activity vary less than those that ignore it. Improving the relevance of model projections and reducing uncertainty associated with the anticipated consequences of global change requires reconciliation of these perspectives, enabling better societal decisions on mitigation and adaptation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paul V R Snelgrove
- Department of Ocean Sciences and Biology Department, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St John's NL A1C 5S7, Canada.
| | - Karline Soetaert
- Estuarine and Delta Systems, Netherlands Institute of Sea Research and Utrecht University, Yerseke, The Netherlands
| | - Martin Solan
- Ocean and Earth Science, National Oceanography Centre Southampton, University of Southampton, Waterfront Campus, European Way, Southampton, SO14 3ZH, UK
| | - Simon Thrush
- Institute of Marine Science, The University of Auckland, Auckland, 1142, New Zealand
| | - Chih-Lin Wei
- Institute of Oceanography, National Taiwan University, Taipei 106, Taiwan
| | - Roberto Danovaro
- Department of Life and Environmental Sciences, Polytechnic University of Marche, Ancona, Italy; Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, Naples, Italy
| | - Robinson W Fulweiler
- Departments of Earth and Environment and Biology, Boston University, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Hiroshi Kitazato
- Tokyo University of Marine Science and Technology, 4-5-7 Konan, Minato-ku, Tokyo 108-8477, Japan
| | - Baban Ingole
- National Institute of Oceanography, Dona Paula, Goa 403004 , India
| | - Alf Norkko
- Tvärminne Zoological Station, University of Helsinki, Hanko, Finland; Stockholm University Baltic Sea Centre, 106 91 Stockholm
| | - R John Parkes
- School of Earth and Ocean Sciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff, CF10 3AT, UK
| | - Nils Volkenborn
- School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, 11794-5000, USA
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21
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Agarwal SK, Khan AA, Solan M, Lemon M. Hip fracture surgery in mixed-use emergency theatres: is the infection risk increased? A retrospective matched cohort study. Ann R Coll Surg Engl 2017; 99:641-644. [PMID: 29046102 PMCID: PMC5696939 DOI: 10.1308/rcsann.2017.0183] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 08/28/2017] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction The National Institute of Health and Care Excellence recommends that people with hip fracture should have surgery on the day of, or the day after, admission. However, there remains unacceptable variation in performance around the country, with a range of 13-91% of patients meeting this target. Dedicated trauma lists have insufficient capacity in many hospitals. We occasionally employ a mixed-use emergency theatre to facilitate early surgery. Increased risk of infection has been raised as a concern owing to microbial surface contamination from a preceding unclean case and lack of laminar flow in these theatres. The objective of this study was to investigate whether there is an increased risk of surgical site infections in patients who had hip fracture surgery in a mixed-use emergency theatre. Methods Between August 2010 and July 2014, 74 patients had hip fracture surgery in a mixed-use emergency theatre without laminar flow. This group was compared with a control group of patients who had hip fracture surgery in dedicated orthopaedic theatres with laminar flow. Infection was the primary outcome measured. Results There was no statistically significant difference in the rate of infection, length of stay or 30-day mortality, readmission or reoperation rates between the two groups. Conclusions Operating on hip fractures in mixed-use theatre did not lead to an increase in infection or other complications in our series. We feel that the risk of infection can be balanced against advantages of timely operation and it may therefore be justified to use these theatres when faced with lack of time on the trauma list. A much larger series would be required to investigate the effects of confounders.
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Affiliation(s)
- S K Agarwal
- Royal Surrey County Hospital , Guildford , UK
| | - A A Khan
- Royal Surrey County Hospital , Guildford , UK
| | - M Solan
- Royal Surrey County Hospital , Guildford , UK
| | - M Lemon
- Royal Surrey County Hospital , Guildford , UK
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22
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Sciberras M, Tait K, Brochain G, Hiddink JG, Hale R, Godbold JA, Solan M. Mediation of nitrogen by post-disturbance shelf communities experiencing organic matter enrichment. Biogeochemistry 2017; 135:135-153. [PMID: 32009695 PMCID: PMC6961516 DOI: 10.1007/s10533-017-0370-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2016] [Accepted: 08/15/2017] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
Microbes and benthic macro-invertebrates interact in sediments to play a major role in the biogeochemical cycling of organic matter, but the extent to which their contributions are modified following natural and anthropogenic changes has received little attention. Here, we investigate how nitrogen transformations, ascertained from changes in archaeal and bacterial N-cycling microbes and water macronutrient concentrations ([NH4-N], [NO2-N], [NO3-N]), in sand and sandy mud sediments differ when macrofaunal communities that have previously experienced contrasting levels of chronic fishing disturbance are exposed to organic matter enrichment. We find that differences in macrofaunal community structure related to differences in fishing activity affect the capacity of the macrofauna to mediate microbial nitrogen cycling in sand, but not in sandy mud environments. Whilst we found no evidence for a change in ammonia oxidiser community structure, we did find an increase in archaeal and bacterial denitrifier (AnirKa, nirS) and anammox (hzo) transcripts in macrofaunal communities characterized by higher ratios of suspension to deposit feeders, and a lower density but higher biomass of sediment-reworking fauna. Our findings suggest that nitrogen transformation in shelf sandy sediments is dependent on the stimulation of specific nitrogen cycling pathways that are associated with differences in the composition and context-dependent expression of the functional traits that belong to the resident bioturbating macrofauna community.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marija Sciberras
- School of Ocean Sciences, Bangor University, Askew St, Menai Bridge, Anglesey LL59 5AB UK
| | - Karen Tait
- Plymouth Marine Laboratory, Prospect Place, The Hoe, Plymouth, PL1 3DH UK
| | - Guillaume Brochain
- Plymouth Marine Laboratory, Prospect Place, The Hoe, Plymouth, PL1 3DH UK
| | - Jan G. Hiddink
- School of Ocean Sciences, Bangor University, Askew St, Menai Bridge, Anglesey LL59 5AB UK
| | - Rachel Hale
- Ocean and Earth Science, National Oceanography Centre Southampton, University of Southampton Waterfront Campus, European Way, Southampton, SO14 3ZH UK
| | - Jasmin A. Godbold
- Ocean and Earth Science, National Oceanography Centre Southampton, University of Southampton Waterfront Campus, European Way, Southampton, SO14 3ZH UK
| | - Martin Solan
- Ocean and Earth Science, National Oceanography Centre Southampton, University of Southampton Waterfront Campus, European Way, Southampton, SO14 3ZH UK
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Thompson CEL, Silburn B, Williams ME, Hull T, Sivyer D, Amoudry LO, Widdicombe S, Ingels J, Carnovale G, McNeill CL, Hale R, Marchais CL, Hicks N, Smith HEK, Klar JK, Hiddink JG, Kowalik J, Kitidis V, Reynolds S, Woodward EMS, Tait K, Homoky WB, Kröger S, Bolam S, Godbold JA, Aldridge J, Mayor DJ, Benoist NMA, Bett BJ, Morris KJ, Parker ER, Ruhl HA, Statham PJ, Solan M. An approach for the identification of exemplar sites for scaling up targeted field observations of benthic biogeochemistry in heterogeneous environments. Biogeochemistry 2017; 135:1-34. [PMID: 32009689 PMCID: PMC6961521 DOI: 10.1007/s10533-017-0366-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2016] [Accepted: 06/08/2017] [Indexed: 05/16/2023]
Abstract
Continental shelf sediments are globally important for biogeochemical activity. Quantification of shelf-scale stocks and fluxes of carbon and nutrients requires the extrapolation of observations made at limited points in space and time. The procedure for selecting exemplar sites to form the basis of this up-scaling is discussed in relation to a UK-funded research programme investigating biogeochemistry in shelf seas. A three-step selection process is proposed in which (1) a target area representative of UK shelf sediment heterogeneity is selected, (2) the target area is assessed for spatial heterogeneity in sediment and habitat type, bed and water column structure and hydrodynamic forcing, and (3) study sites are selected within this target area encompassing the range of spatial heterogeneity required to address key scientific questions regarding shelf scale biogeochemistry, and minimise confounding variables. This led to the selection of four sites within the Celtic Sea that are significantly different in terms of their sediment, bed structure, and macrofaunal, meiofaunal and microbial community structures and diversity, but have minimal variations in water depth, tidal and wave magnitudes and directions, temperature and salinity. They form the basis of a research cruise programme of observation, sampling and experimentation encompassing the spring bloom cycle. Typical variation in key biogeochemical, sediment, biological and hydrodynamic parameters over a pre to post bloom period are presented, with a discussion of anthropogenic influences in the region. This methodology ensures the best likelihood of site-specific work being useful for up-scaling activities, increasing our understanding of benthic biogeochemistry at the UK-shelf scale.
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Affiliation(s)
- C. E. L. Thompson
- Ocean and Earth Science, University of Southampton, National Oceanography Centre, Southampton, SO14 3ZH UK
| | - B. Silburn
- Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science, Pakefield Road, Lowestoft, NR33 0HT UK
| | - M. E. Williams
- National Oceanography Centre, 6 Brownlow St, Liverpool, L3 5DA UK
| | - T. Hull
- Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science, Pakefield Road, Lowestoft, NR33 0HT UK
| | - D. Sivyer
- Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science, Pakefield Road, Lowestoft, NR33 0HT UK
| | - L. O. Amoudry
- National Oceanography Centre, 6 Brownlow St, Liverpool, L3 5DA UK
| | - S. Widdicombe
- Plymouth Marine Laboratory, Prospect Place, The Hoe, Plymouth, PL1 3DH UK
| | - J. Ingels
- Plymouth Marine Laboratory, Prospect Place, The Hoe, Plymouth, PL1 3DH UK
| | - G. Carnovale
- Plymouth Marine Laboratory, Prospect Place, The Hoe, Plymouth, PL1 3DH UK
| | - C. L. McNeill
- Plymouth Marine Laboratory, Prospect Place, The Hoe, Plymouth, PL1 3DH UK
| | - R. Hale
- Ocean and Earth Science, University of Southampton, National Oceanography Centre, Southampton, SO14 3ZH UK
| | - C. Laguionie Marchais
- National Oceanography Centre, University of Southampton Waterfront Campus, European Way, Southampton, SO14 3ZH UK
| | - N. Hicks
- Scottish Association for Marine Science, Scottish Marine Institute, Oban, Argyll, PA37 1QA UK
| | - H. E. K. Smith
- National Oceanography Centre, University of Southampton Waterfront Campus, European Way, Southampton, SO14 3ZH UK
| | - J. K. Klar
- Ocean and Earth Science, University of Southampton, National Oceanography Centre, Southampton, SO14 3ZH UK
- LEGOS, University of Toulouse, IRDm CNES, CNRS, UPS, 14 av. Edouard Belin, 31400 Toulouse, France
| | - J. G. Hiddink
- School of Ocean Sciences, Bangor University, Menai Bridge, LL59 5AB UK
| | - J. Kowalik
- Navama – Technology for Nature, Landshuter Allee 8, 80637 Munich, Germany
| | - V. Kitidis
- Plymouth Marine Laboratory, Prospect Place, The Hoe, Plymouth, PL1 3DH UK
| | - S. Reynolds
- School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Portsmouth, Burnaby Road, Portsmouth, PO1 3QL UK
| | - E. M. S. Woodward
- Plymouth Marine Laboratory, Prospect Place, The Hoe, Plymouth, PL1 3DH UK
| | - K. Tait
- Plymouth Marine Laboratory, Prospect Place, The Hoe, Plymouth, PL1 3DH UK
| | - W. B. Homoky
- Department of Earth Sciences, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford, OX1 3AN UK
| | - S. Kröger
- Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science, Pakefield Road, Lowestoft, NR33 0HT UK
| | - S. Bolam
- Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science, Pakefield Road, Lowestoft, NR33 0HT UK
| | - J. A. Godbold
- Ocean and Earth Science, University of Southampton, National Oceanography Centre, Southampton, SO14 3ZH UK
- Biological Sciences, University of Southampton, Life Sciences Building, Highfield, Southampton SO17 1BJ UK
| | - J. Aldridge
- Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science, Pakefield Road, Lowestoft, NR33 0HT UK
| | - D. J. Mayor
- National Oceanography Centre, University of Southampton Waterfront Campus, European Way, Southampton, SO14 3ZH UK
| | - N. M. A. Benoist
- Ocean and Earth Science, University of Southampton, National Oceanography Centre, Southampton, SO14 3ZH UK
| | - B. J. Bett
- National Oceanography Centre, University of Southampton Waterfront Campus, European Way, Southampton, SO14 3ZH UK
| | - K. J. Morris
- National Oceanography Centre, University of Southampton Waterfront Campus, European Way, Southampton, SO14 3ZH UK
| | - E. R. Parker
- Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science, Pakefield Road, Lowestoft, NR33 0HT UK
| | - H. A. Ruhl
- National Oceanography Centre, University of Southampton Waterfront Campus, European Way, Southampton, SO14 3ZH UK
| | - P. J. Statham
- Ocean and Earth Science, University of Southampton, National Oceanography Centre, Southampton, SO14 3ZH UK
| | - M. Solan
- Ocean and Earth Science, University of Southampton, National Oceanography Centre, Southampton, SO14 3ZH UK
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Godbold JA, Hale R, Wood CL, Solan M. Vulnerability of macronutrients to the concurrent effects of enhanced temperature and atmospheric pCO 2 in representative shelf sea sediment habitats. Biogeochemistry 2017; 135:89-102. [PMID: 32009693 PMCID: PMC6961501 DOI: 10.1007/s10533-017-0340-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2016] [Accepted: 05/26/2017] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
Fundamental changes in seawater carbonate chemistry and sea surface temperatures associated with the ocean uptake of anthropogenic CO2 are accelerating, but investigations of the susceptibility of biogeochemical processes to the simultaneous occurrence of multiple components of climate change are uncommon. Here, we quantify how concurrent changes in enhanced temperature and atmospheric pCO2, coupled with an associated shift in macrofaunal community structure and behavior (sediment particle reworking and bioirrigation), modify net carbon and nutrient concentrations (NH4-N, NOx-N, PO4-P) in representative shelf sea sediment habitats (mud, sandy-mud, muddy-sand and sand) of the Celtic Sea. We show that net concentrations of organic carbon, nitrogen and phosphate are, irrespective of sediment type, largely unaffected by a simultaneous increase in temperature and atmospheric pCO2. However, our analyses also reveal that a reduction in macrofaunal species richness and total abundance occurs under future environmental conditions, varies across a gradient of cohesive to non-cohesive sediments, and negatively moderates biogeochemical processes, in particular nitrification. Our findings indicate that future environmental conditions are unlikely to have strong direct effects on biogeochemical processes but, particularly in muddy sands, the abundance, activity, composition and functional role of invertebrate communities are likely to be altered in ways that will be sufficient to regulate the function of the microbial community and the availability of nutrients in shelf sea waters.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jasmin A. Godbold
- Ocean and Earth Science, National Oceanography Centre Southampton, University of Southampton, European Way, Southampton, SO14 3ZH UK
- Biological Sciences, University of Southampton, Highfield Campus, Southampton, SO17 1BJ UK
| | - Rachel Hale
- Ocean and Earth Science, National Oceanography Centre Southampton, University of Southampton, European Way, Southampton, SO14 3ZH UK
| | - Christina L. Wood
- Ocean and Earth Science, National Oceanography Centre Southampton, University of Southampton, European Way, Southampton, SO14 3ZH UK
| | - Martin Solan
- Ocean and Earth Science, National Oceanography Centre Southampton, University of Southampton, European Way, Southampton, SO14 3ZH UK
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25
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Hale R, Godbold JA, Sciberras M, Dwight J, Wood C, Hiddink JG, Solan M. Mediation of macronutrients and carbon by post-disturbance shelf sea sediment communities. Biogeochemistry 2017; 135:121-133. [PMID: 32009694 PMCID: PMC6961522 DOI: 10.1007/s10533-017-0350-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2016] [Accepted: 06/07/2017] [Indexed: 05/13/2023]
Abstract
Benthic communities play a major role in organic matter remineralisation and the mediation of many aspects of shelf sea biogeochemistry. Few studies have considered how changes in community structure associated with different levels of physical disturbance affect sediment macronutrients and carbon following the cessation of disturbance. Here, we investigate how faunal activity (sediment particle reworking and bioirrigation) in communities that have survived contrasting levels of bottom fishing affect sediment organic carbon content and macronutrient concentrations ([NH4-N], [NO2-N], [NO3-N], [PO4-P], [SiO4-Si]). We find that organic carbon content and [NO3-N] decline in cohesive sediment communities that have experienced an increased frequency of fishing, whilst [NH4-N], [NO2-N], [PO4-P] and [SiO4-Si] are not affected. [NH4-N] increases in non-cohesive sediments that have experienced a higher frequency of fishing. Further analyses reveal that the way communities are restructured by physical disturbance differs between sediment type and with fishing frequency, but that changes in community structure do little to affect bioturbation and associated levels of organic carbon and nutrient concentrations. Our results suggest that in the presence of physical disturbance, irrespective of sediment type, the mediation of macronutrient and carbon cycling increasingly reflects the decoupling of organism-sediment relations. Indeed, it is the traits of the species that reside at the sediment-water interface, or that occupy deeper parts of the sediment profile, that are disproportionately expressed post-disturbance, that are most important for sustaining biogeochemical functioning.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rachel Hale
- School of Ocean and Earth Science, National Oceanography Centre Southampton, University of Southampton Waterfront Campus, European Way, Southampton, SO14 3ZH UK
| | - Jasmin A. Godbold
- School of Ocean and Earth Science, National Oceanography Centre Southampton, University of Southampton Waterfront Campus, European Way, Southampton, SO14 3ZH UK
- Biological Sciences,Faculty of Natural and Environmental Sciences, University of Southampton, Highfield Campus, Life Sciences Building 85, Southampton, SO17 1BJ UK
| | - Marija Sciberras
- School of Ocean Sciences, Bangor University, Menai Bridge, Bangor, LL59 5AB UK
| | - Jessica Dwight
- School of Ocean and Earth Science, National Oceanography Centre Southampton, University of Southampton Waterfront Campus, European Way, Southampton, SO14 3ZH UK
| | - Christina Wood
- School of Ocean and Earth Science, National Oceanography Centre Southampton, University of Southampton Waterfront Campus, European Way, Southampton, SO14 3ZH UK
| | - Jan G. Hiddink
- School of Ocean Sciences, Bangor University, Menai Bridge, Bangor, LL59 5AB UK
| | - Martin Solan
- School of Ocean and Earth Science, National Oceanography Centre Southampton, University of Southampton Waterfront Campus, European Way, Southampton, SO14 3ZH UK
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26
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Solan M, Hauton C, Godbold JA, Wood CL, Leighton TG, White P. Anthropogenic sources of underwater sound can modify how sediment-dwelling invertebrates mediate ecosystem properties. Sci Rep 2016; 6:20540. [PMID: 26847483 PMCID: PMC4742813 DOI: 10.1038/srep20540] [Citation(s) in RCA: 62] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2015] [Accepted: 01/06/2016] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Coastal and shelf environments support high levels of biodiversity that are vital in mediating ecosystem processes, but they are also subject to noise associated with mounting levels of offshore human activity. This has the potential to alter the way in which species interact with their environment, compromising the mediation of important ecosystem properties. Here, we show that exposure to underwater broadband sound fields that resemble offshore shipping and construction activity can alter sediment-dwelling invertebrate contributions to fluid and particle transport--key processes in mediating benthic nutrient cycling. Despite high levels of intra-specific variability in physiological response, we find that changes in the behaviour of some functionally important species can be dependent on the class of broadband sound (continuous or impulsive). Our study provides evidence that exposing coastal environments to anthropogenic sound fields is likely to have much wider ecosystem consequences than are presently acknowledged.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martin Solan
- Ocean and Earth Science, National Oceanography Centre, Southampton, University of Southampton, Waterfront Campus, European Way, Southampton, SO14 3ZH
| | - Chris Hauton
- Ocean and Earth Science, National Oceanography Centre, Southampton, University of Southampton, Waterfront Campus, European Way, Southampton, SO14 3ZH
| | - Jasmin A Godbold
- Ocean and Earth Science, National Oceanography Centre, Southampton, University of Southampton, Waterfront Campus, European Way, Southampton, SO14 3ZH.,Centre for Biological Sciences, Faculty of Natural and Environmental Sciences, University of Southampton, Highfield Campus, Southampton, SO17 1BJ
| | - Christina L Wood
- Ocean and Earth Science, National Oceanography Centre, Southampton, University of Southampton, Waterfront Campus, European Way, Southampton, SO14 3ZH
| | - Timothy G Leighton
- Institute of Sound &Vibration Research, Faculty of Engineering and the Environment, University of Southampton, Southampton, SO17 1BJ
| | - Paul White
- Institute of Sound &Vibration Research, Faculty of Engineering and the Environment, University of Southampton, Southampton, SO17 1BJ
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27
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Hale R, Boardman R, Mavrogordato MN, Sinclair I, Tolhurst TJ, Solan M. High-resolution computed tomography reconstructions of invertebrate burrow systems. Sci Data 2015; 2:150052. [PMID: 26396743 PMCID: PMC4576671 DOI: 10.1038/sdata.2015.52] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2015] [Accepted: 09/02/2015] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
The architecture of biogenic structures can be highly influential in determining species contributions to major soil and sediment processes, but detailed 3-D characterisations are rare and descriptors of form and complexity are lacking. Here we provide replicate high-resolution micro-focus computed tomography (μ-CT) data for the complete burrow systems of three co-occurring, but functionally contrasting, sediment-dwelling inter-tidal invertebrates assembled alone, and in combination, in representative model aquaria. These data (≤ 2,000 raw image slices aquarium(-1), isotropic voxel resolution, 81 μm) provide reference models that can be used for the development of novel structural analysis routines that will be of value within the fields of ecology, pedology, geomorphology, palaeobiology, ichnology and mechanical engineering. We also envisage opportunity for those investigating transport networks, vascular systems, plant rooting systems, neuron connectivity patterns, or those developing image analysis or statistics related to pattern or shape recognition. The dataset will allow investigators to develop or test novel methodology and ideas without the need to generate a complete three-dimensional computation of exemplar architecture.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rachel Hale
- Ocean and Earth Science, National Oceanography Centre, Southampton, University of Southampton, Waterfront Campus, European Way, Southampton SO14 3ZH, UK
| | - Richard Boardman
- University of Southampton, Engineering and the Environment, Highfield, Southampton SO17 1BJ, UK
| | - Mark N. Mavrogordato
- University of Southampton, Engineering and the Environment, Highfield, Southampton SO17 1BJ, UK
| | - Ian Sinclair
- University of Southampton, Engineering and the Environment, Highfield, Southampton SO17 1BJ, UK
| | - Trevor J. Tolhurst
- University of East Anglia, School of Environmental Science, Norwich Research Park, Norwich NR4 7TJ, UK
| | - Martin Solan
- Ocean and Earth Science, National Oceanography Centre, Southampton, University of Southampton, Waterfront Campus, European Way, Southampton SO14 3ZH, UK
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28
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Queirós AM, Birchenough SNR, Bremner J, Godbold JA, Parker RE, Romero-Ramirez A, Reiss H, Solan M, Somerfield PJ, Van Colen C, Van Hoey G, Widdicombe S. A bioturbation classification of European marine infaunal invertebrates. Ecol Evol 2013; 3:3958-85. [PMID: 24198953 PMCID: PMC3810888 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.769] [Citation(s) in RCA: 189] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2013] [Revised: 08/06/2013] [Accepted: 08/12/2013] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Bioturbation, the biogenic modification of sediments through particle reworking and burrow ventilation, is a key mediator of many important geochemical processes in marine systems. In situ quantification of bioturbation can be achieved in a myriad of ways, requiring expert knowledge, technology, and resources not always available, and not feasible in some settings. Where dedicated research programmes do not exist, a practical alternative is the adoption of a trait-based approach to estimate community bioturbation potential (BPc). This index can be calculated from inventories of species, abundance and biomass data (routinely available for many systems), and a functional classification of organism traits associated with sediment mixing (less available). Presently, however, there is no agreed standard categorization for the reworking mode and mobility of benthic species. Based on information from the literature and expert opinion, we provide a functional classification for 1033 benthic invertebrate species from the northwest European continental shelf, as a tool to enable the standardized calculation of BPc in the region. Future uses of this classification table will increase the comparability and utility of large-scale assessments of ecosystem processes and functioning influenced by bioturbation (e.g., to support legislation). The key strengths, assumptions, and limitations of BPc as a metric are critically reviewed, offering guidelines for its calculation and application.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana M Queirós
- Plymouth Marine Laboratory Prospect Place, The Hoe, Plymouth, PL1 3DH, U.K
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29
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Murray F, Widdicombe S, McNeill CL, Solan M. Consequences of a simulated rapid ocean acidification event for benthic ecosystem processes and functions. Mar Pollut Bull 2013; 73:435-442. [PMID: 23219529 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2012.11.023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2012] [Revised: 09/14/2012] [Accepted: 11/10/2012] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
Whilst the biological consequences of long-term, gradual changes in acidity associated with the oceanic uptake of atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) are increasingly studied, the potential effects of rapid acidification associated with a failure of sub-seabed carbon storage infrastructure have received less attention. This study investigates the effects of severe short-term (8days) exposure to acidified seawater on infaunal mediation of ecosystem processes (bioirrigation and sediment particle redistribution) and functioning (nutrient concentrations). Following acidification, individuals of Amphiura filiformis exhibited emergent behaviour typical of a stress response, which resulted in altered bioturbation, but limited changes in nutrient cycling. Under acidified conditions, A. filiformis moved to shallower depths within the sediment and the variability in occupancy depth reduced considerably. This study indicated that rapid acidification events may not be lethal to benthic invertebrates, but may result in behavioural changes that could have longer-term implications for species survival, ecosystem structure and functioning.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fiona Murray
- Oceanlab, University of Aberdeen, Main Street, Newburgh, Aberdeenshire AB41 6AA, UK.
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30
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Godbold JA, Solan M. Long-term effects of warming and ocean acidification are modified by seasonal variation in species responses and environmental conditions. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 2013; 368:20130186. [PMID: 23980249 DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2013.0186] [Citation(s) in RCA: 58] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Warming of sea surface temperatures and alteration of ocean chemistry associated with anthropogenic increases in atmospheric carbon dioxide will have profound consequences for a broad range of species, but the potential for seasonal variation to modify species and ecosystem responses to these stressors has received little attention. Here, using the longest experiment to date (542 days), we investigate how the interactive effects of warming and ocean acidification affect the growth, behaviour and associated levels of ecosystem functioning (nutrient release) for a functionally important non-calcifying intertidal polychaete (Alitta virens) under seasonally changing conditions. We find that the effects of warming, ocean acidification and their interactions are not detectable in the short term, but manifest over time through changes in growth, bioturbation and bioirrigation behaviour that, in turn, affect nutrient generation. These changes are intimately linked to species responses to seasonal variations in environmental conditions (temperature and photoperiod) that, depending upon timing, can either exacerbate or buffer the long-term directional effects of climatic forcing. Taken together, our observations caution against over emphasizing the conclusions from short-term experiments and highlight the necessity to consider the temporal expression of complex system dynamics established over appropriate timescales when forecasting the likely ecological consequences of climatic forcing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jasmin A Godbold
- Ocean and Earth Science, National Oceanography Center Southampton, University of Southampton, Waterfront Campus, European Way, Southampton SO14 3ZH, UK.
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Langenheder S, Bulling MT, Prosser JI, Solan M. Role of functionally dominant species in varying environmental regimes: evidence for the performance-enhancing effect of biodiversity. BMC Ecol 2012; 12:14. [PMID: 22846071 PMCID: PMC3480835 DOI: 10.1186/1472-6785-12-14] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2012] [Accepted: 06/26/2012] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Theory suggests that biodiversity can act as a buffer against disturbances and environmental variability via two major mechanisms: Firstly, a stabilising effect by decreasing the temporal variance in ecosystem functioning due to compensatory processes; and secondly, a performance enhancing effect by raising the level of community response through the selection of better performing species. Empirical evidence for the stabilizing effect of biodiversity is readily available, whereas experimental confirmation of the performance-enhancing effect of biodiversity is sparse. Results Here, we test the effect of different environmental regimes (constant versus fluctuating temperature) on bacterial biodiversity-ecosystem functioning relations. We show that positive effects of species richness on ecosystem functioning are enhanced by stronger temperature fluctuations due to the increased performance of individual species. Conclusions Our results provide evidence for the performance enhancing effect and suggest that selection towards functionally dominant species is likely to benefit the maintenance of ecosystem functioning under more variable conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Silke Langenheder
- Institute of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, AB24 UU3, UK.
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32
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Gilbertson WW, Solan M, Prosser JI. Differential effects of microorganism-invertebrate interactions on benthic nitrogen cycling. FEMS Microbiol Ecol 2012; 82:11-22. [PMID: 22533682 DOI: 10.1111/j.1574-6941.2012.01400.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 64] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2012] [Revised: 03/16/2012] [Accepted: 04/20/2012] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Infaunal invertebrate activity can fundamentally alter physicochemical conditions in sediments and influence nutrient cycling. However, despite clear links between invertebrate activity and microbially mediated processes such as nitrification, the mechanisms by which bioturbating macrofauna affect microbial communities have received little attention. This study provides strong evidence for differential stimulation of microbial nitrogen transformations by three functionally contrasting species of macrofauna (Hediste diversicolor, Corophium volutator, Hydrobia ulvae). Despite increased nitrification, abundance of ammonia-oxidising bacteria (AOB) and ammonia-oxidising archaea (AOA) at the sediment-water interface did not significantly change in the presence of macrofauna. However, species-specific differences in macrofaunal activity did influence ammonia oxidiser community structure, increasing AOB abundance relative to AOA in the presence of C. volutator or H. ulvae, but with no change in H. diversicolor and no-macrofauna treatments. Denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis profiles were similar between macrofaunal treatments, although one AOB band increased in relative intensity in the presence of C. volutator, decreased in the H. diversicolor treatment and was unchanged in the H. ulvae treatment. These data suggest that links between bioturbating macrofauna and nutrient cycling are not expressed through changes in the abundance of ammonia oxidisers in surface sediments, but are associated with changes in the AOA : AOB ratio depending on the invertebrate species.
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Affiliation(s)
- William W Gilbertson
- Oceanlab, Institute of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire, UK.
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Wilkinson A, Solan M, Alexander I, Johnson D. Species richness and nitrogen supply regulate the productivity and respiration of ectomycorrhizal fungi in pure culture. FUNGAL ECOL 2012. [DOI: 10.1016/j.funeco.2011.08.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
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Abstract
Bioturbation is one of the most widespread forms of ecological engineering and has significant implications for the structure and functioning of ecosystems, yet our understanding of the processes involved in biotic mixing remains incomplete. One reason is that, despite their value and utility, most mathematical models currently applied to bioturbation data tend to neglect aspects of the natural complexity of bioturbation in favour of mathematical simplicity. At the same time, the abstract nature of these approaches limits the application of such models to a limited range of users. Here, we contend that a movement towards process-based modelling can improve both the representation of the mechanistic basis of bioturbation and the intuitiveness of modelling approaches. In support of this initiative, we present an open source modelling framework that explicitly simulates particle displacement and a worked example to facilitate application and further development. The framework combines the advantages of rule-based lattice models with the application of parameterisable probability density functions to generate mixing on the lattice. Model parameters can be fitted by experimental data and describe particle displacement at the spatial and temporal scales at which bioturbation data is routinely collected. By using the same model structure across species, but generating species-specific parameters, a generic understanding of species-specific bioturbation behaviour can be achieved. An application to a case study and comparison with a commonly used model attest the predictive power of the approach.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katja Schiffers
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, United Kingdom.
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Freshwater MF, Mohan A, Baskaradas A, Solan M, Magnussen P. Re: Mohan A, Baskaradas M, Solan M, Magnussen P. Pain and paraesthesia produced by silicone ring and pneumatic tourniquets. J Hand Surgery Eur. 2011, 36: 215-18. J Hand Surg Eur Vol 2011; 36:713-4. [PMID: 21914693 DOI: 10.1177/1753193411419462] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- M. Felix Freshwater
- Voluntary Professor of Surgery, School of Medicine, University of Miami,Miami, FL, USA
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Godbold JA, Bulling MT, Solan M. Habitat structure mediates biodiversity effects on ecosystem properties. Proc Biol Sci 2011; 278:2510-8. [PMID: 21227969 PMCID: PMC3125625 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2010.2414] [Citation(s) in RCA: 79] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2010] [Accepted: 12/13/2010] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Much of what we know about the role of biodiversity in mediating ecosystem processes and function stems from manipulative experiments, which have largely been performed in isolated, homogeneous environments that do not incorporate habitat structure or allow natural community dynamics to develop. Here, we use a range of habitat configurations in a model marine benthic system to investigate the effects of species composition, resource heterogeneity and patch connectivity on ecosystem properties at both the patch (bioturbation intensity) and multi-patch (nutrient concentration) scale. We show that allowing fauna to move and preferentially select patches alters local species composition and density distributions, which has negative effects on ecosystem processes (bioturbation intensity) at the patch scale, but overall positive effects on ecosystem functioning (nutrient concentration) at the multi-patch scale. Our findings provide important evidence that community dynamics alter in response to localized resource heterogeneity and that these small-scale variations in habitat structure influence species contributions to ecosystem properties at larger scales. We conclude that habitat complexity forms an important buffer against disturbance and that contemporary estimates of the level of biodiversity required for maintaining future multi-functional systems may need to be revised.
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Affiliation(s)
- J A Godbold
- Oceanlab, Institute of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Newburgh, Aberdeenshire AB41 6AA, UK.
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Mayor DJ, Solan M. Complex interactions mediate the effects of fish farming on benthic chemistry within a region of Scotland. Environ Res 2011; 111:635-642. [PMID: 21497334 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2011.03.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2011] [Revised: 03/17/2011] [Accepted: 03/25/2011] [Indexed: 05/30/2023]
Abstract
Fish farms typically generate a localised gradient of both organic and inorganic pollutants in the underlying sediments. The factors governing the extent of such impacts remain poorly understood, particularly when multiple sites are considered. We used regression-type techniques to examine the drivers of sediment chemistry patterns around five Scottish fish farms that ranged in size (120-2106 tonnes) and fish species, but were located within <40 km of each other. Correlations between observations made at the same farm illustrate that between-site variability can be high, even at this regional-scale. These effects must be accounted for when comparing the effects of fish farming at different locations. All measured chemical parameters declined rapidly as a function of distance from the cage edge, with the rate of decline depending on local current speeds. Only phosphorus concentrations increased directly with farm size. Increasing current speeds at farms <900 tonnes reduced the accumulation of organic carbon in the underlying sediments, whereas the opposite occurred at larger farms. The counterintuitive effect of current speed at farms above the threshold size suggests that the physical properties of the seabed at these locations favour the accumulation of organic wastes and/or that the underlying communities have a lower assimilative capacity. These imply that the environmental efficiency of fish farming activities may be further optimised by taking into account the interaction between current speed, substrate complexity and the functional characteristics of the benthos. Collectively, our analyses demonstrate that the fate of fish farm-derived wastes is complex and highlight the need for site-specific management techniques.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel J Mayor
- Institute of Biological and Environmental Sciences, Oceanlab, University of Aberdeen, Main Street, Newburgh, Aberdeenshire, Scotland, AB41 6AA, UK.
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Abstract
Twenty volunteers were recruited to compare a novel, silicone ring tourniquet (the Hemaclear® tourniquet) with a pneumatic tourniquet. After application of the tourniquets, the pain and paraesthesia experienced by the participants was scored at 1 minute, 5 minutes, and 10 minutes. This was repeated with the tourniquets on the forearm. On the upper arm, the silicone ring tourniquet was associated with a significantly lower pain score than the pneumatic tourniquet. The incidence of paraesthesia was also lower with the silicone ring tourniquet. When applied to the forearm, there was no statistically significant difference in pain scores between the two types of tourniquets. However the incidence of paraesthesia was again lower with the silicone ring tourniquet.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Mohan
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, The Royal Surrey County Hospital NHS Trust, Egerton Road, Guildford, UK.
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Hicks N, Bulling MT, Solan M, Raffaelli D, White PCL, Paterson DM. Impact of biodiversity-climate futures on primary production and metabolism in a model benthic estuarine system. BMC Ecol 2011; 11:7. [PMID: 21320339 PMCID: PMC3046901 DOI: 10.1186/1472-6785-11-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2010] [Accepted: 02/14/2011] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Understanding the effects of anthropogenically-driven changes in global temperature, atmospheric carbon dioxide and biodiversity on the functionality of marine ecosystems is crucial for predicting and managing the associated impacts. Coastal ecosystems are important sources of carbon (primary production) to shelf waters and play a vital role in global nutrient cycling. These systems are especially vulnerable to the effects of human activities and will be the first areas impacted by rising sea levels. Within these coastal ecosystems, microalgal assemblages (microphytobenthos: MPB) are vital for autochthonous carbon fixation. The level of in situ production by MPB mediates the net carbon cycling of transitional ecosystems between net heterotrophic or autotrophic metabolism. In this study, we examine the interactive effects of elevated atmospheric CO2 concentrations (370, 600, and 1000 ppmv), temperature (6°C, 12°C, and 18°C) and invertebrate biodiversity on MPB biomass in experimental systems. We assembled communities of three common grazing invertebrates (Hydrobia ulvae, Corophium volutator and Hediste diversicolor) in monoculture and in all possible multispecies combinations. This experimental design specifically addresses interactions between the selected climate change variables and any ecological consequences caused by changes in species composition or richness. Results The effects of elevated CO2 concentration, temperature and invertebrate diversity were not additive, rather they interacted to determine MPB biomass, and overall this effect was negative. Diversity effects were underpinned by strong species composition effects, illustrating the importance of individual species identity. Conclusions Overall, our findings suggest that in natural systems, the complex interactions between changing environmental conditions and any associated changes in invertebrate assemblage structure are likely to reduce MPB biomass. Furthermore, these effects would be sufficient to affect the net metabolic balance of the coastal ecosystem, with important implications for system ecology and sustainable exploitation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natalie Hicks
- Sediment Ecology Research Group, Scottish Oceans Institute, University of St Andrews, East Sands, Fife, UK.
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Bulling MT, Hicks N, Murray L, Paterson DM, Raffaelli D, White PCL, Solan M. Marine biodiversity-ecosystem functions under uncertain environmental futures. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 2010; 365:2107-16. [PMID: 20513718 DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2010.0022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Anthropogenic activity is currently leading to dramatic transformations of ecosystems and losses of biodiversity. The recognition that these ecosystems provide services that are essential for human well-being has led to a major interest in the forms of the biodiversity-ecosystem functioning relationship. However, there is a lack of studies examining the impact of climate change on these relationships and it remains unclear how multiple climatic drivers may affect levels of ecosystem functioning. Here, we examine the roles of two important climate change variables, temperature and concentration of atmospheric carbon dioxide, on the relationship between invertebrate species richness and nutrient release in a model benthic estuarine system. We found a positive relationship between invertebrate species richness and the levels of release of NH(4)-N into the water column, but no effect of species richness on the release of PO(4)-P. Higher temperatures and greater concentrations of atmospheric carbon dioxide had a negative impact on nutrient release. Importantly, we found significant interactions between the climate variables, indicating that reliably predicting the effects of future climate change will not be straightforward as multiple drivers are unlikely to have purely additive effects, resulting in increased levels of uncertainty.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mark T Bulling
- Oceanlab, University of Aberdeen, Main Street, Newburgh, Aberdeenshire AB41 6AA, UK.
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Wilkinson A, Solan M, Taylor AFS, Alexander IJ, Johnson D. Intraspecific diversity regulates fungal productivity and respiration. PLoS One 2010; 5:e12604. [PMID: 20830299 PMCID: PMC2935373 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0012604] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2010] [Accepted: 08/12/2010] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Individuals and not just species are key components of biodiversity, yet the relationship between intraspecific diversity and ecosystem functioning in microbial systems remains largely untested. This limits our ability to understand and predict the effects of altered genetic diversity in regulating key ecosystem processes and functions. Here, we use a model fungal system to test the hypothesis that intraspecific genotypic richness of Paxillus obscurosporus stimulates biomass and CO(2) efflux, but that this is dependent on nitrogen supply. Using controlled experimental microcosms, we show that populations containing several genotypes (maximum 8) of the fungus had greater productivity and produced significantly more CO(2) than those with fewer genotypes. Moreover, intraspecific diversity had a much stronger effect than a four-fold manipulation of the carbon:nitrogen ratio of the growth medium. The effects of intraspecific diversity were underpinned by strong roles of individuals, but overall intraspecific diversity increased the propensity of populations to over-yield, indicating that both complementarity and selection effects can operate within species. Our data demonstrate the importance of intraspecific diversity over a range of nitrogen concentrations, and the need to consider fine scale phylogenetic information of microbial communities in understanding their contribution to ecosystem processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Wilkinson
- Institute of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, United Kingdom
| | - Martin Solan
- Oceanlab, University of Aberdeen, Newburgh, United Kingdom
| | | | - Ian J. Alexander
- Institute of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, United Kingdom
| | - David Johnson
- Institute of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, United Kingdom
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Fujii T, Jamieson AJ, Solan M, Bagley PM, Priede IG. A Large Aggregation of Liparids at 7703 meters and a Reappraisal of the Abundance and Diversity of Hadal Fish. Bioscience 2010. [DOI: 10.1525/bio.2010.60.7.6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
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Langenheder S, Bulling MT, Solan M, Prosser JI. Bacterial biodiversity-ecosystem functioning relations are modified by environmental complexity. PLoS One 2010; 5:e10834. [PMID: 20520808 PMCID: PMC2877076 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0010834] [Citation(s) in RCA: 126] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2009] [Accepted: 04/19/2010] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND With the recognition that environmental change resulting from anthropogenic activities is causing a global decline in biodiversity, much attention has been devoted to understanding how changes in biodiversity may alter levels of ecosystem functioning. Although environmental complexity has long been recognised as a major driving force in evolutionary processes, it has only recently been incorporated into biodiversity-ecosystem functioning investigations. Environmental complexity is expected to strengthen the positive effect of species richness on ecosystem functioning, mainly because it leads to stronger complementarity effects, such as resource partitioning and facilitative interactions among species when the number of available resource increases. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS Here we implemented an experiment to test the combined effect of species richness and environmental complexity, more specifically, resource richness on ecosystem functioning over time. We show, using all possible combinations of species within a bacterial community consisting of six species, and all possible combinations of three substrates, that diversity-functioning (metabolic activity) relationships change over time from linear to saturated. This was probably caused by a combination of limited complementarity effects and negative interactions among competing species as the experiment progressed. Even though species richness and resource richness both enhanced ecosystem functioning, they did so independently from each other. Instead there were complex interactions between particular species and substrate combinations. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE Our study shows clearly that both species richness and environmental complexity increase ecosystem functioning. The finding that there was no direct interaction between these two factors, but that instead rather complex interactions between combinations of certain species and resources underlie positive biodiversity ecosystem functioning relationships, suggests that detailed knowledge of how individual species interact with complex natural environments will be required in order to make reliable predictions about how altered levels of biodiversity will most likely affect ecosystem functioning.
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Affiliation(s)
- Silke Langenheder
- Institute of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, UK.
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Abstract
The factors affecting patterns of benthic [seabed] biology and chemistry around 50 Scottish fish farms were investigated using linear mixed-effects models that account for inherent correlations between observations from the same farm. The abundance of benthic macrofauna and sediment concentrations of organic carbon were both influenced by a significant, albeit weak, interaction between farm size, defined as the maximum weight of fish permitted on site at any one time, and current speed. Above a farm size threshold of between 800 and 1000 t, the magnitude of effects at farms located in areas of elevated current speeds were greater than at equivalent farms located in more quiescent waters. Sediment concentrations of total organic matter were influenced by an interaction between distance and depth, indicating that wind-driven resuspension events may help reduce the accumulation of organic waste at farms located in shallow waters. The analyses presented here demonstrate that the production and subsequent fate of organic waste at fish farms is more complex than is often assumed; in isolation, current speed, water depth, and farr size are not necessarily good predictors of benthic impact.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel J Mayor
- Institute of Biological and Environmental Sciences, Oceanlab, University ofAberdeen, Main Street, Newburgh, Aberdeenshire, Scotland AB41 6AA, UK.
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Jamieson AJ, Fujii T, Mayor DJ, Solan M, Priede IG. Hadal trenches: the ecology of the deepest places on Earth. Trends Ecol Evol 2009; 25:190-7. [PMID: 19846236 DOI: 10.1016/j.tree.2009.09.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 124] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2009] [Revised: 09/18/2009] [Accepted: 09/21/2009] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Hadal trenches account for the deepest 45% of the oceanic depth range and host active and diverse biological communities. Advances in our understanding of hadal community structure and function have, until recently, relied on technologies that were unable to document ecological information. Renewed international interest in exploring the deepest marine environment on Earth provides impetus to re-evaluate hadal community ecology. We review the abiotic and biotic characteristics of trenches and offer a contemporary perspective of trench ecology. The application of existing, rather than the generation of novel, ecological theory offers the best prospect of understanding deep ocean ecology.
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Godbold JA, Rosenberg R, Solan M. Species-specific traits rather than resource partitioning mediate diversity effects on resource use. PLoS One 2009; 4:e7423. [PMID: 19829703 PMCID: PMC2759289 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0007423] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2009] [Accepted: 09/15/2009] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The link between biodiversity and ecosystem processes has firmly been established, but the mechanisms underpinning this relationship are poorly documented. Most studies have focused on terrestrial plant systems where resource use can be difficult to quantify as species rely on a limited number of common resources. Investigating resource use at the bulk level may not always be of sufficient resolution to detect subtle differences in resource use, as species-specific nutritional niches at the biochemical level may also moderate diversity effects on resource use. Methodology/Principal Findings Here we use three co-occurring marine benthic echinoderms (Brissopsis lyrifera, Mesothuria intestinalis, Parastichopus tremulus) that feed on the same phytodetrital food source, to determine whether resource partitioning is the principal mechanism underpinning diversity effects on resource use. Specifically we investigate the use of phytodetrital pigments (chlorophylls and carotenoids) because many of these are essential for biological functions, including reproduction. Pigments were identified and quantified using reverse-phase high performance liquid Chromatography (HPLC) and data were analysed using a combination of extended linear regression with generalised least squares (GLS) estimation and standard multivariate techniques. Our analyses reveal no species-specific selectivity for particular algal pigments, confirming that these three species do not partition food resources at the biochemical level. Nevertheless, we demonstrate increased total resource use in diverse treatments as a result of selection effects and the dominance of one species (B. lyrifera). Conclusion Overall, we found no evidence for resource partitioning at the biochemical level, as pigment composition was similar between individuals, which is likely due to plentiful food availability. Reduced intra-specific competition in the species mixture combined with greater adsorption efficiency and differences in feeding behaviour likely explain the dominant use of resources by B. lyrifera.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jasmin A Godbold
- Oceanlab, University of Aberdeen, Newburgh, Aberdeenshire, United Kingdom.
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Mayor DJ, Solan M, McMillan H, Killham K, Paton GI. Effects of copper and the sea lice treatment Slice on nutrient release from marine sediments. Mar Pollut Bull 2009; 58:552-558. [PMID: 19101704 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2008.11.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2008] [Revised: 11/03/2008] [Accepted: 11/06/2008] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
Copper-based antifoulant paints and the sea lice treatment Slice are widely used, and often detectable in the sediments beneath farms where they are administered. Ten-day, whole sediment mesocosm experiments were conducted to examine how increasing sediment concentrations of copper or Slice influenced final water column concentrations of ammonium-nitrogen (NH(4)-N), nitrate+nitrite-nitrogen (NO(X)-N) and phosphate-phosphorus (PO(4)-P) in the presence of the non-target, benthic organisms Corophium volutator and Hediste diversicolor. Nominal sediment concentrations of copper and Slice had significant effects on the resulting concentrations of almost all nutrients examined. The overall trends in nutrient concentrations at the end of the 10-day incubations were highly similar between the trials with either copper or Slice, irrespective of the invertebrate species present. This suggests that nutrient exchange from the experimental sediments was primarily influenced by the direct effect of copper/Slice dose on the sediment microbial community, rather than the indirect effect of reduced bioturbation/irrigation due to increased macrofaunal mortality.
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Affiliation(s)
- D J Mayor
- Oceanlab, University of Aberdeen, Main Street, Newburgh, Aberdeenshire AB41 6AA, UK.
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Jamieson AJ, Fujii T, Solan M, Matsumoto AK, Bagley PM, Priede IG. Liparid and macrourid fishes of the hadal zone: in situ observations of activity and feeding behaviour. Proc Biol Sci 2009; 276:1037-45. [PMID: 19129104 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2008.1670] [Citation(s) in RCA: 64] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Using baited camera landers, the first images of living fishes were recorded in the hadal zone (6000-11000 m) in the Pacific Ocean. The widespread abyssal macrourid Coryphaenoides yaquinae was observed at a new depth record of approximately 7000 m in the Japan Trench. Two endemic species of liparid were observed at similar depths: Pseudoliparis amblystomopsis in the Japan Trench and Notoliparis kermadecensis in the Kermadec Trench. From these observations, we have documented swimming and feeding behaviour of these species and derived the first estimates of hadal fish abundance. The liparids intercepted bait within 100-200 min but were observed to preferentially feed on scavenging amphipods. Notoliparis kermadecensis act as top predators in the hadal food web, exhibiting up to nine suction-feeding events per minute. Both species showed distinctive swimming gaits: P. amblystomopsis (mean length 22.5 cm) displayed a mean tail-beat frequency of 0.47 Hz and mean caudal:pectoral frequency ratio of 0.76, whereas N. kermadecensis (mean length 31.5 cm) displayed respective values of 1.04 and 2.08 Hz. Despite living at extreme depths, these endemic liparids exhibit similar activity levels compared with shallow-water liparids.
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Affiliation(s)
- A J Jamieson
- Oceanlab, University of Aberdeen, Main Street, Newburgh, Aberdeenshire AB41 6AA, UK.
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Abstract
The aim of this study was to assess whether autonomic dysfunction associated with carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) can be assessed quantitatively with a (modified) biro test of finger sweating. Twenty-six hands of 16 patients with CTS were compared with 30 hands of 15 normal subjects. A device was constructed to measure the angle from the horizontal at which a biro slips from the finger (the critical angle). In the control subjects, no significant difference was found in the critical angle between the little and index fingers in either hand. By comparison, in subjects with CTS, the critical angle was significantly lower in the index finger than in the little finger, the mean difference being 8.65 degrees , indicating a quantifiable and significant difference of sweating of the median nerve-innervated index finger.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Kumar
- Department of Orthopaedics, University Hospital Aintree, Liverpool, UK.
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