Regenerative bioturbation by intertidal burrowing crabs modifies microphytobenthic composition and enhances primary production in SW Atlantic mudflats.

GIRGINI, MICAELA; MIGUEZ, ANA; ESQUIUS, KARINA SOLEDAD; DIAZ DE ASTERLOA, C.; IRIBARNE, OSCAR; FANJUL, EUGENIA; ESCAPA, MAURICIO

MARINE ECOLOGY PROGRESS SERIES

INTER-RESEARCH

Año: 2020 vol. 632 p. 43 - 57

0171-8630

Incoastal systems, benthic microalgae are important primary producersthat significantlycontributeto the total primary production. Microphytobenthic functions andstructure are modulated by biotic and abiotic factors. Through theirburrowing activity, bioturbating macrofauna can impact on thesesystems in different ways, based mainly in the kind of bioturbationthey develop, possibly affecting microphytobenthic assemblage.Through field sampling and experimentsperformed at the Mar Chiquita coastal lagoon (Lat S, Argentina),we evaluated the effectof the regenerative bioturbation by the intertidalburrowingcrab Neohelicegranulataon microphytobenthic structure and functions. We measuredphysicho-chemical parameters (water content, salinity, grain sizedistribution, pH, organic matter content and oxygen profiles),estimated microphytobenthic assemblage attributes (biomass,abundance, richness, eveness, diversity and composition) and measuredprimary production as a proxy to microalgae ecosystem functions. Ourresults showed that regenerative bioturbation by N.granulataincrease oxygen concentration in depth, at the same time that changesmicrophytobenthic composition (due to the reductionof cyanobacteriatotal abundance),but enhance primaryproduction almost to double than in sites without bioturbation.p { margin-bottom: 0.25cm; direction: ltr; font-variant: normal; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 115%; text-align: left; page-break-inside: auto; text-decoration: none; page-break-before: auto; page-break-after: avoid; }p.western { font-family: "Liberation Serif", "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; }p.cjk { font-family: "Liberation Serif", "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; }p.ctl { font-family: "Liberation Serif", "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; }a:link { color: rgb(0, 0, 0); text-decoration: underline; }