Bioturbation, microbial activity and sediment properties in an estuarine ecosystem

Abstract

SynopsisMacrobenthic bioturbation and microbial activity can have major ecological effects on present day marine sediments some of which are also seen in the fossil record. The coastal and estuarine sediments in the Clyde Estuary area are described. They contain very high densities of benthic macroorganisms and microorganisms. These organisms have dramatic effects on the physical and chemical properties of sediments, and field and laboratory studies have shown that many geotechnical and geochemical properties of sediments are dictated by them. The effects can be on a microscale of a few millimetres horizontally or vertically (micro-spatial variation), or can have large scale consequences over hundreds of metres (macro-spatial variation).Sediment stability (shear strength and critical erosion velocity), permeability and particle sedimentation are all altered by macro-invertebrate bioturbation or microbial activity, and many chemical properties such as Eh and pH may be influenced in a similar manner.Biological activity may therefore play a major role in modifying sediment geotechnics and early sediment diagenesis. It also has direct relevance to the siting of man-made structures on the sea-bed and to sediment stability and transport in estuaries.In situseeding experiments may lead to biological control and manipulation of these most important field phenomena.