Burrow ventilation and associated porewater irrigation by the polychaete Marenzelleria viridis
Quintana, C.O.; Hansen, T.; Delefosse, M.; Banta, G.T.; Kristensen, E. (2011). Burrow ventilation and associated porewater irrigation by the polychaete Marenzelleria viridis. J. Exp. Mar. Biol. Ecol. 397: 179-187. https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jembe.2010.12.006
In: Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology. Elsevier: New York. ISSN 0022-0981; e-ISSN 1879-1697, more
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| Keywords |
Baltic Sea
Ions > Anions > Bromide
Irrigation
Motion > Fluid motion > Fluid flow > Percolation
Rhodamine
Ventilation
Marenzelleria viridis (Verrill, 1873) [WoRMS]
Marine/Coastal |
| Authors | | Top |
- Quintana, C.O.
- Hansen, T.
- Delefosse, M.
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- Banta, G.T.
- Kristensen, E.
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| Abstract |
Burrow ventilation of benthic infauna generates water currents that irrigate the interstices of the sediments surrounding the burrow walls. Such activities have associated effects on biogeochemical processes affecting ultimately important ecosystem processes. In this study, the ventilation and irrigation behavior of Marenzelleria viridis, an invasive polychaete species in Europe, was analyzed using different approaches. M. viridis showed to perform two types of ventilation: (1) muscular pumping of water out of the burrow and (2)cilia pumping of water into the burrow. Flowmeter measurements presented muscular pumping in time averaged rates of 0.15 ml min−1. Oxygen needle electrodes positioned above the burrow openings revealedthat muscular undulation of the worm body pumps anoxic water out of the burrow. On the other hand, microscope observations of the animal showed that ventilation of oxygen-rich water in the burrow occurs by ciliary action. The volume of water irrigated by M. viridis appears to vary linearly within the first 24 h incubation, with rates ranging from 0.003 to 0.01 ml min−1. From those rates we could estimate that the timeaveraged rate of cilia ventilation should be about 0.16 ml min−1. Since the cilia pumping into the burrow occurs in periods of 24±12 min and at 50–70% of the measured time, considerable amounts of water from deeper sediments may percolate upwards to the sediment surface. This water is rich in reduced compounds and nutrients and may have important associated ecological implications in the ecosystem (e.g. affectingredox conditions, organic matter degradation, benthic recruitment and primary production). |
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