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Advective transport and decomposition of chain-forming planktonic diatoms in permeable sediments
Ehrenhauss, S.; Huettel, M. (2004). Advective transport and decomposition of chain-forming planktonic diatoms in permeable sediments. J. Sea Res. 52(3): 179-197. https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.seares.2004.01.004
In: Journal of Sea Research. Elsevier/Netherlands Institute for Sea Research: Amsterdam; Den Burg. ISSN 1385-1101; e-ISSN 1873-1414, more
Peer reviewed article  

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Keywords
    Algae > Diatoms
    Cycles > Chemical cycles > Geochemical cycle > Biogeochemical cycle > Nutrient cycles > Silicon cycle
    Properties > Physical properties > Permeability
    Sediments
    Sediment-water exchanges
    Transport processes > Advection
    Skeletonema costatum (Greville) Cleve, 1873 [WoRMS]; Thalassiosira rotula Meunier, 1910 [WoRMS]
    Marine/Coastal
Author keywords
    permeable sediments; advection; diatoms; silicon cycle; sediment-waterexchanges; benthic filtration

Authors  Top 
  • Ehrenhauss, S.
  • Huettel, M.

Abstract
    In laboratory chamber experiments we demonstrate that permeable sediments (>7×10−12 m2) exposed to boundary flows filter chain-forming coastal bloom diatoms (Skeletonema costatum and Thalassiosira rotula) from the water column, causing rapid transfer of fresh organic particulate matter into sediment layers as deep as 5 cm within 72 h. The penetration depth of the diatoms depends on the permeability of the bed and the length of the chains. Long chains were not transported as deep into the sediment as short chains or single cells. The fast advective transfer of phytoplankton cells into sandy sediments may be an important process facilitating organic matter uptake and preventing resuspension of deposited organic material in high-energy coastal environments. High advective flushing rates in medium- and coarse-grained sandy sediments enhanced the mineralisation of the trapped diatoms (2300 to 3200 µmol C m−2 d−1, stimulated benthic oxygen consumption (2300 to 3000 µmol O2 m−2 d−1), as well as nitrification (up to 20 µmol NO3− m−2 d−1), relative to sediment where diffusion dominated the solute exchange. Advective solute exchange rates that increase with increasing permeability prevent the accumulation of Si(OH)4 near the dissolving frustules and in the pore water, leading to an effective recycling of dissolved silica to the production process in the water column (95 to 101 µmol Si(OH)4 m−2 d−1). This process may also enhance dissolution rates of the deposited opal in coarse-grained sands by maintaining higher degrees of undersaturation than in fine-grained sediments. Our results suggest that advective filtration of planktonic diatoms into permeable sediments increases mineralisation and recycling of Si(OH)4 and organic matter in high energetic shelf areas

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