Spatio-temporal dynamics of suspended matter properties and bacterial communities in the back-barrier tidal flat system of Spiekeroog Island

Back-barrier tidal flat systems are characterized by basins and inlets through which water is exchanged with the coastal sea by tidal water movements. The hydrographic and morphometric properties at the inlets and in the basins vary considerably, but there is little information available how biogeochemical properties in the water column at these different sites respond to these differences. Therefore, we investigated tidal dynamics of suspended particulate matter (SPM), particulate and dissolved organic carbon (DOC), chlorophyll a, phaeopigments, numbers of particle-associated (PA) and free-living bacteria (FL), bacterial biomass production, and concentrations of dissolved manganese (Mn). Samples were taken at the surface, a mid-depth and 1 m above the bottom at a fixed station at the inlet and in the basin of the Spiekeroog back-barrier tidal flat system in the German Wadden Sea. Five tidal cycles representative for typical seasonal situations, January (winter), April and May (late spring bloom), July (summer), and November (late fall) were studied in 2005 and 2006. In July, processes related to phytoplankton dynamics and bacterial decomposition were much more enhanced in the basin, whereas in April, these processes were enhanced at the inlet but were particularly low within the basin itself. The low values within the basin were a result of the settled phytoplankton spring bloom and represent a rather short period at the decline of this bloom. In November and January, differences were much less pronounced than during the growing season and restricted mainly to SPM and PA bacteria, exhibiting higher values in the basin. FL bacteria, DOC, and dissolved Mn exhibited different patterns and much less differences between the two stations, indicating that biogeochemical processes in the dissolved phase were controlled by different factors than PA biogeochemical processes. These differences reflect the retentive properties of the basin for particles and PA biogeochemical processes, particularly during the growing season, and in general emphasize the high productivity of back-barrier tidal flat systems.     

Seasonal dynamics of microbial sulfate reduction in temperate intertidal surface sediments: controls by temperature and organic matter

The role of microbial sulfate reduction on organic matter oxidation was studied quantitatively in temperate intertidal surface sediments of the German Wadden Sea (southern North Sea) on a seasonal base in the years 1998–2007. The sampling sites represent the range of sediments found in the back-barrier tidal area of Spiekeroog Island: sands, mixed and muddy flats. The correspondingly different contents in organic matter, metals, and porosities lead to significant differences in the activity of sulfate-reducing bacteria with volumetric sulfate reduction rates (SRR) in the top 15 cm of up to 1.4 μmol cm^?3 day^?1. Depth-integrated areal SRR ranged between 0.9 and 106 mmol m^?2 day^?1, with the highest values found in the mudflat sediments and lower rates measured in sands at the same time, demonstrating the impact of both temperature and organic matter load. According to a modeling approach for a 154-km² large tidal area, about 39, 122, and 285 tons of sulfate are reduced per day, during winter, spring/autumn, and summer, respectively. Hence, the importance of areal benthic organic matter mineralization by microbial sulfate reduction increases during spring/autumn and summer by factors of about 2 and 7, respectively, when compared to winter time. The combined results correspond to an estimated benthic organic carbon mineralization rate via sulfate reduction of 78 g C m^?2 year^?1.     

Redbed‐associated sabkhas and tidal flats at Shark Bay,Western Australia: Their significance for genetic models of stratiform Cu‐(Pb‐Zn) deposits

Interaction of metalliferous continental brines with biogenic sulphide is the basis of some syngenetic and early diagenetic models for the formation of Cu‐(Pb‐Zn) sulphides during a depositional cycle of carbonates in restricted marine environments. A variation of these models (an ‘evaporative concentration‐lateral groundwater flow’ model) is proposed, using hydrological, geochemical and biological data from low metal, but otherwise pertinent redbed‐associated, sabkha, tidal flat and subtidal environments at Nilemah Embayment, in Hamelin Pool (Shark Bay, Western Australia).

The model is constrained by: (i) the short time available for ore accumulation during a single depositional cycle; (ii) limitation of adequate rates of bacterial sulphate reduction for the formation of an ore deposit to near‐surface sediments; (iii) restriction of the most favourable ore‐forming sites to the intertidal zone and the littoral shelf; (iv) coincidence in these sites of laterally‐flowing marine/meteoric groundwater brine, and mosaics of in situ cyanobacterial mats and shallow erosional depressions containing detrital organic matter eroded from the mats. Under these conditions the metalliferous fluid would have to contain about 1000 ppm Cu and flow for 1000 years at a rate of 5 m/a through the intertidal/littoral shelf environment to produce an ore deposit.

Critical features of a model that could generate this combination of very high metal concentrations and flow rates are: (i) a highly permeable unconfined aquifer system comprising alluvial fans at the base of basaltic mountain ranges and continental redbeds beneath a broad coastal plain; (ii) mobilization, concentration and transport of the metals in this aquifer to intertidal/littoral shelf sites of ore deposition; (iii) effective concentration processes in the aquifer, involving evaporation and reflux of brines in groundwater discharge areas on the coastal plain and evaporation in marine‐continental and marine sabkhas bordering the sites of deposition; (iv) rapid lateral groundwater flow of the concentrated metalliferous brines under a strong seawards‐directed hydraulic gradient; and (v) discharge of the metalliferous brines into or through topographic depressions generated by erosion and shoaling in the peritidal and littoral shelf environments.

The model hydrodynamic processes and their magnitude are within the range observed in modern environments but they are most likely to be effective in coarse‐grained, topographically irregular carbonate sabkhas and tidal flats, which usually form under high‐energy conditions. Even under these conditions, the individual ore‐forming processes must combine in an optimum manner before the highly demanding metal concentrations and flow rates required for ore formation in a single marine depositional cycle can be met.     

A New Video and Digital Camera System for Studies of the Dynamics of Microtopographic Features on Tidal Flats

A newly developed video and camera system for tidal flat microtopographic studies is presented. It consists of a SONY handy cam placed in an underwater housing mounted on a frame about 70?cm above the sediment surface. A rectangular surface area of 30?×40?cm is imaged by the camera. The camera records video sequences and/or digital images at predetermined time lapses. The total number of images is about 540, and a similar number of 10-second long video sequences can be recorded. The camera is programmed with a PC before deployment, and the total deployment time depends on the time lapse between recordings. The camera is connected to an external power supply (12?volt), and a halogen projector pointing towards the sediment surface ensures that the system is operable on a 24-hours scale. The system has been tested in the Danish Wadden Sea. It has proved to be a very useful tool in studies of topographic effects of erosion and deposition sequences, and for studies of benthic organisms-sediment interactions. The test site was further equipped with sensors for water and seabed measurements, which proved to be indispensable regarding the interpretation of recorded image time-series.     

Spatial variations in heavy metals on tidal flats in the Yangtze Estuary,China

Surface samples are used to determine onshore-offshore variations in heavy metal concentrations on tidal flats on Chongming and Hengsha Islands in the Yangtze Estuary, China. The Mann-Whitney U-Test suggests that proximity to the estuarine turbidity maximum does not result in significantly higher metal concentrations on tidal flats. Principal Components Analysis shows that grain-size is the primary control on metal concentrations, reflecting the occurrence of salt marsh and mud and sand flats. Sediment quality is comparable to that of pristine estuaries because of dilution by high river sediment loads.     

南极附近水域微小型藻类的研究 Ⅳ．中山站潮间带微小型硅藻的分布

本文首次报道东南极中山站沿岸潮间带冰融期砂和砾质砂中微小型硅藻的分布、种类组成及各站位间种类组成的相似性。中山站潮间带微小型硅藻主要分布在中山湾Ｂ站，１９８９年１月和１９９０年２月每克砾砂细胞丰度分别在０．８×１０３～３６５１×１０３个和４．５×１０３～２６１８×１０３个，并具有细胞个体小、丰度大等特点，其优势种为冰川舟形藻Ｎａｖｉｃｕｌａｇｌａｃｉｅｉ。     

On the ecology of meiofauna in an organically polluted estuarine mudflat

The structure, distribution and seasonal changes of the benthic meiofauna in an organically polluted, tidal, brackish-water mudflat in the Ems-Dollart estuary were analysed. Towards the outfall of polluted fresh water, macrofauna disappeared, numbers of meiofauna increased but the diversity of the meiofauna decreased. In the area surrounding the outfall the numbers and biomass of nematodes and oligochaetes increased rapidly in spring and remained high until autumn (c. 13 × 10⁶ individuals m⁻²; c. 2gCm⁻²). The benthic fauna comprised small numbers of species, dominated by a few fast-growing diatom-feeding nematodes (Eudiplogaster pararmatus and Dichromadora geophila) and oligochaetes (Amphichaeta sannio and Paranais litoralis). Eudiplogaster pararmatus exhibits brood care and it tolerates low salinities. Dichromadora geophila which is oviparous, behaved similarly regarding tolerances, life cycle and feeding but this species was less successful than Eudiplogaster in colonizing the mudflats near the outfall. The success of the two naidid oligochaete species results from their method of reproduction by means of binary fission.Most organisms fed on benthic diatoms. In spite of intensive mineralization in the mudflat, only one bacteria-feeding organism was found in abundance (the nematode Leptolaimus papilliger). The absence of macrofaunal organisms, e.g. Nereis diversicolor, is probably also responsible for the development of high densities of meiofauna in the upper sediment layers of the mudflats in the vicinity of the outfall.The heavy load of organic waste entering the Dollart reduced the diversity within the benthic ecosystem, but nevertheless a simple system remained, based on the recurrent reoxidation of the sediment surface.     

Metazoan parasites in intertidal cockles Cerastoderma edule from the northern Wadden Sea

At four intertidal sites near the island of Sylt (eastern North Sea), 13 metazoan parasite taxa were found in 1400 cockles investigated, with digenean trematodes being dominant. Almost all cockles were infected by parasites and most individuals harboured more than one parasite species. We observed four conspicuous patterns: (1) Adult cockles harboured a two times higher species richness (2003: 6.1 ± 0.7 species/host; 2004: 7.1 ± 0.7) than juveniles (2003: 2.9 ± 0.8; 2004: 3.4 ± 0.8) and total parasite community composition significantly differed between age groups. (2) Infection levels were 2–52 times higher in adult cockles than in juveniles both in trematode species and in non-trematode species. In the dominant trematodes, species utilising cockles as first intermediate host (Gymnophallus choledochus, Labratrema minimus, Monorchis parvus) only occurred in adult cockles, and prevalences were low (2–12%). Prevalences of up to 100% were reached by trematodes using cockles as second intermediate host (Himasthla elongata, H. continua, H. interrupta, Renicola roscovita, Psilostomum brevicolle, Meiogymnophallus minutus, Gymnophallus gibberosus). Metacercariae of these species were segregated between body parts within cockles. (3) High spatial heterogeneity in parasite community composition and infection levels occurred between sampling sites. However, communities in juveniles were more similar than communities in adults. (4) Temporal variation in parasite community composition was low between two consecutive years, especially for adult cockles. The omnipresence of parasites in this dominant bivalve species has important implications for sampling designs and as a potentially confounding variable in e.g. physiological studies. It suggests strong and cumulative negative effects on the cockle hosts.     

A New Video and Digital Camera System for Studies of the Dynamics of Microtopographic Features on Tidal Flats

A newly developed video and camera system for tidal flat microtopographic studies is presented. It consists of a SONY handy cam placed in an underwater housing mounted on a frame about 70 cm above the sediment surface. A rectangular surface area of 30 ×40 cm is imaged by the camera. The camera records video sequences and/or digital images at predetermined time lapses. The total number of images is about 540, and a similar number of 10-second long video sequences can be recorded. The camera is programmed with a PC before deployment, and the total deployment time depends on the time lapse between recordings. The camera is connected to an external power supply (12 volt), and a halogen projector pointing towards the sediment surface ensures that the system is operable on a 24-hours scale. The system has been tested in the Danish Wadden Sea. It has proved to be a very useful tool in studies of topographic effects of erosion and deposition sequences, and for studies of benthic organisms-sediment interactions. The test site was further equipped with sensors for water and seabed measurements, which proved to be indispensable regarding the interpretation of recorded image time-series.     

Impact of Biodeposition on Macrofaunal Communities in Intertidal Sandflats

Abstract. This investigation deals with the changes in macrofaunal communities in intertidal sandflats caused by the input of organic material via biodeposition produced by mussel beds. The area of investigation was the back barrier tidal flat system behind the East Frisian Island of Spiekeroog. Due to erosion by the ebb current a plume of biodeposits extended from an area of mussel beds ( Mytilus edulis ) towards the adjacent sandy sediments. This plume represented a gradient of decreasing contents of organic material. Five stations were installed along this gradient to analyse the effects of this organic input on the macrofaunal communities; a control station was placed on sandy sediments.
The macrofaunal communities differed along the transect. In the mussel patches oligochaetes dominated, whereas deposit-feeding polychaetes increased along the transect. These polychaetes were different from the communities of the sand flats. The changes in the macrofaunal communities discussed in the framework of the organic carbon contents of sediments and interspecific relationships.
After a cover of green algae during summer and after a cold winter, the mussels were almost completely eliminated from the area of investigation and reaggregated in another area of the flat. The layer of biodeposits eroded as well. After the decrease in contents of organic matter, the macrofaunal communities no longer followed the transitional distribution but showed a diffuse and seasonally influenced distribution.
The results indicate that biodeposits changed the quality of the sediment structure of the sand flats and that the amount of organic matter (TOC) is a main structuring factor for the macrofaunal communities.