Depth to the apparent redox potential discontinuity (aRPD) as a parameter of interest in marine benthic habitat quality models |
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Authors: | Travis G Gerwing Kieran Cox Alyssa M Allen Gerwing Charmaine N Carr-Harris Sarah E Dudas Francis Juanes |
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Institution: | 1. Ecosystem Science and Management Program, University of Northern British Columbia, Prince George, British Columbia, Canada;2. Department of Biology, University of Victoria, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada;3. Skeena Fisheries Commission, Kispiox, British Columbia, Canada;4. Department of Biology, Vancouver Island University, Nanaimo, British Columbia, Canada |
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Abstract: | The usefulness of the apparent redox potential discontinuity (aRPD) in assessments of marine benthic habitat quality was explored at two intertidal mudflats along the north Pacific coast of Canada. Two transects were established at each intertidal site, with three sediment biogeochemistry cores collected from each transect four times over the summer of 2016. Measurements of the sediment pore water dissolved oxygen (DO) content and redox (Eh) conditions were taken at the surface of the core (measured vertically), as well as at increasing depths (1 cm between readings) into the sediment (measured horizontally through predrilled holes in the biogeochemistry corer). While oxic, anoxic, oxidized, and reduced sediment pore water was observed above and below the aRPD, in general, sediment above the aRPD had higher DO content, and higher Eh values than sediment below the aRPD. Therefore, the aRPD depth can be used as a relative indicator of sediment pore water DO and Eh conditions: sediment with a deeper aRPD depth has more available DO, and the pore water has higher Eh values (more oxidized or less reduced) than sediment with a shallower aRPD depth. As such, the aRPD depth is a useful parameter to include in models that assess the quality of marine benthic habitats. |
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Keywords: | Anoxia Apparent redox potential discontinuity (aRPD) Dissolved oxygen Habitat quality Hypoxia Intertidal Marine benthos Sediment pore water |
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