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Long-term divergent tidal flat benthic community recovery following hypoxia-induced mortality
Van Colen, C.; Montserrat, F.; Vincx, M.; Herman, P.M.J.; Ysebaert, T.J.; Degraer, S. (2010). Long-term divergent tidal flat benthic community recovery following hypoxia-induced mortality. Mar. Pollut. Bull. 60(2): 178-186. dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2009.09.028
In: Marine Pollution Bulletin. Macmillan: London. ISSN 0025-326X; e-ISSN 1879-3363
Peer reviewed article  
Available in  Authors 
    Vlaams Instituut voor de Zee: Open Marine Archive 156297 [ download pdf ]
Keywords
    Aquatic communities > Benthos
    Diseases > Human diseases > Hypoxia
    Interference
    Macrobenthos
    Recovery
    Sediment mixing > Bioturbation
    Marine/Coastal; Brackish water
Author keywords
    Macrobenthos; Recovery; Hypoxia; Estuarine tidal mudflat; Interference from bioturbation
Authors  Top 
  • Van Colen, C.
  • Montserrat, F.
  • Vincx, M.
  • Herman, P.M.J.
  • Ysebaert, T.J.
  • Degraer, S.
Abstract
    Macrobenthos recovery after hypoxia-induced mass mortality was assessed in an estuarine tidal mudflat during 3 years. During the first 2 years, a Pearson–Rosenberg type of community recovery took place along with the improving bottom water oxygen conditions. After 3 months, spionid polychaetes became superabundant (i.e. opportunistic peak), followed rapidly by a steep decline (i.e. ecotone point). Subsequently, a moderate increase in species richness and a steep increase in biomass, related to the growth of long-lived species occurred (i.e. transition region). Afterwards, however, the recovering community diverged again from the ambient, undisturbed, sediments due to enhanced recruitment success of long-lived species presumably resulting from the lowered interference from bioturbation during early recovery stages in the disturbed plots. Hence, despite early community recovery may be more or less deterministic, lagged divergent community reassembling may occur at the longer-term, thereby contributing to benthos patchiness in areas which are frequently subjected to disturbances.
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