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The role of biophysical interactions within the Ijzermonding tidal flat sediment dynamics
De Backer, A.; Van Colen, C.; Vincx, M.; Degraer, S. (2010). The role of biophysical interactions within the Ijzermonding tidal flat sediment dynamics. Cont. Shelf Res. 30(9): 1166-1179. https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.csr.2010.03.006
In: Continental Shelf Research. Pergamon Press: Oxford; New York. ISSN 0278-4343; e-ISSN 1873-6955
Related to:
De Backer, A.; Van Colen, C.; Vincx, M.; Degraer, S. (2010). The role of biophysical interactions within the Ijzermonding tidal flat sediment dynamics, in: De Backer, A. The mud shrimp Corophium volutator: a key species in tidal flat sedimentary processes? = De slijkgarnaal Corophium volutator: een sleutelsoort in sedimentprocessen van slikken?. pp. 85-112, more
Peer reviewed article  
Available in  Authors 
    Vlaams Instituut voor de Zee: Open Marine Archive 211069 [ download pdf ]
Keywords
    Physics > Mechanics > Dynamics > Sediment dynamics
    Sedimentary structures > Mud flats
    Temporal variations > Short-term changes
    Corophium volutator (Pallas, 1766) [WoRMS]; Corophium volutator (Pallas, 1766) [WoRMS]
    Belgium, IJzer R. [Marine Regions]
    Marine/Coastal; Brackish water
Author keywords
    Belgium; Biophysical interactions; Corophium volutator; Mudflat; Short-term and long-term variability; Sediment dynamics; Sediment stability
Authors  Top 
  • De Backer, A.
  • Van Colen, C.
  • Vincx, M.
  • Degraer, S.
Abstract
    This paper focuses on the importance of biophysical interactions on short-term and long-term sediment dynamics. Therefore, various biological (macrobenthos, photopigments, colloidal EPS) and physical parameters (grain size, water content, sediment stability, bed level) were determined (bi)monthly in nine sampling plots on the IJzermonding tidal flat (Belgium, 51°08'N, 2°44'E) during three consecutive years (July 2005–June 2008). Results showed that sediment stability varied on the short timescale and was directly influenced by biota, while bed level varied mainly on the long-term due to interannual variability. The short-term dynamic relationships between mud content, water content, fucoxanthin and macrobenthos density resulted in a seasonal mud deposition and erosion cycle, and directly influenced sediment stability. Moreover, macrobenthos was proven to be the most important parameter determining sediment stability. On the long-term, a shift was observed from high fucoxanthin/chla concentration, high mud content and zero to moderate densities of Corophium volutator towards low fucoxanthin/chl a and mud content and high Corophium densities, which resulted in a transition from net accretion to net erosion. However, most measured variables proved to be poor predictors for these long-term bed level changes, indicating that external physical forces, such as waves and storminess, probably were the most important factors triggering long-term sediment dynamics. Nevertheless, biota indirectly influenced bed level changes by mediating short-term changes in sediment stability, thereby influencing the erodability of the sediment. The macrobenthos, and especially the mud shrimp Corophium, was suggested as the (indirect) driving destabilising factor for the sampling plots in the IIzermonding when considering the long-term evolution.
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