Biogeochemical Cycling and Sediment EcologyJ. Gray, William Ambrose Jr., Anna Szaniawska Oceanographic discontinuities (e. g. frontal systems, upwelling areas, ice edges) are often areas of enhanced biological productivity. Considerable research on the physics and biology of the physical boundaries defining these discontinues has been accomplished (see [I D. The interface between water and sediment is the largest physical boundary in the ocean, but has not received a proportionate degree of attention. The purpose of the Nato Advanced Research Workshop (ARW) was to focus on soft-sediment systems by identifying deficiencies in our knowledge of these systems and defining key issues in the management of coastal sedimentary habitats. Marine sediments play important roles in the marine ecosystem and the biosphere. They provide food and habitat for many marine organisms, some of which are commercially important. More importantly from a global perspective, marine sediments also provide "ecosystem goods and services" [2J. Organic matter from primary production in the water column and contaminants scavenged by particles accumulate in sediments where their fate is determined by sediment processes such as bioturbation and biogeochemical cycling. Nutrients are regenerated and contaminants degraded in sediments. Under some conditions, carbon accumulates in coastal and shelf sediments and may by removed from the carbon cycle for millions of years, having a potentially significant impact on global climate change. Sediments also protect coasts. The economic value of services provided by coastal areas has recently been estimated to be on the order of $12,568 9 10 y" [3J, far in excess of the global GNP. |
Contents
Primary production and decomposition of organic matter in coastal areas | 29 |
Biogeochemistry of water and sediment in the Ob and Yenisey estuaries | 49 |
The continentalocean boundary as a marginal filter in the world oceans | 69 |
reflections on the role of benthos in marine ecosystems | 105 |
Understanding smallscale processes controlling the bioavailability of organic | 125 |
Changes in macrozoobenthos communities induced by anthropogenic | 147 |
Impact of catchment landuse on an estuarine benthic food | 161 |
towards | 173 |
uncertainties and implications for softbottom marine | 195 |
Understanding the sea floor landscape in relation to impact assessment | 211 |
Conclusions and recommendations | 229 |
Other editions - View all
Biogeochemical Cycling and Sediment Ecology J. Gray,William Ambrose Jr.,Anna Szaniawska Limited preview - 2012 |
Biogeochemical Cycling and Sediment Ecology J. Gray,William Ambrose Jr.,Anna Szaniawska No preview available - 2011 |
Biogeochemical Cycling and Sediment Ecology J. Gray,William Ambrose Jr.,Anna Szaniawska No preview available - 2012 |
Common terms and phrases
abundance Antarctic Aral Sea areas Baltic benthic benthic communities benthic landscape benthos Biogeochemical Cycling Biol biological biomass biotic bioturbation bivalves bottom sediments C.vulgatum changes coastal colloidal concentration contaminant deposition depth dissolved distribution disturbance dynamics Ecol ecology ecosystem effects elements environment environmental estimated factors fauna Figure fishing floccules fluoranthene flux g TOC granules Gulf of Gdansk habitats impact important increase interactions intertidal invertebrates Kara Sea layer macrofauna marginal filter marine sediments metals North Sea nutrient Oceanogr organic carbon organic matter oxygen particles patterns pelagic phytoplankton plankton pollution polychaete populations pore water predators primary production processes Prog rates river Russian salinity samples sea floor sedimentary shelf soft-sediment spatial scales species structure studies surface suspended matter suspended particulate matter suspension feeders TOC content tropical uptake variation Wadden Sea water column World Ocean Yenisey estuary Yenisey River yrą Ythan zone zooplankton
Popular passages
Page 208 - Tegner. 1984. The importance of scale in community ecology: A kelp forest example with terrestrial analogs. In A New Ecology: Novel Approaches to Interactive Systems, ed.
References to this book
Oceanographic Processes of Coral Reefs: Physical and Biological Links in the ... Eric Wolanski No preview available - 2000 |