IngentaConnect Meiofauna and benthic microbial biomass in a semi-enclosed Medite...

Authors: La Rosa T.¹; Mocciaro G.¹; Costa K.¹; Mirto S.²; Mazzola A.¹; Sarà G.¹

Source: Chemistry and Ecology, Volume 20, Supplement 1, Supplement 1/June 2004 , pp. 387-396(10)

Abstract:

Microbial and meiofaunal dynamics and their relationships with the biochemical composition of the sedimentary organic matter were investigated in a semi-enclosed marine system (Marsala lagoon, Western Sicily, Mediterranean Sea).

Sediment samples were collected on a monthly basis from March 1996 to February 1997 in four stations located along a N-S transect characterized by different hydrodynamic regimes. Total sedimentary organic matter concentration ranged from 5.68 ± 1.11 to 156.28 ± 12.63 mg g^-1, while the biopolymeric fraction of organic carbon (BPC, measured as sum of the lipids, carbohydrates and proteins) accounted for only a small fraction ( sim

24%) of total organic matter. Total meiofaunal density was extremely low, accounting for, on annual average, 112 ± 29 ind./10 cm^-2 and largely dominated by nematodes (on annual average from 40% to 91% of total meiofaunal density). Benthic microbial density ranged from 0.22 ± 0.02 × 10⁹ to 106.83 ± 16.77 × 10⁹ g^-1 sediment dry weight (DW). Microbial biomass ranged from 0.01 ± 0.003 to 7.04 ± 0.14 mg C g^-1 sediment DW and accounted for a significant fraction of BPC at all stations ( sim

10%). Low chlorophyll-a concentration in the sediments of the Marsala lagoon (on annual average from 2 to 16 µg g^-1 sediment DW) suggests that organic detrital and heterotrophic bacteria largely dominate the sedimentary organic matter and do not promote the transfer of carbon towards the higher trophic state.

Keywords: Sedimentary organic matter; Benthic microbial community; Meiofauna; Mediterranean lagoon

Document Type: Research article

DOI: 10.1080/02757540410001655369

Affiliations: 1: Department of Animal Biology University of Palermo Via Archirafi, 18 Palermo 90123 Italy 2: Department of Marine Science Polytechnic University of Marche Via Brecce Bianche 60131 Ancona Italy

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Meiofauna and benthic microbial biomass in a semi-enclosed Mediterranean Marine system (Stagnone of Marsala, Italy)