Autotrophic and Heterotrophic Processes on an Intertidal Mud-Sand Flat, Delaware Inlet, Nelson, New Zealand
Large variations in rates of autotrophic 14CO2 fixation and heterotrophic 14C-glucose metabolism were observed among different types of exposed intertidal sediments. Highest rates of micro- and macroalgal 14CO2 fixation occurred
on sandy sediments which are centrally located within the inlet and exposed to strong tidal currents. In situ rates of microalgal production on sandflats colonized primarily by Euglena varied from 20–200 mg C·m−2·h−1. Other
main producers of the sand flats were Ulva, Enteromorpha and Zostera for which maximum rates of 190, 27 and 8 mg C·m−2·h−1, respectively, were observed. In a small Juncus marsh maximum rates of up to 33 mg C·m−2·h−1
were observed. Comparative rates of production (microalgal) on mud flats grazed by the mud snail, Amphibola crenata were 2–4 mg C·m−2·h−1 Heterotrophic microbial activities, however, were from three to nine times greater here than
on the sand flats and up to 60 times greater within the Juncus marsh. Our observations suggest that much of the autochthonous organic material is translocated and either swept out to sea or deposited in the more protected peripheral mud flats and marsh areas where it stimulates heterotrophic
microbial processes. Tidal flats within the inlet are characterized by relatively discrete areas dominated by either autotrophic production or heterotrophic processing of organic materials whereas areas of Juncus marsh are characterized by high rates of both.
Document Type: Research Article
Publication date: 01 July 1981
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