Benthic Response to Eutrophication in Manipulated Marine Sandy Sediments:Meso/Boxcosm Research 1990. Influence of Organic Matter Loadings

摘要

North Sea benthic meso/boxcosm studies were initiated in 1989 to increase theunderstanding of benthic metabolism and nutrient regeneration in relation to eutrophication, i.e. an increasing input of particulate organic matter into the sediment. When the oxygen supply to the sediment is insufficient to sustain aerobic mineralization, anaerobic mineralization processes will predominate and suboxic or anoxic conditions at the sediment surface and in the bottom water may develop. The deleterious effects of low oxygen concentrations on bottomfauna and water quality are widely recognized (mass mortalities, poisoning). Complete deoxygenation of the sediment surface layer reduces nitrification, denitrification and the buffer capacity (sorption) of the sediment for phosphate.