Detritivore Amphipods - Detritus Interactions and 32p Fluxes in Microcosm
337
Our results indicated a significant "short-circuiting" effect on nutrient transfer processes
from particulate to aqueous phase related to
detritivores processing of macrodetritus, as
already reported for freshwater benthic systems
(e.g. Doremus and Clesceri 1982). In this perspective, regeneration of phosphorus sequestered into
coarse allochthonous detritus in coastal benthic
systems, conventionally related to abiotic factors
and microbial mineralization processes, may
result significantly amplified by macrodetritivores activity.
Acknowledgements. We wish to thank an anonymous reviewer for the valuable comments on the first draft of the manuscript. This research was supported by CNR -PRISMAI and
MURST funds.
References
Alongi R, Hanson RB (1985) Effect of detritus supply on trophic
relationships within experimental benthic food webs. n.
Microbial responses, fate and composition of decomposing
detritus. J Exp Mar Biol Eea188: 167-182
Andersson G, GraneIi W, Stenson J (1988) The influence of animals on phosphorus cycling in lake ecosystems.
Hydrobiologia 170: 267-284
Byren BA, Davies BR (1986) The influence of invertebrates on the
breakdown of Potamogeton pectinatus in a coastal marina
(Zandvlei, South Africa). Hydrobiologia 137: 141-152
Caraco N, Cole J. Likens GE (1990) A comparison of phosphorus
immobilization in sediments of freshwater and coastal
marine systems. Biogeochemistry 9: 277-290
Clavero V, Niell FX, Fernandez JA (1994) A laboratory study to
quantify the influence of Nereis diversicolor O.F. Muller in
the exchange of phosphate between sediment and water. J
Exp BioI Eco1176: 257-267
Doremus C, Clesceri LS (1982) Microbial metabolism in surface
sediments and its role in the immobilization of phosphorus
in oligotrophiclake sediments. Hydrobiologia 91: 261-268
Emill, M, Fleischer S, Jansson M (1989) Phosphorus in sediments.
Ambio 18: 137-138
Fenchel T (1970) Studies on the decomposition of the organic
detritus derived from the turtle grass Thalassia testudinum.
LimnolOceanogr 15: 14-20
Froelich PN (1988) Kinetic control of dissolved phosphate in natural rivers and estuaries: a primer on the phosphate buffer
mechanisms. Limnol Oceanogr 33: 649-668
Gardner WS, Nalepa TF, Quigley MA. Malczyk JM (1981) Release
of phosphorus by certain benthic inVErtebrates. Can I Fish
Aquat Sd 38: 978-981
Gatcher R,Meyer IS (1993) The role of micro-organisms in mobilization and fixation of phosphorus in sediments.
Hydrobiologia 253: 103-121
Gatcher R. Meyer IS, Mares A (1988) Contribution of bacteria to
release and fixation of phosphorus in lake sediments.
Limnol Oceanogr 33: 1542-1558
Goltermann HL (1995) The role ofironhydroxide-phosphate-sulfide system in the phosphate exchange between sediments
and overlying water. Hydrobiologia 297: 43-54
Harrison PG (1977) Decomposition of macrophyte detritus in
seawater: effects of grazing by amphipods. Oikos 28: 165-169
Holdren GC, Armstrong DE (1980) Factors affecting phosphorus
release from intact lake sediment cores. Environ Sd Technol
14; 79-87
Hupfer M, Uhlmann D (1991) Microbially mediated phosphorus
exchange across the mud-water interface. Verh Int Ver
Limno124: 2999-3003
Kamp-Nielsen LH, Mejer H, Sorensen SE (1982) Modelling the
influence of bioturbation on the VErtical distribution of sedimentary phosphorus in L. Esrom. Hydrobiologia 91: 197206
Kristensen E, Blackburn TH (1987) The fate of organic carbon
and nitrogen in experimental marine sediment systems:
influence of bioturbation and anoxia. J Mar Res 45: 231257
Mancinelli G. Pazi S, Rossi L (1998) Sediment structural properties mediating dominant feeding types patterns in soft-bottom macrobenthos of the Northern Adriatic Sea.
Hydrobiologia 367: 211-222
Mesnage V. Picot B (1995) The distribution of phosphate in sediments and its relation with eutrophication of Mediterranean
coastal lagoon. Hydrobiologia 297: 29-41
Revsbech NP, Sorensen }, Blackburn TH, Lomholt IP (1980)
Distribution of oxygen in marine sediments measured with
microelectrodes. Limnol Oceanogr 25: 403-411
Rippey B, Jewson DH (1982) The rates of sediment-water
exchange of oxygen and sediment bioturbation in Lough
Neagh, Northern Ireland. Hydrobiologia 92: 377-382
Robertson J, Mann KH (1980) The role of isopods and amphipods
in the initial fragmentation of eelgrass detritus in Nova
Scotia. Canada. Mar BioI 59: 63-69
Whittaker RH (1961) Experiments with radiophosphorus tracer
in aquarium microcosms. Reol Monogr 31: 137-186
337
Our results indicated a significant "short-circuiting" effect on nutrient transfer processes
from particulate to aqueous phase related to
detritivores processing of macrodetritus, as
already reported for freshwater benthic systems
(e.g. Doremus and Clesceri 1982). In this perspective, regeneration of phosphorus sequestered into
coarse allochthonous detritus in coastal benthic
systems, conventionally related to abiotic factors
and microbial mineralization processes, may
result significantly amplified by macrodetritivores activity.
Acknowledgements. We wish to thank an anonymous reviewer for the valuable comments on the first draft of the manuscript. This research was supported by CNR -PRISMAI and
MURST funds.
References
Alongi R, Hanson RB (1985) Effect of detritus supply on trophic
relationships within experimental benthic food webs. n.
Microbial responses, fate and composition of decomposing
detritus. J Exp Mar Biol Eea188: 167-182
Andersson G, GraneIi W, Stenson J (1988) The influence of animals on phosphorus cycling in lake ecosystems.
Hydrobiologia 170: 267-284
Byren BA, Davies BR (1986) The influence of invertebrates on the
breakdown of Potamogeton pectinatus in a coastal marina
(Zandvlei, South Africa). Hydrobiologia 137: 141-152
Caraco N, Cole J. Likens GE (1990) A comparison of phosphorus
immobilization in sediments of freshwater and coastal
marine systems. Biogeochemistry 9: 277-290
Clavero V, Niell FX, Fernandez JA (1994) A laboratory study to
quantify the influence of Nereis diversicolor O.F. Muller in
the exchange of phosphate between sediment and water. J
Exp BioI Eco1176: 257-267
Doremus C, Clesceri LS (1982) Microbial metabolism in surface
sediments and its role in the immobilization of phosphorus
in oligotrophiclake sediments. Hydrobiologia 91: 261-268
Emill, M, Fleischer S, Jansson M (1989) Phosphorus in sediments.
Ambio 18: 137-138
Fenchel T (1970) Studies on the decomposition of the organic
detritus derived from the turtle grass Thalassia testudinum.
LimnolOceanogr 15: 14-20
Froelich PN (1988) Kinetic control of dissolved phosphate in natural rivers and estuaries: a primer on the phosphate buffer
mechanisms. Limnol Oceanogr 33: 649-668
Gardner WS, Nalepa TF, Quigley MA. Malczyk JM (1981) Release
of phosphorus by certain benthic inVErtebrates. Can I Fish
Aquat Sd 38: 978-981
Gatcher R,Meyer IS (1993) The role of micro-organisms in mobilization and fixation of phosphorus in sediments.
Hydrobiologia 253: 103-121
Gatcher R. Meyer IS, Mares A (1988) Contribution of bacteria to
release and fixation of phosphorus in lake sediments.
Limnol Oceanogr 33: 1542-1558
Goltermann HL (1995) The role ofironhydroxide-phosphate-sulfide system in the phosphate exchange between sediments
and overlying water. Hydrobiologia 297: 43-54
Harrison PG (1977) Decomposition of macrophyte detritus in
seawater: effects of grazing by amphipods. Oikos 28: 165-169
Holdren GC, Armstrong DE (1980) Factors affecting phosphorus
release from intact lake sediment cores. Environ Sd Technol
14; 79-87
Hupfer M, Uhlmann D (1991) Microbially mediated phosphorus
exchange across the mud-water interface. Verh Int Ver
Limno124: 2999-3003
Kamp-Nielsen LH, Mejer H, Sorensen SE (1982) Modelling the
influence of bioturbation on the VErtical distribution of sedimentary phosphorus in L. Esrom. Hydrobiologia 91: 197206
Kristensen E, Blackburn TH (1987) The fate of organic carbon
and nitrogen in experimental marine sediment systems:
influence of bioturbation and anoxia. J Mar Res 45: 231257
Mancinelli G. Pazi S, Rossi L (1998) Sediment structural properties mediating dominant feeding types patterns in soft-bottom macrobenthos of the Northern Adriatic Sea.
Hydrobiologia 367: 211-222
Mesnage V. Picot B (1995) The distribution of phosphate in sediments and its relation with eutrophication of Mediterranean
coastal lagoon. Hydrobiologia 297: 29-41
Revsbech NP, Sorensen }, Blackburn TH, Lomholt IP (1980)
Distribution of oxygen in marine sediments measured with
microelectrodes. Limnol Oceanogr 25: 403-411
Rippey B, Jewson DH (1982) The rates of sediment-water
exchange of oxygen and sediment bioturbation in Lough
Neagh, Northern Ireland. Hydrobiologia 92: 377-382
Robertson J, Mann KH (1980) The role of isopods and amphipods
in the initial fragmentation of eelgrass detritus in Nova
Scotia. Canada. Mar BioI 59: 63-69
Whittaker RH (1961) Experiments with radiophosphorus tracer
in aquarium microcosms. Reol Monogr 31: 137-186