Impact of Eastern oyster Crassostrea virginica biodeposit resuspension on the seston, nutrient, phytoplankton, and zooplankton dynamics: a mesocosm experiment

Porter, ET; Franz, H; Lacouture, R

HERO ID

4605767

Reference Type

Journal Article

Year

2018

HERO ID 4605767
In Press No
Year 2018
Title Impact of Eastern oyster Crassostrea virginica biodeposit resuspension on the seston, nutrient, phytoplankton, and zooplankton dynamics: a mesocosm experiment
Authors Porter, ET; Franz, H; Lacouture, R
Journal Marine Ecology Progress Series
Volume 586
Page Numbers 21-40
Abstract To test the effect of Crassostrea virginica biodeposit resuspension on nutrient and plankton dynamics, a 4 wk experiment was performed in six 1000 l shear-turbulence-resuspension-mesocosms (STURM) without a sediment bottom (R). Three tanks (R_BD) received daily additions of oyster biodeposits (5.77 +/- 3.33 mg total suspended solids). Simulated tidal resuspension of bio-deposits in the R_BD tanks resulted in concentrations of 90 mg l(-1) total suspended solids when mixing was on, decreasing to ca. 20 mg l(-1) when mixing was off. However, bulk settling speeds of particles in the R_BD tanks increased 3-fold over the experiment. Particulate nitrogen, phosphorus, and carbon concentrations as well as dissolved inorganic nitrogen, nitrate + nitrite, dissolved organic phosphorus, and total dissolved phosphorus levels were significantly higher in the R_BD tanks. In the R_BD tanks the greatest part (72%) of the nitrogen was partitioned in the total dissolved nitrogen, but in the R tanks the greatest part (51.5%) was partitioned in microphytobenthos. While chlorophyll a concentrations were higher in the R_BD tanks than in the R tanks (despite tunicates being found in the R_BD tanks), phytoplankton biomass (carbon) as estimated using direct cell counts was not significantly different and there was little difference in phytoplankton composition. However, the ratio of chl a:C was higher in the R_BD tanks, suggesting phytoplankton adjusted to low light in the R_BD tanks by increasing chl a in their cells. Acartia sp. abundance was also raised in the R_BD tanks. Addition and regular tidal resuspension of oyster biodeposits profoundly affected nutrient dynamics, nitrogen partitioning, and zooplankton community dynamics.
Doi 10.3354/meps12417
Wosid WOS:000422850500003
Is Certified Translation No
Dupe Override No
Is Public Yes
Keyword STURM; Biodeposit resuspension; Crassostrea virginica; Eastern oyster; Mesocosm; Experimental ecosystem; Benthic-pelagic coupling