Benthic metabolism on Chatham Rise, New Zealand continental margin: Temporal and spatial variability, and relationships with macrofauna and environmental factors

摘要: Abstract Predicting the impacts of anthropogenic disturbance on deep-sea ecosystems requires a thorough understanding both environmental and faunal drivers ecosystem function. Studies ecosystems, however, typically consider only seldom investigate effects seabed communities processes. Here, we describe spatial temporal variation in sediment community oxygen consumption (SCOC), measure benthic metabolism carbon mineralisation, across several sites Chatham Rise, off east coast New Zealand's South Island, relationships between factors, macrofauna parameters, SCOC order to quantify their relative contributions metabolism. differed significantly among but not two sampling events August December 2015. was most strongly correlated with estimated particulate organic flux marginal regressions (R2 = 0.53–0.61), followed by macrofaunal abundance (0.28–0.52), taxon richness (0.09–0.50) water depth (0.30–0.35). Variation partitioning analysis showed that late winter (August), variability accounted for variables independently macrofauna, whereas summer (December), combined environment macrofauna. We also observed greater effect independent than (R2 = 0.13 0.05, respectively). Our findings indicate contribution can be substantial vary temporally. In addition, our suggest shifts function resulting from stressors will difficult predict due interactive Nevertheless, if decreases Rise as predicted climate change scenarios, anticipate felt less productive areas rise stronger link at low densities.