Benthic Biological Processes and EH as a Basis for a Benthic Index

摘要: It is proposed that the common measures of benthic community condition can be augmented with a vertical EH profile taken through bioturbation zone. Sediment EH, an electrochemical measure oxidized and reduced compounds in sediment porewater, integrative consequences all metabolic transport processes community. Biota, especially microbiota, metabolize carbon using variety electron acceptors, including O2, SO4 some nitrogen metal compounds. Motile macrofauna ingest particles, ventilate deep burrows anoxic overlying seawater while sedentary suspension-feeding fauna deposit suspended organic matter onto surface. Collectively, these behavioral advect particles between bottom water define overall structure porewater chemistry. That creates full spectrum biogeochemical conditions solubility, reactivity, microbial metabolism which remineralizes excess most contaminants, defines solubility trace metals, pushes toward oxidizing conditions. standard probe inserted downward zone will provide general this resulting chemistry thus impact feeding, irrigation, total macro, meio, microbenthic If such validated it permit extended measurement function efforts measuring structure.