Biogeomorphological implications of microscale interactions between sediment geotechnics and marine benthos: a review

摘要: Abstract At the foundations of biogeomorphological processes in sea lie interactions between activities marine benthic animals and geotechnical properties their sedimentary environments. The potential significance these interactions, which take place at a microscale level millimetres to metres, for large-scale geomorphology seabed has rarely been appreciated. In context this review, is defined as greater than 50 m hundreds kilometres. present review addresses link, drawing examples from wide range environments, including estuaries, intertidal zone, continental shelves slopes, deep sea. It firstly considers sediment stabilisation, slope failure, mixing, biodeposition, compaction, hydrodynamic effects. This followed by consideration two extremes ecological pyramid—the effects meiofauna vertebrates. final section draws attention central role faunal mucus extracellular polymeric material (ECPM) many that we describe. implications biological features are discussed terms influence on control seabed.