Sensitivity of heterogeneous marine benthic habitats to subtle stressors.

ABSTRACT: It is important to understand the consequences of low level disturbances on the functioning of ecological communities because of the pervasiveness and frequency of this type of environmental change. In this study we investigated the response of a heterogeneous, subtidal, soft-sediment habitat to small experimental additions of organic matter and calcium carbonate to examine the sensitivity of benthic ecosystem functioning to changes in sediment characteristics that relate to the environmental threats of coastal eutrophication and ocean acidification. Our results documented significant changes between key biogeochemical and sedimentary variables such as gross primary production, ammonium uptake and dissolved reactive phosphorus flux following treatment additions. Moreover, the application o

SUBMITTER: Rodil IF 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3842950 | biostudies-literature | 2013

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature