Metabolic activity and functional diversity changes in sediment prokaryotic communities organically enriched with mussel biodeposits.

ABSTRACT: This experimental microcosm study reports the influence of organic enrichments by mussel biodeposits on the metabolic activity and functional diversity of benthic prokaryotic communities. The different biodeposit enrichment regimes created, which mimicked the quantity of faeces and pseudo-faeces potentially deposited below mussel farms, show a clear stimulatory effect of this organic enrichment on prokaryotic metabolic activity. This effect was detected once a certain level of biodeposition was attained with a tipping point estimated between 3.25 and 10 g day-1 m-2. Prokaryotic communities recovered their initial metabolic activity by 11 days after the cessation of biodeposit additions. However, their functional diversity remained greater than prior to the disturbance suggesting that musse

SUBMITTER: Pollet T 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4414560 | biostudies-literature | 2015

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature