Benthic estuarine communities' contribution to bioturbation under the experimental effect of marine heatwaves.

ABSTRACT: Marine heatwaves are increasing worldwide, with several negative impacts on biological communities and ecosystems. This 24-day study tested heatwaves' effect with distinct duration and recovery periods on benthic estuarine communities' diversity and contribution to ecosystem functioning experimentally. The communities were obtained from a temperate estuary, usually subjected to high daily thermal amplitudes. Our goal was to understand the communities' response to the thermal change, including the community descriptors and behavioural changes expected during heat extremes. We measured community composition and structural changes and the bioturbation process and nutrient release as ecosystem functioning measurements. Overall, our findings highlight the potential tolerance of studied estuarin

SUBMITTER: Dolbeth M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8169769 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature