Field measurements on respiration and secondary production of a benthic community in the northern Wadden Sea
Asmus, H. (1982). Field measurements on respiration and secondary production of a benthic community in the northern Wadden Sea. Neth. J. Sea Res. 16: 403-413
In: Netherlands Journal of Sea Research. Netherlands Institute for Sea Research (NIOZ): Groningen; Den Burg. ISSN 0077-7579; e-ISSN 1873-1406, more
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| Abstract |
Biomass relations in macrofaunal species showed the dominating role of the grazer Hydrobia ulvae (71 %), followed by Arenicola marina ( 19%) and Macoma balthica ( 4%). Mean biomass of the entire macrobenthic community was 27 g. m-2. In macrofauna production ( 50 g. m-2 .a -1 ) Hydrobia ulvae was the most important species too (21 g. m-2. a-1). Total oxygen consumption showed strong temperature dependence. Chemical oxygen consumption amounted to only a few percent of total oxygen consumption. Community respiration was mainly caused by macrofauna respiration, the share of microbenthos being very low. Juvenile stages of Hydrobia ulvae were responsible for about 45% of the total oxygen consumption. For the time of submersion of the tidal flat (about 12 hours a day) a rough outline for energy flow through the community was made, showing a net growth efficiency of 24% for macrofauna. |
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