Sedimentary and biological patterns on mudflats
Beninger, P.G.; Cuadrado, D.; van de Koppel, J. (2018). Sedimentary and biological patterns on mudflats, in: Beninger, P.G. Mudflat ecology. Aquatic Ecology Series, 7: pp. 185-211. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-99194-8_8
In: Aquatic Ecology Series. ISSN 1573-4595, more
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| Authors | | Top |
- Beninger, P.G.
- Cuadrado, D.
- van de Koppel, J., more
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| Abstract |
Apparently featureless ‘flat’ mudflats actually present striking biologicalpatterning beneath the sediment surface, and even slight physical patterning bysediment ripple marks also leads to biological patterning of the surficial biofilm.The more topographically-complex hummock-forming mudflats are characterizedby even more striking physical and biological patterning. In this chapter we firstconsider how the sediment-microbe association resists wave- and current-inducederosion, creating within-sediment structure (microbially-induced sedimentary structures,MISS). These structures may eventually succumb to high-energy erosion,creating superficial irregularity. We then describe how microbial and physicalprocesses conjugate to form the spatially-complex, transitory hummock patterns. |
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