This work presents the result of a study carried out in the north-western Adriatic Sea, by combining two different types of biogeochemical models with field sampling efforts. A longline mussel farm was taken as a local source of perturbation to the natural particulate organic carbon (POC) downward flux. This flux was first quantified by means of a pelagic model of POC deposition coupled to sediment trap data, and its effects on sediment bioirrigation capacity and organic matter (OM) degradation pathways were investigated constraining an early diagenesis model by using original data collected in sediment porewater. The measurements were performed at stations located inside and outside the area affected by mussel farm deposition. Model-predicted POC fluxes showed marked spatial and temporal variability, which was mostly associated with the dynamics of the farming cycle. Sediment trap data at the two sampled stations (inside and outside of the mussel farm) showed average POC background flux of 20.0–24.2 mmol Cm2 d1. The difference of organic carbon (OC) fluxes between the two stations was in agreement with model results, ranging between 3.3 and 14.2 mmol Cm2 d1, and was primarily associated with mussel physiological conditions. Although restricted, these changes in POC fluxes induced visible effects on sediment biogeochemistry. Observed oxygen microprofiles presented a 50%decrease in oxygen penetration depth (from 2.3 to 1.4 mm), accompanied by an increase in the O2 influx at the station below the mussel farm (19–31 versus 10–12 mmol O2 m2 d1/ characterised by higher POC flux. Dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC) and NHC 4 concentrations showed similar behaviour, with a more evident effect of bioirrigation underneath the farm. This was confirmed through constraining the early diagenesis model, of which calibration leads to an estimation of enhanced and shallower bioirrigation underneath the farm: bioirrigation rates of 40 yr1 and irrigation depth of 15 cm were estimated inside the shellfish deposition footprint versus 20 yr1 and 20 cm outside. These findings were confirmed by independent data on macrofauna composition collected at the study site. Early diagenesis model results indicated a larger organic matter mineralisation below the mussel farm (11.1 versus 18.7 mmolm2 d1/, characterised by similar proportions between oxic and anoxic degradation rates at the two stations, with an increase in the absolute values of oxygen consumed by OM degradation and reduced substances re-oxidation underneath the mussel farm.

This work presents the result of a study carried out in the north-western Adriatic Sea, by combining two different types of biogeochemical models with field sampling efforts. A longline mussel farm was taken as a local source of perturbation to the natural particulate organic carbon (POC) downward flux. This flux was first quantified by means of a pelagic model of POC deposition coupled to sediment trap data, and its effects on sediment bioirrigation capacity and organic matter (OM) degradation pathways were investigated constraining an early diagenesis model by using original data collected in sediment porewater. The measurements were performed at stations located inside and outside the area affected by mussel farm deposition. Model-predicted POC fluxes showed marked spatial and temporal variability, which was mostly associated with the dynamics of the farming cycle. Sediment trap data at the two sampled stations (inside and outside of the mussel farm) showed average POC background flux of 20.0-24.2 mmol Cm-2 d-1. The difference of organic carbon (OC) fluxes between the two stations was in agreement with model results, ranging between 3.3 and 14.2 mmol Cm-2 d-1, and was primarily associated with mussel physiological conditions. Although restricted, these changes in POC fluxes induced visible effects on sediment biogeochemistry. Observed oxygen microprofiles presented a 50%decrease in oxygen penetration depth (from 2.3 to 1.4 mm), accompanied by an increase in the O2 influx at the station below the mussel farm (19-31 versus 10-12 mmol O2 m-2 d-1/ characterised by higher POC flux. Dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC) and NHC 4 concentrations showed similar behaviour, with a more evident effect of bioirrigation underneath the farm. This was confirmed through constraining the early diagenesis model, of which calibration leads to an estimation of enhanced and shallower bioirrigation underneath the farm: Bioirrigation rates of 40 yr-1 and irrigation depth of 15 cm were estimated inside the shellfish deposition footprint versus 20 yr-1 and 20 cm outside. These findings were confirmed by independent data on macrofauna composition collected at the study site. Early diagenesis model results indicated a larger organic matter mineralisation below the mussel farm (11.1 versus 18.7 mmolm-2 d-1/, characterised by similar proportions between oxic and anoxic degradation rates at the two stations, with an increase in the absolute values of oxygen consumed by OM degradation and reduced substances re-oxidation underneath the mussel farm.

Modelling biogeochemical processes in sediments from the north-western Adriatic Sea: response to enhanced particulate organic carbon fluxes

Brigolin, Daniele
;
RABOUILLE, CHRISTOPHE;BOMBLED, BRUNO ANDRE EUGENE;Colla, Silvia;Pastres, Roberto;Pranovi, Fabio
2018-01-01

Abstract

This work presents the result of a study carried out in the north-western Adriatic Sea, by combining two different types of biogeochemical models with field sampling efforts. A longline mussel farm was taken as a local source of perturbation to the natural particulate organic carbon (POC) downward flux. This flux was first quantified by means of a pelagic model of POC deposition coupled to sediment trap data, and its effects on sediment bioirrigation capacity and organic matter (OM) degradation pathways were investigated constraining an early diagenesis model by using original data collected in sediment porewater. The measurements were performed at stations located inside and outside the area affected by mussel farm deposition. Model-predicted POC fluxes showed marked spatial and temporal variability, which was mostly associated with the dynamics of the farming cycle. Sediment trap data at the two sampled stations (inside and outside of the mussel farm) showed average POC background flux of 20.0-24.2 mmol Cm-2 d-1. The difference of organic carbon (OC) fluxes between the two stations was in agreement with model results, ranging between 3.3 and 14.2 mmol Cm-2 d-1, and was primarily associated with mussel physiological conditions. Although restricted, these changes in POC fluxes induced visible effects on sediment biogeochemistry. Observed oxygen microprofiles presented a 50%decrease in oxygen penetration depth (from 2.3 to 1.4 mm), accompanied by an increase in the O2 influx at the station below the mussel farm (19-31 versus 10-12 mmol O2 m-2 d-1/ characterised by higher POC flux. Dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC) and NHC 4 concentrations showed similar behaviour, with a more evident effect of bioirrigation underneath the farm. This was confirmed through constraining the early diagenesis model, of which calibration leads to an estimation of enhanced and shallower bioirrigation underneath the farm: Bioirrigation rates of 40 yr-1 and irrigation depth of 15 cm were estimated inside the shellfish deposition footprint versus 20 yr-1 and 20 cm outside. These findings were confirmed by independent data on macrofauna composition collected at the study site. Early diagenesis model results indicated a larger organic matter mineralisation below the mussel farm (11.1 versus 18.7 mmolm-2 d-1/, characterised by similar proportions between oxic and anoxic degradation rates at the two stations, with an increase in the absolute values of oxygen consumed by OM degradation and reduced substances re-oxidation underneath the mussel farm.
2018
15
File in questo prodotto:
File Dimensione Formato  
Brigolin et al_biogeosciences.pdf

accesso aperto

Tipologia: Documento in Post-print
Licenza: Creative commons
Dimensione 10.81 MB
Formato Adobe PDF
10.81 MB Adobe PDF Visualizza/Apri

I documenti in ARCA sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.

Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/10278/3698399
Citazioni
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.pmc??? ND
  • Scopus 4
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.isi??? 4
social impact