Bioturbation of macroinvertebrate in the intertidal sediments

Abstract

Bioturbation, especially sediment reworking by the activities of macroinvertebrates, suchas feeding and burrowing, is one of the major processes that affect the physical, chemical, andbiological characteristics of marine sediments. Through burrowing and feeding activities,macrofauna increase the surface area of sediment exposed to overlying water or air and alsomodify the surface sediments. In particular, sediment reworking influences organic mattermineralization, the structure and porosity of the sediment matrix, and the release of nutrientsfrom sediment to the water column. Given the importance of sediment reworking, the sedimentreworking rates of Perinereis aibuhitensis and Scopimera globosa were evaluated based onquantifications of pellet production and burrow sediment production. The overall sedimentreworking rates of Perinereis and Scopimera were 31 mm yr-1 and 35 cm yr-1, respectively.Cost&#8211 benefit analysis has been the major evaluation system for judging development activities.However, it does not consider all of the resources involved in determining whether there willbe a net benefit in real wealth or not. Emergy analysis can provide common units forcomparison of environmental and economic goods by summing the energy into one typerequired directly or indirectly for production of goods. Thus, the emergy indices of ecosystemservices in Gomso bay were estimated and overall eugh burrowing and feeding activities,macrofauna increase the surface area of sediment exposed to overlying water or air and alsomodify the surface sediments. In particular, sediment reworking influences organic mattermineralization, the structure and porosity of the sediment matrix, and the release of nutrientsfrom sediment to the water column. Given the importance of sediment reworking, the sedimentreworking rates of Perinereis aibuhitensis and Scopimera globosa were evaluated based onquantifications of pellet production and burrow sediment production. The overall sedimentreworking rates of Perinereis and Scopimera were 31 mm yr-1 and 35 cm yr-1, respectively.Cost&#8211 benefit analysis has been the major evaluation system for judging development activities.However, it does not consider all of the resources involved in determining whether there willbe a net benefit in real wealth or not. Emergy analysis can provide common units forcomparison of environmental and economic goods by summing the energy into one typerequired directly or indirectly for production of goods. Thus, the emergy indices of ecosystemservices in Gomso bay were estimated and overall e