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The role of benthic biofilm production in the mediation of silicon cycling in the Severn Estuary, UK

Welsby, H. J., Hendry, K. R. and Perkins, Rupert ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0810-2656 2016. The role of benthic biofilm production in the mediation of silicon cycling in the Severn Estuary, UK. Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science 176 , pp. 124-134. 10.1016/j.ecss.2016.04.008

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Abstract

The biological mediation of benthic biogenic silica (BBSi) by the diatom-dominated biofilms on the intertidal mudflats of the Severn Estuary (UK) was assessed in situ under different environmental conditions using measurements of productive biomass (chlorophyll a), photosynthetic activity of undisturbed microalgal assemblages, benthic biogenic silica (BBSi) and benthic dissolved silica (BDSi). We show low BBSi standing stocks in the mudflats compared to other European estuaries, under both warmer summer conditions (0.6%) and colder winter conditions (0.5%). Dissolved forms of Si (BDSi) dominated the estuary, with significantly higher concentrations during the sampled winter (22.6 ± 1.0 mg L−1) compared to the sampled summer (2.9 ± 0.5 mg L−1). Benthic algal biomass was higher under cold conditions compared to warmer conditions (24.0 ± 2.3 and 13.2 ± 1.9 mg g−1sed. dw., respectively), following reduced migratory behaviour in the winter increasing surficial biomass. Relative maximum Electron Transport Rate (rETRmax), used as a proxy for relative primary productivity, was higher under warm conditions (254.1 ± 20.1 rel. units) compared to cold conditions (116.0 ± 27.1 rel. units). The biofilms sampled in the summer biologically mediated Si by the productive, high light acclimated diatoms that were highly motile during fluorescence measurements, and exhibited migratory behaviour, which despite nutrient limitation, evidenced by low Fv/Fm, increased the accumulation of BBSi. The biofilms sampled in the winter that were subject to relatively colder temperatures, consisted of low light acclimated diatoms of reduced migratory capabilities, and induced NPQ that suppressed productivity, and mediated BBSi to a lesser extent. Environmental stresses reduced the biofilm biological mediation of Si, which controlled Si to a lesser extent compared to the high hydrodynamic energy increasing biofilm re-suspension and terrestrial/coastal inputs.

Item Type: Article
Date Type: Publication
Status: Published
Schools: Earth and Environmental Sciences
Uncontrolled Keywords: Biogenic silica; Benthic; Biomass; Primary productivity; Downregulation
Publisher: Elsevier
ISSN: 0272-7714
Date of First Compliant Deposit: 27 June 2016
Date of Acceptance: 12 April 2016
Last Modified: 05 May 2023 09:38
URI: https://orca.cardiff.ac.uk/id/eprint/92142

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