Publication Abstract
- Title
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An "“Integrated Sediment Disturber"” (ISD) to study the impact of repeated physical perturbations on the sediment geochemistry and related effects on the small benthic biota
- Publication Abstract
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An "“Integrated Sediment Disturber"” (ISD) to study the impact of repeated physical perturbations on the sediment geochemistry and related effects on the small benthic biota
T. Soltwedel, B. Lansard, F. Gilbert, C. Hasemann, E. Bell, B. Sablotny, M. Eagle*, P. Kershaw*, and C. Rabouille
Within the European project COBO (“Coastal Ocean Benthic Observatory”), an “Integrated Sediment Disturber” (ISD) was developed to study effects on the sediment geochemistry and the associated benthic fauna due to repeated disturbance as caused by trawling activities, and any other perturbations modifying the sediment texture, e.g. intense crawling/digging of macro-/megafauna. Surface sediments are reworked by three rotating fork-like disturber units of approximately 1 m in diameter. Perturbations could be set at different intensities and frequencies, e.g. on times scales of hours, days and weeks, depending on the experimental design. The ISD carries an x-y-z axis “Autonomous Positioning Drive” (APD) module, which allows the three dimensional positioning of sensors by a programmable controller. The three circular disturbed zones, and an undisturbed control area in-between, could be monitored continuously using a micro-profiler with microelectrodes for various parameters (e.g. oxygen, pH, …). All operations are supervised by a digital still camera. Sediment sampling at the start and end point could be carried out using coring devices handled by divers or a Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV). Sediments could then be investigated to study shifts in biodiversity and ecosystem functioning of the small sediment-inhabiting biota in response to perturbation and the changing chemical condition of the sediment.Reference
T. Soltwedel, B. Lansard, F. Gilbert, C. Hasemann, E. Bell, B. Sablotny, M. Eagle*, P. Kershaw* and C. Rabouille (2008). An "“Integrated Sediment Disturber"” (ISD) to study the impact of repeated physical perturbations on the sediment geochemistry and related effects on the small benthic biota. Limnology and Oceanography Methods 6, 307-318.
- Publication Internet Address of the Data
- Publication Authors
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T. Soltwedel, B. Lansard, F. Gilbert, C. Hasemann, E. Bell, B. Sablotny, M. Eagle*, P. Kershaw*, and C. Rabouille
- Publication Date
- July 2008
- Publication Reference
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Limnology and Oceanography Methods 6, 2008, 307-318
- Publication DOI: https://doi.org/
