Polychaete Invasion May Lead to Biogeochemical Change in Host Marine Environment
Marine invasive species may modify their host environment by altering ecosystem biogeochemistry. We hypothesized that the invasive polychaete <i>Marenzelleria viridis</i> in Baltic Sea areas increases sulfate reduction (SR) in sediment micro-zones surrounding its burrow. Consequently, hi...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2020-11-01
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| Series: | Journal of Marine Science and Engineering |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2077-1312/8/11/940 |
| _version_ | 1797547392903413760 |
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| author | Cintia O. Quintana Erik Kristensen |
| author_facet | Cintia O. Quintana Erik Kristensen |
| author_sort | Cintia O. Quintana |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Marine invasive species may modify their host environment by altering ecosystem biogeochemistry. We hypothesized that the invasive polychaete <i>Marenzelleria viridis</i> in Baltic Sea areas increases sulfate reduction (SR) in sediment micro-zones surrounding its burrow. Consequently, higher free porewater sulfide (H<sub>2</sub>S) is expected in sediments dominated by <i>M. viridis</i> than in corresponding sediments inhabited by the native polychaete <i>Hediste diversicolor</i>. In a thin-aquaria experiment, we found high SR rates (220 to 539 nmol cm<sup>−3</sup> d<sup>−1</sup>) around the burrow walls of <i>M. viridis</i> as well as in surface and subsurface sediments with overall rates 2-fold higher than in defaunated control sediment. Similarly, an in situ survey revealed subsurface porewater H<sub>2</sub>S peaks moving upward towards the sediment surface in <i>M. viridis</i> inhabited areas. Accordingly, 50–85% higher porewater H<sub>2</sub>S was found almost year-round in these areas compared with <i>H. diversicolor</i> inhabited areas, suggesting that the invasion of <i>M. viridis</i> probably led to a substantial change in sediment biogeochemistry. In conclusion, <i>M. viridis</i> stimulates SR in sediment micro-zones and increases H<sub>2</sub>S in coastal sediments. Such change to more reducing conditions after the invasion may have critical environmental implications on, e.g., the distribution of H<sub>2</sub>S intolerant flora and fauna species. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T14:43:35Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-1f3e371c76104c4891f483dbb5e38b6e |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2077-1312 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T14:43:35Z |
| publishDate | 2020-11-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Marine Science and Engineering |
| spelling | doaj.art-1f3e371c76104c4891f483dbb5e38b6e2023-11-20T21:33:06ZengMDPI AGJournal of Marine Science and Engineering2077-13122020-11-0181194010.3390/jmse8110940Polychaete Invasion May Lead to Biogeochemical Change in Host Marine EnvironmentCintia O. Quintana0Erik Kristensen1Department of Biology, University of Southern Denmark, Campusvej 55, Odense M, 5230 Odense, DenmarkDepartment of Biology, University of Southern Denmark, Campusvej 55, Odense M, 5230 Odense, DenmarkMarine invasive species may modify their host environment by altering ecosystem biogeochemistry. We hypothesized that the invasive polychaete <i>Marenzelleria viridis</i> in Baltic Sea areas increases sulfate reduction (SR) in sediment micro-zones surrounding its burrow. Consequently, higher free porewater sulfide (H<sub>2</sub>S) is expected in sediments dominated by <i>M. viridis</i> than in corresponding sediments inhabited by the native polychaete <i>Hediste diversicolor</i>. In a thin-aquaria experiment, we found high SR rates (220 to 539 nmol cm<sup>−3</sup> d<sup>−1</sup>) around the burrow walls of <i>M. viridis</i> as well as in surface and subsurface sediments with overall rates 2-fold higher than in defaunated control sediment. Similarly, an in situ survey revealed subsurface porewater H<sub>2</sub>S peaks moving upward towards the sediment surface in <i>M. viridis</i> inhabited areas. Accordingly, 50–85% higher porewater H<sub>2</sub>S was found almost year-round in these areas compared with <i>H. diversicolor</i> inhabited areas, suggesting that the invasion of <i>M. viridis</i> probably led to a substantial change in sediment biogeochemistry. In conclusion, <i>M. viridis</i> stimulates SR in sediment micro-zones and increases H<sub>2</sub>S in coastal sediments. Such change to more reducing conditions after the invasion may have critical environmental implications on, e.g., the distribution of H<sub>2</sub>S intolerant flora and fauna species.https://www.mdpi.com/2077-1312/8/11/940<i>Marenzelleria viridis</i>sulfate reductionsediment biogeochemistryestuarine sedimentsNorth SeaBaltic Sea |
| spellingShingle | Cintia O. Quintana Erik Kristensen Polychaete Invasion May Lead to Biogeochemical Change in Host Marine Environment Journal of Marine Science and Engineering <i>Marenzelleria viridis</i> sulfate reduction sediment biogeochemistry estuarine sediments North Sea Baltic Sea |
| title | Polychaete Invasion May Lead to Biogeochemical Change in Host Marine Environment |
| title_full | Polychaete Invasion May Lead to Biogeochemical Change in Host Marine Environment |
| title_fullStr | Polychaete Invasion May Lead to Biogeochemical Change in Host Marine Environment |
| title_full_unstemmed | Polychaete Invasion May Lead to Biogeochemical Change in Host Marine Environment |
| title_short | Polychaete Invasion May Lead to Biogeochemical Change in Host Marine Environment |
| title_sort | polychaete invasion may lead to biogeochemical change in host marine environment |
| topic | <i>Marenzelleria viridis</i> sulfate reduction sediment biogeochemistry estuarine sediments North Sea Baltic Sea |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2077-1312/8/11/940 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT cintiaoquintana polychaeteinvasionmayleadtobiogeochemicalchangeinhostmarineenvironment AT erikkristensen polychaeteinvasionmayleadtobiogeochemicalchangeinhostmarineenvironment |