Effects of Field Simulated Marine Heatwaves on Sedimentary Organic Matter Quantity, Biochemical Composition, and Degradation Rates
Since rising temperature (T) will enhance biochemical reactions and coastal marine sediments are hotspots of carbon cycling, marine heatwaves’ (MHWs’) intensification caused by climate change will affect coastal biogeochemistry. We investigated the effects of MHWs on sediment organic matter (OM) in...
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MDPI AG
2022-05-01
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| Series: | Biology |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2079-7737/11/6/841 |
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| author | Santina Soru Patrizia Stipcich Giulia Ceccherelli Claudia Ennas Davide Moccia Antonio Pusceddu |
| author_facet | Santina Soru Patrizia Stipcich Giulia Ceccherelli Claudia Ennas Davide Moccia Antonio Pusceddu |
| author_sort | Santina Soru |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Since rising temperature (T) will enhance biochemical reactions and coastal marine sediments are hotspots of carbon cycling, marine heatwaves’ (MHWs’) intensification caused by climate change will affect coastal biogeochemistry. We investigated the effects of MHWs on sediment organic matter (OM) in a nearshore locality (NW Sardinia, Mediterranean Sea) receiving an artificial warm water plume generating T anomalies of 1.5–5.0 °C. Sediments were collected before and after 3 and 11 weeks from the initial plume release. Both MHWs influenced sedimentary OM quantity, composition, and degradation rates, with major effects associated with the highest T anomaly after 3 weeks. Both MHWs enhanced sedimentary OM contents, with larger effects associated with the highest T anomaly. Phytopigment contents increased in the short term but dropped to initial levels after 11 weeks, suggesting the occurrence of thermal adaptation or stress of microphytobenthos. In the longer term we observed a decrease in the nutritional quality of OM and a slowdown of its turnover mediated by extracellular enzymes, suggestive of a decreased ecosystem functioning. We anticipate that intensification of MHWs will affect benthic communities not only through direct effects on species tolerance but also by altering benthic biogeochemistry and the efficiency of energy transfer towards higher trophic levels. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T00:22:48Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-6b2a8221f40c4980a2602644eff5a224 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2079-7737 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T00:22:48Z |
| publishDate | 2022-05-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Biology |
| spelling | doaj.art-6b2a8221f40c4980a2602644eff5a2242023-11-23T15:39:10ZengMDPI AGBiology2079-77372022-05-0111684110.3390/biology11060841Effects of Field Simulated Marine Heatwaves on Sedimentary Organic Matter Quantity, Biochemical Composition, and Degradation RatesSantina Soru0Patrizia Stipcich1Giulia Ceccherelli2Claudia Ennas3Davide Moccia4Antonio Pusceddu5Dipartimento di Scienze della Vita e dell’Ambiente, Università degli Studi di Cagliari, Via T. Fiorelli, 1, 09126 Cagliari, ItalyDipartimento di Architettura, Design e Urbanistica, Università degli Studi di Sassari, Via Piandanna 4, 07100 Sassari, ItalyDipartimento di Scienze Chimiche, Fisiche, Matematiche e Naturali, Università degli Studi di Sassari, Via Piandanna 4, 07100 Sassari, ItalyDipartimento di Scienze della Vita e dell’Ambiente, Università degli Studi di Cagliari, Via T. Fiorelli, 1, 09126 Cagliari, ItalyDipartimento di Scienze della Vita e dell’Ambiente, Università degli Studi di Cagliari, Via T. Fiorelli, 1, 09126 Cagliari, ItalyDipartimento di Scienze della Vita e dell’Ambiente, Università degli Studi di Cagliari, Via T. Fiorelli, 1, 09126 Cagliari, ItalySince rising temperature (T) will enhance biochemical reactions and coastal marine sediments are hotspots of carbon cycling, marine heatwaves’ (MHWs’) intensification caused by climate change will affect coastal biogeochemistry. We investigated the effects of MHWs on sediment organic matter (OM) in a nearshore locality (NW Sardinia, Mediterranean Sea) receiving an artificial warm water plume generating T anomalies of 1.5–5.0 °C. Sediments were collected before and after 3 and 11 weeks from the initial plume release. Both MHWs influenced sedimentary OM quantity, composition, and degradation rates, with major effects associated with the highest T anomaly after 3 weeks. Both MHWs enhanced sedimentary OM contents, with larger effects associated with the highest T anomaly. Phytopigment contents increased in the short term but dropped to initial levels after 11 weeks, suggesting the occurrence of thermal adaptation or stress of microphytobenthos. In the longer term we observed a decrease in the nutritional quality of OM and a slowdown of its turnover mediated by extracellular enzymes, suggestive of a decreased ecosystem functioning. We anticipate that intensification of MHWs will affect benthic communities not only through direct effects on species tolerance but also by altering benthic biogeochemistry and the efficiency of energy transfer towards higher trophic levels.https://www.mdpi.com/2079-7737/11/6/841marine heat wavessedimentary organic matterbiopolymeric CC degradationecosystem functioning |
| spellingShingle | Santina Soru Patrizia Stipcich Giulia Ceccherelli Claudia Ennas Davide Moccia Antonio Pusceddu Effects of Field Simulated Marine Heatwaves on Sedimentary Organic Matter Quantity, Biochemical Composition, and Degradation Rates Biology marine heat waves sedimentary organic matter biopolymeric C C degradation ecosystem functioning |
| title | Effects of Field Simulated Marine Heatwaves on Sedimentary Organic Matter Quantity, Biochemical Composition, and Degradation Rates |
| title_full | Effects of Field Simulated Marine Heatwaves on Sedimentary Organic Matter Quantity, Biochemical Composition, and Degradation Rates |
| title_fullStr | Effects of Field Simulated Marine Heatwaves on Sedimentary Organic Matter Quantity, Biochemical Composition, and Degradation Rates |
| title_full_unstemmed | Effects of Field Simulated Marine Heatwaves on Sedimentary Organic Matter Quantity, Biochemical Composition, and Degradation Rates |
| title_short | Effects of Field Simulated Marine Heatwaves on Sedimentary Organic Matter Quantity, Biochemical Composition, and Degradation Rates |
| title_sort | effects of field simulated marine heatwaves on sedimentary organic matter quantity biochemical composition and degradation rates |
| topic | marine heat waves sedimentary organic matter biopolymeric C C degradation ecosystem functioning |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2079-7737/11/6/841 |
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