Coastal marine megaripple fields are metabolic hotspots with highly dynamic oxygen exchange
Abstract Megaripples are current‐generated seafloor bedforms of well‐sorted sand or gravel and wavelengths over 1 m. In this aquatic eddy covariance study, we measured large rates of benthic primary production and respiration for a shallow‐water sandy megaripple field exposed to strong tidally drive...
| Main Authors: | , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Wiley
2023-12-01
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| Series: | Limnology and Oceanography Letters |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1002/lol2.10345 |
| _version_ | 1797630924330893312 |
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| author | Peter Berg Markus Huettel |
| author_facet | Peter Berg Markus Huettel |
| author_sort | Peter Berg |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Megaripples are current‐generated seafloor bedforms of well‐sorted sand or gravel and wavelengths over 1 m. In this aquatic eddy covariance study, we measured large rates of benthic primary production and respiration for a shallow‐water sandy megaripple field exposed to strong tidally driven currents and intense sunlight. Current and light were the main short‐term drivers of a highly dynamic oxygen exchange. Daytime oxygen release as high as 300 mmol m−2 d−1 and nighttime oxygen uptake up to −100 mmol m−2 d−1 were likely sustained by current‐driven transport of oxygen, nutrients, and organic matter (fuel) into and out of the sand and superimposed by rapid internal cycling. Seasonal differences in temperature (45%) and light (69%) between April and September were the main long‐term drivers of substantially greater rates of gross primary production and respiration in September. The megaripples functioned as an intense metabolic hotspot with carbon cycling rates larger than those of most near‐shore sediments. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T11:13:45Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-afa13ed124014e1681b218d0cbbcc67a |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2378-2242 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T11:13:45Z |
| publishDate | 2023-12-01 |
| publisher | Wiley |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Limnology and Oceanography Letters |
| spelling | doaj.art-afa13ed124014e1681b218d0cbbcc67a2023-11-11T07:40:16ZengWileyLimnology and Oceanography Letters2378-22422023-12-018686787510.1002/lol2.10345Coastal marine megaripple fields are metabolic hotspots with highly dynamic oxygen exchangePeter Berg0Markus Huettel1Department of Environmental Sciences University of Virginia Charlottesville Virginia USADepartment of Earth Ocean and Atmospheric Science, Florida State University Tallahassee USAAbstract Megaripples are current‐generated seafloor bedforms of well‐sorted sand or gravel and wavelengths over 1 m. In this aquatic eddy covariance study, we measured large rates of benthic primary production and respiration for a shallow‐water sandy megaripple field exposed to strong tidally driven currents and intense sunlight. Current and light were the main short‐term drivers of a highly dynamic oxygen exchange. Daytime oxygen release as high as 300 mmol m−2 d−1 and nighttime oxygen uptake up to −100 mmol m−2 d−1 were likely sustained by current‐driven transport of oxygen, nutrients, and organic matter (fuel) into and out of the sand and superimposed by rapid internal cycling. Seasonal differences in temperature (45%) and light (69%) between April and September were the main long‐term drivers of substantially greater rates of gross primary production and respiration in September. The megaripples functioned as an intense metabolic hotspot with carbon cycling rates larger than those of most near‐shore sediments.https://doi.org/10.1002/lol2.10345 |
| spellingShingle | Peter Berg Markus Huettel Coastal marine megaripple fields are metabolic hotspots with highly dynamic oxygen exchange Limnology and Oceanography Letters |
| title | Coastal marine megaripple fields are metabolic hotspots with highly dynamic oxygen exchange |
| title_full | Coastal marine megaripple fields are metabolic hotspots with highly dynamic oxygen exchange |
| title_fullStr | Coastal marine megaripple fields are metabolic hotspots with highly dynamic oxygen exchange |
| title_full_unstemmed | Coastal marine megaripple fields are metabolic hotspots with highly dynamic oxygen exchange |
| title_short | Coastal marine megaripple fields are metabolic hotspots with highly dynamic oxygen exchange |
| title_sort | coastal marine megaripple fields are metabolic hotspots with highly dynamic oxygen exchange |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1002/lol2.10345 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT peterberg coastalmarinemegaripplefieldsaremetabolichotspotswithhighlydynamicoxygenexchange AT markushuettel coastalmarinemegaripplefieldsaremetabolichotspotswithhighlydynamicoxygenexchange |