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Changes in Ecosystem Function Across Sedimentary Gradients in Estuaries

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Abstract

The input of terrestrial silt and clay (hereafter mud) into coastal environments can alter sediment grain size distribution affecting the structure and functioning of benthic communities. The relationship between sediment mud content and macrofaunal community structure has been well documented, but not the effects on ecosystem function. In 143 plots from the mid-intertidal sites in 9 estuaries, we measured sediment properties, macrofaunal community composition and fluxes of O2 and NH4 + across the sediment–water interface to derive process-based measures of ecosystem function across the sand–mud gradient. We observed reductions in measures of macrofaunal diversity and decreases in the maximum density of key bioturbating bivalves (Austrovenus stutchburyi and Macomona liliana) with increased mud content. Concurrently, the maximum rates of sediment oxygen consumption (SOC), NH4 + efflux (NH4 +) and biomass standardized gross primary production (GPPChl-a ) also decreased with increasing mud content. Environmental predictors explained 34–39% (P = 0.005–0.01) of the total variation in ecosystem function in distance-based linear models. After partitioning out the effect of mud, A. stutchburyi abundance was positively correlated and explained 25 and 23% (P = 0.0001) of the variation of SOC and NH4 +, respectively. Also, mud content (negatively correlated) and temperature (positively correlated) explained 26% of variability in GPPChl-a (P = 0.0001). Our results highlight the importance of increased mud content and the associated reduction in the abundance of strongly interacting key species on the loss of ecosystem function in intertidal sand flats.

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Acknowledgments

We thank Dudley Bell, Clarisse Niemand, Rebecca Gladstone-Gallagher, Dorothea Kohlmeier and numerous NIWA staff for their help with the fieldwork and Barry Greenfield, Sarah Hailes, Bruce Patty and Kerry Allen who assisted with sample processing. We also thank Hannah Jones, Hazel Needham, Konrad Gorski and two anonymous reviewers for their useful comments. This research was funded by NIWA under Coasts and Oceans Research Programme 3 (2012/13 SCI) and progenitor programs, and a NIWA PhD scholarship to DRP (Foundation for Research, Science and Technology (FRST) Project No. C01X0501).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biological Sciences, University of Waikato, Private Bag, 3105, Hamilton, New Zealand

    Daniel R. Pratt & Conrad A. Pilditch

  2. National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research, P.O. Box 11-115, Hamilton, New Zealand

    Daniel R. Pratt, Andrew M. Lohrer & Simon F. Thrush

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  1. Daniel R. Pratt
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Correspondence to Daniel R. Pratt.

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Daniel R. Pratt, Andrew M. Lohrer, Conrad A. Pilditch and Simon F. Thrush conceived the study; Daniel R. Pratt, Andrew M. Lohrer, Conrad A. Pilditch performed the research and analyzed the data; Daniel R. Pratt, Andrew M. Lohrer, Conrad A. Pilditch and Simon F. Thrush wrote the paper.

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Pratt, D.R., Lohrer, A.M., Pilditch, C.A. et al. Changes in Ecosystem Function Across Sedimentary Gradients in Estuaries. Ecosystems 17, 182–194 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10021-013-9716-6

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