Benthic macrofauna in a shallow water carbonate sediment: major bioturbators at the Dry Tortugas

Abstract

 Functional group analysis was used to determine the major bioturbators in the Dry Tortugas, Florida Keys. The surface community is dominated by surface deposit feeding polychaetes and burrowing bivalves capable of mixing the top 0–4 cm of the sediment on time scales of days to weeks. Bioturbation by the Notomastus sp. and Callianassa sp. deep community effectively removes primary sedimentary structures. Their fossilized burrow structures may be geologically important in this system. Surface microtopography is controlled by stabilizing and destabilizing forces that determine the potential for surface resuspension and sediment transport in the Dry Tortugas.