Abstract
Two major types of interactions between benthic fauna and submarine slides are addressed in this paper: (1) the contribution of biological activity to slope instability and (2) the biological consequences of submarine slope failure. Through the processes of bioturbation and bioerosion, benthic fauna can substantially alter the physical properties of their substrata. Activities that lead to structural weakening of both sediment and outcrop are: consistent reworking of sediment preventing consolidation; excavation of sediment and semi-consolidated clay resulting in the net transport of material downslope; boring of outcrops causing decrease of rock mass; and attachment to outcrops resulting in increased drag force and gravitational pull on their surfaces. Along the continental margins located off both the east and west coasts of the U.S., the activity of benthic fauna appears to play a major role in contemporary submarine erosion.
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© 1982 Plenum Press, New York
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Hecker, B. (1982). Possible Benthic Fauna and Slope Instability Relationships. In: Saxov, S., Nieuwenhuis, J.K. (eds) Marine Slides and Other Mass Movements. NATO Conference Series, vol 6. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4613-3362-3_20
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4613-3362-3_20
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