Abstract
In situ measurements of community respiration were made at two stations in Castle Harbor, Bermuda, during April and May, 1971. Total community respiration was 20.67 and 19.11 ml O2 m-2 h-1 at Stations 1 and 2, respectively, in April. In May, respiration increased with water temperature to 26.99 and 24.56 ml O2 m-2 h-1. Significant differences (P<0.05) existed between stations and sampling periods. Bacterial respiration was estimated from sediment treatment with streptomycin-SO4. Values ranged from 7.71 to 8.72 ml O2 m-2 h-1 in April and May, respectively. No significant difference existed between sampling periods or stations. No detectable chemical O2 demand of the sediment, determined by a formalin treatment, was found. Total community respiration was further compartmentalized into macrofaunal, meiofaunal, and microfaunal-microfloral components. Both the macrofaunal and meiofaunal respiration was negligible compared to that estimated for the microfaunal-microfloral component.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
Literature cited
Chave, K. E, H. L. Sanders, R. R. Hessler and A. C. Neumann: Animal sediment interrelationships on the Bermuda slope and in the adjacent deep-sea, 36 pp. Unpublished ONR Report Nonr- 1135(02), Bermuda Biol. Stn 1962.
Coull, B. C.: Shallow water meiobenthos of the Bermuda Platform, 189 pp. Ph. D. Thesis Lehigh Univ. 1968.
— and W. B. Vernberg: Harpacticoid copepod respiration: Enhydrosoma propinquum and Longipedia helgolandica. Mar. Biol. 5, 341–344 (1970).
Cviic, V.: The bactericidal and bacteriostatical action of antibiotics on marine bacteria. Acta adriat. 5, 137–163 (1953).
Green, E. J. and D. E. Carritt: New tables for oxygen saturation of sea water. J. mar. Res. 25, 140–147 (1967).
Hargrave, B. T.: Epibenthic algal production and community respiration in the sediments of Marion Lake. J. Fish. Res. Bd Can. 26, 2003–2026 (1969).
Kanwisher, J.: Polarographic oxygen electrode. Limnol. Oceanogr. 4, 210–217 (1959).
Marshall, S. M. and A. P. Orr: Some uses of antibiotics in physiological experiments in sea water. J. mar. Res. 17, 341–346 (1955).
Meadows, P. S. and J. G. Anderson: Micro-organisms attached to marine sand grains. J. mar. Biol. Ass. U.K. 48, 161–176 (1968).
Pamatmat, M. M.: Ecology and metabolism of a benthic community on an intertidal sand flat. Int. Revue ges. Hydrobiol. 53, 211–298 (1968).
Smith, K. L., Jr.: Structural and functional aspects of a sublittoral community. Ph. D. Thesis, 170 pp. Univ. Georgia 1971.
Suess, E.: Calcium carbonate interaction with organic compounds. Ph. D. Thesis, 153 pp. Lehigh Univ. 1968.
Treadwell, A. L.: Polychaetous annelids from the vicinity of Non Such Island, Bermuda. Zoologica, N.Y. 21, 49–68 (1936).
Verrill, A. E.: Additions to the fauna of the Bermudas from the Yale expedition of 1901, with notes on other species. Trans. Conn. Acad. Arts Sci. 11, 15–62 (1901).
Webster, H. E.: Annelida from Bermuda collected by G. Brown Good. Part. 7. Bull. U.S. nats. Mus. 25, 305–327 (1884).
Wieser, W. and J. Kanwisher: Ecological and physical studies on marine nematodes from a small salt marsh near Woods Hole, Mass. Limnol. Oceanogr. 4, 181–194 (1961).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
Communicated by J. Bunt, Miami
Contribution No. 2708 from the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, and Contribution No. 552 from the Bermuda Biology Station. This study was supported in part by National Science Foundation Grants GZ 1508 and GB 16161.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Smith, K.L., Burns, K.A. & Teal, J.M. In situ respiration of benthic communities in Castle Harbor, Bermuda. Marine Biology 12, 196–199 (1972). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00346766
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00346766