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Bioturbation

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Encyclopedia of Modern Coral Reefs

Part of the book series: Encyclopedia of Earth Sciences Series ((EESS))

Definition and introduction

Bioturbation refers to particle mixing within unconsolidated sediments through the activities of biological organisms, most commonly at, or close to, the water-sediment interface. The implications of this process go far beyond simply mixing the substrate as sediment particle preservation, food availability, and geochemical composition within the substrate are all affected. Bioturbation activity can also increase the size of the effective sediment-water interface contributing to enhanced chemical fluxes between the sediment and the water column. Some organisms enhance chemical exchange by flushing their burrows with the overlying waters, a process termed bioirrigation (Aller, 1977). Others, mainly macroinfauna (e.g., annelid worms – polychaetes), feed at depth and eject particles at the sediment-water interface (“conveyor-belt feeders”; Rhoads, 1974). The effective or total bioturbation in reefal environments largely depends on the kinds of organisms present...

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, James Cook University, Townsville, 4811, QLD, Australia

    Raphael A. J. Wust

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  1. Raphael A. J. Wust
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. James Cook University, Townsville, Australia

    David Hopley

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Wust, R.A.J. (2011). Bioturbation. In: Hopley, D. (eds) Encyclopedia of Modern Coral Reefs. Encyclopedia of Earth Sciences Series. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-90-481-2639-2_49

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