Trophic role of large benthic sulfur bacteria in mangrove sediment

Marine Ecology Progress Series

Henricus T. S. Boschker¹  Pierre-Yves Pascal¹  Olivier Gros¹  Stanislas Dubois¹ 

关键词: Beggiatoa;    Mangrove;    Benthic food web;    Sulfur bacteria;    Meiofauna;    Nematode ;    Rotifers;    Stable isotope;   

DOI  :  10.3354/meps11035

学科分类：海洋学与技术

来源: Inter-Research

【 摘 要 】

ABSTRACT: Large filamentous sulfur-oxidizing bacteria belonging to the Beggiatoacae family can cover large portions of shallow marine sediments surrounding mangroves in Guadeloupe (French West Indies). In order to assess the importance of Beggiatoa mats as an infaunal food source, observations were conducted of the area within mats and at increasing distances from mats. We used natural isotopic compositions and a ¹³C enrichment study. Both revealed an ingestion of bacterial mats by associated meiofauna, dominated by rotifers and to a smaller extent by small polychaetes and nematodes. Compared to adjacent sites, sediment covered by bacterial mats presented a higher abundance of diatoms, whereas the total biomass of bacteria did not vary. This constant bacterial abundance suggests that the proportion of organic matter represented by sulfur bacteria is limited compared to the fraction of total bacteria. There was no significant difference in infaunal abundance in mats, suggesting that the availability of this chemosynthetic food resource had a limited local effect. Grazers presented a δ¹³C value increasing with distance from the mat. However, isotopic composition of phospholipid-derived fatty acids specific for diatoms and bacteria revealed that this change is related to modifications of δ¹³C dietary components rather than to changes in diet composition. These complementary methods revealed that the occurrence of sulfur-oxidizing bacterial mats does not necessarily affect grazer abundance and importance of bacteria in their diet. Despite its wide occurrence, Beggiatoa mats would consequently have a minor influence on the structure of the mangrove food web.

【 授权许可】

Unknown