Topic
Lugworm
About: Lugworm is a research topic. Over the lifetime, 155 publications have been published within this topic receiving 3261 citations. The topic is also known as: lug worm & sandworm.
Papers published on a yearly basis
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Papers
TL;DR: In this paper, a large-scale exclusion field experiment was conducted in the Wadden Sea to investigate the effect of the lugworm Arenicola marina on sediment degradation. And the authors concluded that A. marina contributes to the maintenance of permeable sand and thereby sustaining suitable conditions for the lugworms population itself.
Abstract: Sediment destabilization by sediment-reworking organisms is common in coastal aquatic environments, but the potential of bioturbation to inhibit shoreline succession has not been suggested previously. The lugworm Arenicola marina is a widespread and dominant large burrower at European Atlantic shores, and a major source of bioturbation and bioirrigation on the extensive intertidal flats in the Wadden Sea (eastern North Sea). The hypothesis that lugworm activities inhibit the successive development from sandy to muddy sediments in depositional embayments has been tested by a large-scale exclusion field experiment. Changes in sediment properties indicate a progressive clogging of interstices with fine particles and organic matter, resulting in lower sediment permeability in exclusion areas compared to lugworm inhabited control areas. Chlorophyll content in the surface layer was consistently higher in the absence of lugworms. Lack of sub-surface irrigation in the absence of lugworms combined with reduced sediment permeability resulted in increased concentrations of ammonium, phosphate, silicate, and sulphide in the pore-water. Concentrations >100 mM of sulphide gave rise to toxic conditions for macrofauna. The effects of lugworms on sediment characteristics were more conspicuous in fine than in medium sand. It is concluded that A. marina contributes to the maintenance of permeable sand and thereby sustaining suitable conditions for the lugworm population itself. Without this ‘‘ecosystem engineer’’ mud flats would greatly expand at the expense of sand flats in the Wadden Sea. 2007 Published by Elsevier Ltd.
217 citations
TL;DR: The spatial relationship of interstitial metazoans to sources of oxygen has been studied on a tidal flat in the Wadden Sea near Sylt and it is found that a specific meiofauna confined to oxygen-deficient horizons of the sediment does not exist.
Abstract: The spatial relationship of interstitial metazoans to sources of oxygen has been studied on a tidal flat in the Wadden Sea near Sylt (eastern part of the North Sea). Consistently, meiofauna remains in close proximity to oxygenated layers or pocket areas within the sediment. This is exemplified by the pattern of meiofaunal abundance and species composition alongside oxic burrows of the lugworm Arenicola marina L. A specific meiofauna confined to oxygen-deficient horizons of the sediment does not exist.
145 citations
TL;DR: In this article, a large-scale experimental exclusion of lugworms (Arenicola marina) from 400 m2 intertidal fine sand revealed significant effects of their bioturbation and bioirrigation on sediment characteristics, benthic infauna composition, and the dominant mineralization and Benthic-pelagic exchange processes in the sediment.
Abstract: Large-scale experimental exclusion of lugworms (Arenicola marina) from 400 m2 intertidal fine sand revealed significant effects of their bioturbation and bioirrigation on sediment characteristics, benthic infauna composition, and the dominant mineralization and benthic–pelagic exchange processes in the sediment. Absence of lugworms resulted in sediment clogging with organic-rich fine particles, an eightfold decrease in sediment permeability, low oxygen penetration depths, and accumulation of reduced mineralization products in the pore water. The sand flat inhabited by lugworms had low fine-particle and chlorophyll contents and low sulfide and nutrient concentrations in the pore water. The effects were not limited to the vicinity of lugworm burrows but extended throughout the entire sediment down to ,20-cm depth. Sediments with the lugworm shared the characteristic of low-organic, advection-driven permeable sand rather than of muddy, diffusion-dominated sediments in the absence of lugworms. Areal oxygen uptake rates depended strongly on hydrodynamic conditions: under calm conditions, sedimentary oxygen uptake was slightly higher at the exclusion site. Experimental flushing using controlled hydrodynamic conditions showed that oxygen uptake at the lugworm site would be higher during more dynamic conditions (e.g., storms) due to significantly deeper oxygen penetration permitted by higher sediment permeability. Our results indicate an interactive effect of bioturbating organisms and hydrodynamics on water–sediment exchange processes and highlight the importance of benthic infauna for sedimentary processes even in physically dominated systems.
141 citations
TL;DR: After an initial decline during some years of low recruitment, total population of adults was found to be stable and population stability will have been enhanced by a long lifespan and an inverse relationship between adult density and rate of recruitment.
127 citations
TL;DR: Findings emphasize the important role of A. marina for nutrient release from Wadden Sea sediments and the enlarged zone of nitrification promotes denitrification and thereby, nitrogen release from sediments.
Abstract: Bioturbation by the lugworm Arenicola marina L. caused specific changes in porewater nutrient profiles of sandflat sediments. In 2 in situ container expenments, A, manna increased nitrate and decreased ammonia concentrations at the depth ot its burrows. This indicates that A . marina stimulates nitrification in this sediment layer through oxygen supply via its ventilation current. The enlarged zone of nitrification promotes denitrification and thereby, nitrogen release from sediments. Silicate concentrations in the porewater were also affected by A. marina bioturbation. Silicate was flushed out of the sediment with the ventilation current. These findings emphasize the important role of A. marina for nutrient release from Wadden Sea sediments
106 citations
Related Topics (5)
Performance Metrics
| Year | Papers |
|---|---|
| 2021 | 1 |
| 2020 | 1 |
| 2019 | 2 |
| 2018 | 2 |
| 2017 | 1 |
| 2016 | 5 |