Dynamics of microphytobenthos photosynthetic activity along a depth transect in the sandy northeastern Gulf of Mexico shelf
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Dynamics of microphytobenthos photosynthetic activity along a depth transect in the sandy northeastern Gulf of Mexico shelf

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  • Journal Title:
    Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science
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  • Description:
    The temporal and spatial dynamics of microphytobenthos activity in sandy shelf sediments are poorly understood, which limits assessments of the role of the benthic production in the coastal carbon cycle. The goal of this two-year time series study in the northeastern Gulf of Mexico therefore was to determine how benthic primary production rates in the West Florida Shelf change over the seasons and water depth. The study took place in the Big Bend region of Florida and used three stations along a transect starting at 5 m water depth and ending 29 km offshore, at 18 m water depth. Multisensor YSI 6600 probes installed at each station recorded key environmental parameters at the seafloor. Sediment cores, collected by SCUBA divers from each of the 3 stations at near-monthly intervals over a two-year time period were incubated in the laboratory for production and consumption rate measurements. Incubation of the cores at 200 μE m−2 s−1 allowed comparison of potential productivity between stations and seasons. Community light response curves, produced from sediment incubations at different light intensities, were used to calculate benthic productivity for measured in-situ light levels. The benthic production rates calculated from the core incubations and those calculated using the community light response curves agreed within a factor of three. Average sediment gross primary production rates based on in-situ light intensities ranged from 48 ± 60 mg C m−2 d−1 at 5 m and 81 ± 104 mg C m−2 d−1 at 10 m, to 13 ± 18 mg C m−2 d−1 at 18 m water depth. The corresponding average sediment consumption rates were −62 ± 36, −50 ± 55, and −29 ± 46 mg C m−2 d−1 at 5, 10 and 18 m water depth respectively. On average, production and consumption in the benthic system were found to be balanced, and the nearshore Stations A and B may temporarily turn net autotrophic during periods of high light intensity at the bottom. Our results suggest that the benthic production in this region may contribute up to 50% to the shelf primary production.
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    Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science, 212: 273-285
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    Accepted Manuscript
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    CHORUS
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