Mineralization of particulate organic matter derived from coral-reef organisms in reef sediments of the Gulf of Aqaba
Mohammed Rasheed
Christian Wild
Carin Jantzen
Mohammed Badran
Abstract
In situ and laboratory incubation experiments in a fringing reef in the Gulf of Aqaba were performed to study degradation rates of particulate organic matter in reef sediments. Coral mucus, clam eggs, and zooxanthellae were used as model particulate organic compounds for these experiments. Aerobic and anaerobic mineralization rates were calculated by dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC) and O2 fluxes from the sediments under different particulate organic matter additions. Fast enhancement (approximately twofold) of O2 and DIC fluxes were found with the addition of coral mucus and clam eggs compared with control incubations without addition. Most of the degradation is believed to have occurred anaerobically rather than aerobically (DIC:O2 ratios were 4.3–28.1). Higher degradation rates of coral mucus and clam eggs were estimated in carbonate sediment than in silicate sediment (1.2–1.6-fold), which was attributed to the different physical and chemical properties of both sediments. Our study shows the significance of the reef sediment as a suitable site for microbial degradation of particulate organic material excreted from different reef community organisms. This may increase the regeneration of nutrients in the reef environment necessary to sustain high biological productivity.
Rasheed M., Wild C., Jantzen C. and Badran M. (2006) Mineralization of particulate organic matter derived from coral-reef organisms in reef sediments of the Gulf of Aqaba. Chemistry and Ecology 22(1): 13-20. 10.1080/02757540500456823
@article{Rasheed2006,
Title = {Mineralization of particulate organic matter derived from coral-reef organisms in reef sediments of the Gulf of Aqaba},
Author = {Rasheed, Mohammed and Wild, Christian and Jantzen, Carin and Badran, Mohammed},
Editor = {},
Journal = {Chemistry and Ecology},
Year = {2006},
Pages = {13-20},
Volume = {22},
Doi = {10.1080/02757540500456823},
Abstract = {In situ and laboratory incubation experiments in a fringing reef in the Gulf of Aqaba were performed to study degradation rates of particulate organic matter in reef sediments. Coral mucus, clam eggs, and zooxanthellae were used as model particulate organic compounds for these experiments. Aerobic and anaerobic mineralization rates were calculated by dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC) and O2 fluxes from the sediments under different particulate organic matter additions. Fast enhancement (approximately twofold) of O2 and DIC fluxes were found with the addition of coral mucus and clam eggs compared with control incubations without addition. Most of the degradation is believed to have occurred anaerobically rather than aerobically (DIC:O2 ratios were 4.3–28.1). Higher degradation rates of coral mucus and clam eggs were estimated in carbonate sediment than in silicate sediment (1.2–1.6-fold), which was attributed to the different physical and chemical properties of both sediments. Our study shows the significance of the reef sediment as a suitable site for microbial degradation of particulate organic material excreted from different reef community organisms. This may increase the regeneration of nutrients in the reef environment necessary to sustain high biological productivity.},
}
TY - JOUR
AU - Rasheed, Mohammed
AU - Wild, Christian
AU - Jantzen, Carin
AU - Badran, Mohammed
TI - Mineralization of particulate organic matter derived from coral-reef organisms in reef sediments of the Gulf of Aqaba
T2 - Chemistry and Ecology
PY - 2006
SP - 13-20
VL - 22
DO - 10.1080/02757540500456823
AB - In situ and laboratory incubation experiments in a fringing reef in the Gulf of Aqaba were performed to study degradation rates of particulate organic matter in reef sediments. Coral mucus, clam eggs, and zooxanthellae were used as model particulate organic compounds for these experiments. Aerobic and anaerobic mineralization rates were calculated by dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC) and O2 fluxes from the sediments under different particulate organic matter additions. Fast enhancement (approximately twofold) of O2 and DIC fluxes were found with the addition of coral mucus and clam eggs compared with control incubations without addition. Most of the degradation is believed to have occurred anaerobically rather than aerobically (DIC:O2 ratios were 4.3–28.1). Higher degradation rates of coral mucus and clam eggs were estimated in carbonate sediment than in silicate sediment (1.2–1.6-fold), which was attributed to the different physical and chemical properties of both sediments. Our study shows the significance of the reef sediment as a suitable site for microbial degradation of particulate organic material excreted from different reef community organisms. This may increase the regeneration of nutrients in the reef environment necessary to sustain high biological productivity.
ER -
