Project record of Food, oxygen and bioturbation: an experimental study of meiofauna community structure

Information

Type
Project
Name
Food, oxygen and bioturbation: an experimental study of meiofauna community structure
Name @nl
Voedsel, zuurstof en bioturbatie: een experimentele studie van de structuur van meiofaunagemeenschappen
Description @en
Problem definition: Overall it seems that meiofaunal taxa are more resistant to hypoxia than macrofauna and megafauna. Under natural conditions, severe oxygen depletion may be one major cause of elimination of macrofauna taxa, but whether that will negatively impact the meiofauna, by inducing more reduced redox conditions of the sediment, or have a positive effect due to decreased predation remains an open question. In view of the role of meiofauna as potential indicators of such events, it is of paramount importance to better understand the interaction between macrofauna, oxygen availability and their effect on the meiofauna communities. Objectives: In this project we are examining role of the food, oxygen conditions and macrofauna as structuring agents for meiofauna biodiversity patterns. This will increase the value of meiofauna as potential indicators of particular environmental conditions. We will manipulate sediments experimentally, varying (1) oxygen concentrations of the overlying water, (2) sediment organic loading and (3) activity of macrofauna. Planning 2003: Field sampling in the Westerschelde Estuary and continuation of laboratory experiments.
Parent project
Vlaams - Nederlandse samenwerking op het gebied van zeewetenschappen
Start date
2002-3
End date
2006-8

Institutes & people involved

Vincx Magda
associated with: Université de Nice Sophia Antipolis
Moens Tom
associated with: Université de Nice Sophia Antipolis
Ysebaert Tom
associated with: Koninklijk Nederlands Instituut voor Onderzoek der Zee; NIOZ Yerseke
Soetaert Karline
associated with: Koninklijk Nederlands Instituut voor Onderzoek der Zee; NIOZ Yerseke
Herman Peter
associated with: Koninklijk Nederlands Instituut voor Onderzoek der Zee; NIOZ Yerseke
Boschker Eric
associated with: Koninklijk Nederlands Instituut voor Onderzoek der Zee; NIOZ Yerseke
Middelburg Jack
associated with: Koninklijk Nederlands Instituut voor Onderzoek der Zee; NIOZ Yerseke
van Ijzerloo Lennart Paul
associated with: Koninklijk Nederlands Instituut voor Onderzoek der Zee; NIOZ Yerseke
Moodley Leon
associated with: Koninklijk Nederlands Instituut voor Onderzoek der Zee; NIOZ Yerseke
Vlaamse overheid; Beleidsdomein Economie, Wetenschap en Innovatie; Fonds voor Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek - Vlaanderen
role: Sponsor
Nederlandse Organisatie voor Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek
role: Sponsor

Expertise

Bioturbation
defined term set: ASFA Thesaurus List
term code: 1028
Community composition
defined term set: ASFA Thesaurus List
term code: 1730
Meiofauna
defined term set: ASFA Thesaurus List
term code: 5104
geographic terms
ANE, Netherlands, Westerschelde

special collections

ENCORA
ENCORA: BENCORE
Marine Biodiversity and Ecosystem Functioning
NIOO-CEME collection
ScheldeMonitor

record metadata

date created: 2003-11-26
date modified: 2009-07-10