Latitudinal variations in biomass and metabolism of benthic infaunal communities /
Bacteria, meiofauna and macrofauna abundance and Microfilm Inc.biomass, along with total community respiration, were measured in sediments at 58 stations in six locations along a latitudinal gradient in the northern hemisphere: Greenland; Newfoundland, Canada; Texas, Louisiana, Mexico, and, Hondura...
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| Format: | Thesis Book |
| Language: | English |
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[Place of publication not identified] :
[publisher not identified] ;
1998.
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| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://proxy.library.tamu.edu/login?url=http://proquest.umi.com/pqdweb?did=733039101&sid=1&Fmt=2&clientId=2945&RQT=309&VName=PQD |
| Summary: | Bacteria, meiofauna and macrofauna abundance and Microfilm Inc.biomass, along with total community respiration, were measured in sediments at 58 stations in six locations along a latitudinal gradient in the northern hemisphere: Greenland; Newfoundland, Canada; Texas, Louisiana, Mexico, and, Honduras. The mean total benthic biomass from all sites was []. The highest the lowest tool biomass was found in Conception Bay, Nfld. [], whereas the lowest depths []. At the low-temperature stations the biomass was high relative to low metabolic activities, giving biomass turnover times that were very long, while the opposite relationship characterized the sub-tropical environments at low latitudes. Mass-specific relationships were applied to the biomass values to estimate total respiration as well as partition infernal metabolism among the size groups. This estimate matched tool oxygen consumption measured with benthic clambers when sulfate reducers were included at enriched sites. The biomass and respiration data were used to develop steady sate models of carbon cycling within each area. On the basis of the models, the areas were then divided into three categories'. ''bacteria-dominated'' communities, ''macro/meiofauna'' dominated communities, and ''balanced'' communities. It is hypothesized that the differences observed are related to the differing paths followed by organic matter cycling into and through each type of sediment food web. |
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| Item Description: | Vita. "Major Subject: Oceanography". |
| Physical Description: | xvii, 140 leaves : illustrations ; 28 cm. |
| Bibliography: | Includes bibliographical references (leaves 128-139). |