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The Influence of Benthic Macrofauna on the Erodibility of Intertidal Sediments with Varying mud Content in Three New Zealand Estuaries

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Abstract

Fine sediment inputs can alter estuarine ecosystem structure and function. However, natural variations in the processes that regulate sediment transport make it difficult to predict their fate. In this study, sediments were sampled at different times (2011–2012) from 45 points across intertidal sandflat transects in three New Zealand estuaries (Whitford, Whangamata, and Kawhia) encompassing a wide range in mud (≤63 μm) content (0–56 %) and macrofaunal community structure. Using a core-based erosion measurement device (EROMES), we calculated three distinct measures of sediment erosion potential: erosion threshold (Ʈ c ; N m−2), erosion rate (ER; g m−2 s−1), and change in erosion rate with increasing bed shear stress (m e ; g N−1 s−1). Collectively, these measures characterized surface (Ʈ c and ER) and sub-surface (m e ) erosion. Benthic macrofauna were grouped by functional traits (size and motility) and data pooled across estuaries to determine relationships between abiotic (mud content, mean grain size) and biotic (benthic macrofauna, microbial biomass) variables and erosion measures. Results indicated that small bioturbating macrofauna (predominantly freely motile species <5 mm in size) destabilized surface sediments, explaining 23 % of the variation in Ʈ c (p ≤ 0.01) and 59 % of the variation in ER (p ≤ 0.01). Alternatively, mud content and mean grain size cumulatively explained 61 % of the variation in m e (p ≤ 0.01), where increasing mud and grain size stabilized sub-surface sediments. These results highlight that the importance of biotic and abiotic predictors vary with erosion stage and that functional group classifications are a useful way to determine the impact of benthic macrofauna on sediment erodibility across communities with different species composition.

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Acknowledgments

We would like to thank Clarisse Niemand, Rebecca Gladstone-Gallagher, Daniel Pratt, Lisa McCartain, and Laura Haines for their aid in sample collection and Rolf Riethmüller for his support in constructing the EROMES device. We would also like to acknowledge the two anonymous reviewers for the constructive comments that have improved this manuscript. This research was funded by the University of Waikato International Doctoral Scholarship awarded to Rachel J. Harris as part of INTERCOAST, a joint research program between the Universities of Waikato and Bremen.

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  1. School of Science, University of Waikato, Private Bag, Hamilton, 3105, New Zealand

    Rachel J. Harris, Conrad A. Pilditch & Vicki Moon

  2. National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research Ltd. (NIWA), PO Box 11115, Hamilton, New Zealand

    Barry L. Greenfield

  3. Department for Marine Research, Senckenberg am Meer, Südstrand 40, 26382, Wilhelmshaven, Germany

    Ingrid Kröncke

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  1. Rachel J. Harris
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Correspondence to Rachel J. Harris.

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Communicated by Judy Grassle

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Harris, R.J., Pilditch, C.A., Greenfield, B.L. et al. The Influence of Benthic Macrofauna on the Erodibility of Intertidal Sediments with Varying mud Content in Three New Zealand Estuaries. Estuaries and Coasts 39, 815–828 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12237-015-0036-2

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