A wide range of physical anthropogenic processes (e.g. bottom trawling, dredging) frequently disturb many coastal sediments, which cause resuspension of sediment derived organic matter into the overlaying water column. However, the potential impacts of this resuspension on the standing stocks and degradation pathways of organic matter remains to be determined. In this presentation, we will discuss results from an experiment designed to test whether reoccurring physical disturbance of sediments affect the organic matter pool in coastal waters. Our results demonstrate that reoccurring disturbance indeed affect not only the standing stocks, but also the degradation pathways of the sediment derived organic matter. These results are therefore not only of importance for understanding carbon and nutrient cycles, but also for guiding potential conservation efforts aiming at reducing human impacts on coastal waters.

Primary Presenter: Christian Lønborg, Aarhus University (c.lonborg@ecos.au.dk)

Authors:

Simon David Herzog, Department of Science and Environment, Roskilde University, Denmark  (sherzog@ruc.dk)

Signe Høgslund, Department of Ecoscience, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark  (sigh@ecos.au.dk)