Benthic processes in the Arabian Sea: mechanistic relationships between benthos, sediment biogeochemistry and organic matter cycling

Updated 2002-09-11

1. To quantify benthic community parameters for all size classes of fauna across the Oxygen Minimum Zone (OMZ) 2. To make a detailed assessment across the OMZ of a) sediment accumulation, mixing and irrigation rates and depths and b) environmental factors acting as controls on faunal activity 3. To characterise solid phase and porewater geochemistry of sediments across the OMZ 4. To assess a) faunal digestive Organic Matter (OM) alteration, b) the relative importance of chemo- and photosynthetic food sources, and c) benthic food web structure, across the OMZ 5. To determine porewater profiles and benthic solute fluxes in situ, and to assess faunal OM assimilation and trophic relationships by monitoring tracers during shipboard and in situ incubations 6. To obtain high resolution porewater profiles of oxygen and other key analytes, free of pressure and other effects potentially introduced by core recovery 7. To determine in situ oxygen consumption rates and benthic fluxes 8. To use labelled tracers to assess mixing and irrigation rates, faunal OM assimilation, and size-selective ingestion and mixing 9.To determine sediment denitrification and sulfate reduction rates and their contributions to OM remineralisation

Time frame

Status
Ongoing
Project time span
2001 - 2004
Data collection
not specified
Data processing
not specified
Data reporting
not specified

Contact information

Contact person
Tracy Shimmield
Address
Scottish Association for Marine Science Dunstaffnage Marine Laboratory Oban Argyll PA37 1QA Scotland
Phone
01631 559000
Fax
01631 559001
Email
ku.ca.lmd@smt

Parameters and Media

Not specified

Geography

Regions studied
Dunstaffnage Marine Laboratory

Data availability

Samples/specimens archived in specimen banks?
No

Methods & Procedures

Not specified

Additional Information

Is this a bi- AND multi-lateral project (i.e. a project involving cooperation between different countries)?
No
Please log in to edit this record