Tolerance of benthic macrofauna to hypoxia and anoxia in shallow coastal seas: a realistic scenario

Author(s)
Bettina Riedel, Martin Zuschin, Michael Stachowitsch
Abstract

Oxygen depletion can lead to the collapse of benthic ecosystems, i.e. to dead zones, and large-scale biodiversity loss. Based on mortality and survival, we evaluated ranges of sensitivity and tolerance to hypoxia levels, duration of anoxia and H2S exposure across taxa and key life habits. Experiments were conducted on a sublittoral soft-bottom under realistic in situ conditions in a community setting featuring both a well-developed epi- and infauna. Overall, 495 individuals representing 40 species were examined over almost 1000 h (using time-lapse camera and sensor arrays). Mortality started at dissolved oxygen (DO) concentrations

Organisation(s)
Department of Palaeontology
Journal
Marine Ecology Progress Series
Volume
458
Pages
39-52
No. of pages
14
ISSN
0171-8630
DOI
https://doi.org/10.3354/meps09724
Publication date
2012
Peer reviewed
Yes
Austrian Fields of Science 2012
106001 General biology
Portal url
https://ucrisportal.univie.ac.at/en/publications/2f9d7b5f-8591-411f-bafb-a640c363e0f7