Ecological and Experimental Studies on Sedimentary Infauna with Particular Reference to Sediment Stability, the Physical and Chemical Properties of Sediments and Bioturbation

Hariri, Mohammed Saleh Bakor (1990) Ecological and Experimental Studies on Sedimentary Infauna with Particular Reference to Sediment Stability, the Physical and Chemical Properties of Sediments and Bioturbation. PhD thesis, University of Glasgow.

Abstract

The present work has been carried out between 1983 and 1990, mainly to measure animal populations and physical and chemical properties of sediment. The work was also conducted to study the effect of infaunal invertebrates on physical and chemical properties of sediment, and using a quantitative approach to assess the bioturbation caused by burrowing animals. A survey has been carried out in the period between 1984 and 1985 to study animal populations in and physical and chemical properties of sediment of the low tide area of Ardmore Point, Clyde Estuary, Scotland. Abundance of meiofauna has been estimated using a technique involving extraction of meiofauna from preserved sediment. Nematodes gave the highest abundance, followed by copepods and ostracods. Abundance and biomass of macrofauna animals have been estimated. Six species were found. Some physical properties have been estimated. Shear strength generally increased with increasing depth. The type of sediment was quite permeable, particle size in the range of medium and fine sand was generally well sorted. Redox potential (Eh) generally decreased with depth, pH slightly decreased with depth, salinity increased in summer and decreased in winter, and organic carbon was low. Laboratory experiments have been carried out to measure the effect of two infaunal polychaetes on physical and chemical properties of sediment. Pygospio elegans was found to increase the shear strength and permeability of sediment and the redox potential of the sediment surface. Fabricia sabella was found to increase shear strength and redox potential of sediment surface, and to increase permeability at high density. In these experiments, a significant mortality occurred at the high population density of P. elegans, and at medium and high population densities of F. sabella. A new quantitative approach has been conducted to assess the bioturbation caused by burrowing animals. Statistical analyses have been measured using a computer program, and the differences between these statistical analyses have been described and discussed.

• Item Type: Thesis (PhD)
• Qualification Level: Doctoral
• Keywords: Ecology, Sedimentary geology, Geobiology
• Date of Award: 1990
• Depositing User: Enlighten Team
• Unique ID: glathesis:1990-78091
• Copyright: Copyright of this thesis is held by the author.
• Date Deposited: 28 Feb 2020 12:09
• Last Modified: 28 Feb 2020 12:09
• URI: https://theses.gla.ac.uk/id/eprint/78091