Pathways of organic matter degradation in marine coastal sediments: implications to ecosystem functioning

• Grant number: 12/06121-1
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral
• Start date: July 01, 2012
• End date: March 31, 2015
• Field of knowledge: Physical Sciences and Mathematics - Oceanography - Biological Oceanography
• Principal Investigator: Paulo Yukio Gomes Sumida
• Grantee: Cintia Organo Quintana
• Host Institution: Instituto Oceanográfico (IO). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

The main mechanisms that regulate organic matter (OM) mineralization in marine sediments include distribution and concentration of electron acceptors, quantity and quality of OM and bioturbation of benthic macrofauna. Degradation processes that occur in the sediment play a key role on coastal ecosystem functioning, for example to return nutrients to the water, to establish benthic-pelagic coupling, to stimulate pelagic and benthic primary production and to yield energy flux. Very little is known about the biogeochemical processes involved in the OM degradation and total rates of carbon and nitrogen mineralization in sediments of Brazilian coast. It is thus important to understand the mechanisms regulating the OM degradation, since these processes are vital to ecosystem functioning. The main goal of this project is to investigate the OM degradation pathways in several sediments types of Ubatuba coastal area, Sao Paulo and the major factors altering these processes, such as the participation of different electron acceptors and benthic fauna assimilation and stimulation. Laboratory experiments will apply the latest methods and analysis to study the project goal. Fluxes of O2, CO2, dissolved organic carbon and nutrients in the sediment-water interface will be measured in cores maintained in laboratory conditions similar to in situ. The same solutes will be quantified in the porewater to calculate the amount of compounds produced, accumulated in sediments and exported to the water column. Oxic and reduced conditions in the sediment will be accessed by microelectrodes of O2 and redox. In another experimental set-up, enriched microalgae (13C), will be added to the sediment surface of cores to access the amount of organic matter assimilated by fauna and bacteria. The isotope analysis of 13C in the animal tissues at the end of the experiment will reveal the amount of OM consumed by fauna, while the 13C isotope analysis in bacterial lipid biomarkers will reveal bacterial incorporation. The chemical and isotope analysis will be done in collaboration with Institute of Biology, University of Southern Denmark and Netherlands Institute of Marine Ecology. We expect to find high reactivity and mineralization rates in sandy sediments, since the oxic layer should be broader and degradation via O2 is more efficient. Fauna participation should vary according to sediment type and the structure of benthic community.

Scientific publications

(6)

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

THOMSON, ALEXANDRA C. G.; KRISTENSEN, ERIK; VALDEMARSEN, THOMAS; QUINTANA, CINTIA O.. Short-term fate of seagrass and macroalgal detritus in Arenicola marina bioturbated sediments. MARINE ECOLOGY-PROGRESS SERIES, v. 639, p. 21-35, APR 2 2020. (12/06121-1)

QUINTANA, CINTIA O.; DE MORAES, PAULA C.; YOSHINAGA, MARCOS Y.; WAKEHAM, STUART G.; SUMIDA, PAULO Y. G.. Microbial biomass response to different quantities and sources of organic matter in Brazilian coastal sediments. MARINE ECOLOGY-AN EVOLUTIONARY PERSPECTIVE, v. 36, n. 3, p. 766-779, SEP 2015. (12/06121-1)

QUINTANA, CINTIA O.; SHIMABUKURO, MAURCIO; PEREIRA, CAMILA O.; ALVES, BETINA G. R.; MORAES, PAULA C.; VALDEMARSEN, THOMAS; KRISTENSEN, ERIK; SUMIDA, PAULO Y. G.. Carbon mineralization pathways and bioturbation in coastal Brazilian sediments. SCIENTIFIC REPORTS, v. 5, NOV 3 2015. (12/06121-1)

VALDEMARSEN, T.; QUINTANA, C. O.; FLINDT, M. R.; KRISTENSEN, E.. Organic N and P in eutrophic fjord sediments - rates of mineralization and consequences for internal nutrient loading. BIOGEOSCIENCES, v. 12, n. 6, p. 1765-1779, 2015. (12/06121-1)

QUINTANA, CINTIA O.; RAYMOND, CAROLINE; NASCIMENTO, FRANCISCO J. A.; BONAGLIA, STEFANO; FORSTER, STEFAN; GUNNARSSON, JONAS S.; KRISTENSEN, ERIK. Functional Performance of Three Invasive Marenzelleria Species Under Contrasting Ecological Conditions Within the Baltic Sea. ESTUARIES AND COASTS, v. 41, n. 6, p. 1766-1781, SEP 2018. (12/06121-1)

QUINTANA, CINTIA O.; BERNARDINO, ANGELO F.; DE MORAES, PAULA C.; VALDEMARSEN, THOMAS; SUMIDA, PAULO Y. G.. Effects of coastal upwelling on the structure of macrofaunal communities in SE Brazil. JOURNAL OF MARINE SYSTEMS, v. 143, p. 120-129, MAR 2015. (12/06121-1)