Carbon and nitrogen exchange between sandy beach clams (Donax serra) and kelp beds in the Benguela coastal upwelling region |
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Authors: | A G Soares T A Schlacher A McLachlan |
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Institution: | (1) Zoology Department and Institute for Coastal Research, University of Port Elizabeth, Port Elizabeth, P.O. Box 1600, Port Elizabeth 6000, Republic of South Africa, ZA |
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Abstract: | Carbon consumption and nitrogen requirements were estimated for populations of the sandy beach bivalve Donax serra on nine beaches of the west coast of South Africa. Subtidal populations composed mainly of adult clams were responsible for
the bulk of standing stock (3538 g C m−1), annual carbon consumption (13 444 g C m−1 yr−1), faeces production (6478 g C m−1 yr−1 ) and nitrogen regeneration (2525 g N m−1 yr−1). Kelp detritus, bacteria and kelp consumers' faeces available in the water column surpass several times the carbon and nitrogen
requirements of intertidal and subtidal clam populations. Individual Donax serra pop ulations, in turn, may regenerate up to 3.2% of the total nitrogen requirements of all primary producers from kelp beds
and 14% of the requirements of phytoplankton. These high standing stocks of clams are presumably supported mainly by organic
matter originating from kelp which, in contrast to phytoplankton, is in constant supply and comprises the largest proportion
of the annual production of particulate organic matter on this coast. Wide and shallow continental shelves with gentle slopes
probably limit the penetration of upwelled waters to the nearshore waters, decreasing the influence of external inputs and
increasing the importance of internal flows of nutrients and carbon within the nearshore zone. In this context, sandy beaches,
rocky shores and kelp beds may be more closely interlinked compartments of a larger ecosystem encompassing the whole nearshore
than traditionally thought.
Received: 28 August 1996 / Accepted: 7 October 1996 |
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