The role of microphytobenthos in soft-sediment ecological networks and their contribution to the delivery of multiple ecosystem services
Abstract
1. Sediment dwelling, microscopic primary producers, that occupy sediments in the photic zone, are commonly referred to as microphytobenthos (MPB). The MPB are essential components of soft‐sediment systems, but are often overlooked when assessing coastal ecosystem functionality and service delivery. 2. The MPB are involved in several complex interactions and feedback that underpin the delivery of vital ecosystem services. MPB profoundly influence the flow and cycling of carbon and nutrients, such as nitrogen, directly and indirectly underpinning highly productive shallow water marine food webs. The MPB can also stabilize sediments through the formation of biofilms, and significantly improve water quality by mediating the benthic–pelagic coupling of nutrients, sediment and pollutants. 3.The functional role of the MPB is compromised by increasing anthropogenic pressures such as nutrient enrichment, sedimentation, herbicides and emerging contaminants such as microplastic pollution. However, MPB are extremely good at buffering the effects of these land‐sourced stressors at the interface between land and sea. 4. Synthesis. Society often appreciates the final provisioning of goods and services from our coastal marine environments. However, provisioning services are only possible due to the multitude of supporting and regulating services that underpin them. Microphytobenthos (MPB) are central to benthic ecological networks, and contribute to ecosystem service delivery through various pathways. Understanding the critical role of MPB in complex networks is therefore essential to appreciate their importance in ecosystem function and service delivery into the future.
Citation
Hope , J A , Paterson , D M & Thrush , S F 2019 , ' The role of microphytobenthos in soft-sediment ecological networks and their contribution to the delivery of multiple ecosystem services ' , Journal of Ecology , vol. Early View . https://doi.org/10.1111/1365-2745.13322
Publication
Journal of Ecology
Status
Peer reviewed
ISSN
0022-0477Type
Journal article
Rights
Copyright © 2019 The Authors. Journal of Ecology © 2019 British Ecological Society. This work has been made available online in accordance with publisher policies or with permission. Permission for further reuse of this content should be sought from the publisher or the rights holder. This is the author created accepted manuscript following peer review and may differ slightly from the final published version. The final published version of this work is available at https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1111/1365-2745.13322
Description
JAH received funding from The Oceans of Change Project. DMP received funding from the MASTS pooling initiative (The Marine Alliance for Science and Technology for Scotland) and their support is gratefully acknowledged. MASTS is funded by the Scottish Funding Council (grant reference HR09011) and contributing institutions".Collections
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