Laurenz Thomsen

Distribution, composition and flux of particulate material over the European margin at 47°–50°N

In the framework of the Ocean Margin Exchange project, a multi-disciplinary study has been conducted at the shelf edge and slope of the Goban Spur in order to determine the spatial distribution, quantity and quality of particle flux, and delineate the transport mechanisms of the major organic and inorganic components. We present here a synthesis view of the major transport modes of both biogenic and lithogenic material being delivered to the open slope of the Goban Spur. We attempt to differentiate between the direct biogenic flux from the surface mixed layer and the advective component, both biogenic and lithogenic. Long-term moorings, instrumented with sediment traps, current meters and transmissometers have yielded samples and near-continuous recordings of hydrographic variables (current direction and speed, temperature and salinity) and light transmission for a period of 2.5 years. Numerous stations have been occupied for CTD casts with light transmission and collection of water samples. The sedimenting material has been analysed for a variety of marker compounds including phytoplankton pigments, isotopic, biomineral and trace metal composition and microscopical analyses. These samples are augmented by seasonal information on the distribution and composition of fine particles and marine snow in the water column. The slope shows well-developed bottom nepheloid layers always present and intermediate nepheloid layers intermittently present. Concentrations are mainly in the range 50–130 mg m−3 in nepheloid layers and 6–25 mg m−3 in clear water. A seasonal variability in the concentration at the clear water minimum is argued to be related to seasonal variations in vertical flux and aggregate break-up in transit during summer months. It is suggested that the winter sink for this seasonal change in particulate matter involves some re-aggregation and scavenging, and some conversion of particulate to dissolved organic matter. This may provide a slow seasonal pump of dissolved organic carbon to the deep ocean interior. Differences in trapped quantities at different water depths are interpreted as due to lateral flux from the continental margin. There is a major lateral input between 600 and 1050 m at an inner station and between 600 and 1440 m at an outer one. The transport is thought to be related to intermediate nepheloid layers, but those measured are too dilute to be able to supply the flux. Observed bottom nepheloid layers are highly concentrated very close to the bed (up to 5 g m−3), with a population of large aggregates. Some of these are capable of delivering the flux seen offshore during intermittent detachment of nepheloid layers into mid-water. Concentrated bottom nepheloid layers are also able to deliver large particles with unstable phytoplankton pigments to the deep sea floor in a few tens of days. Calculated CaCO3 fluxes are adjusted for dissolution, which is inferred from Ca/Al ratios to be occurring in the CaCO3-saturated upper water column where up to 80% of the CaCO3 resulting from primary production is dissolved.

The role of the benthic biota in sedimentary metabolism and sediment-water exchange processes in the Goban Spur area (NE Atlantic)

We provide an overview of the role of biological processes in the Benthic boundary layer (BBL) and in sediments on the cycling of particulate organic material in the Goban Spur area (Northeast Atlantic). The benthic fauna, sediment and BBL characteristics were studied along a transect ranging from 208 to 4460 m water depth in different seasons over 3 years. Near-bottom flow velocities are high at the upper part of the slope (1000–1500 m), and high numbers of filter-feeding taxa are found there such that organic carbon normally passing this area during high flow conditions is probably trapped, accumulated, and/or remineralised by the fauna. Overall metabolism in shelf and upper slope sediments is dominated by the macrofauna. More than half of the organic matter flux is respired by macrofauna, with a lower contribution of metazoan meiofauna (4%) and anoxic and suboxic bacterial mineralisation (21%); the remainder (23%) being channelled through nanobiota and oxic bacteria. By its feeding activity and movement, the macrofauna intensely reworks the sediments on the shelf and upper slope. Mixing intensity of bulk sediment and of organic matter are of comparable magnitude. The benthos of the lower slope and abyssal depth is dominated by the microbiota, both in terms of total biomass (>90%) and carbon respiration (about 80%). The macrofauna (16%), meiofauna (4%) and megafauna (0.5%) only marginally contribute to total carbon respiration at depths below 1400 m. Because large animals have a lower share in total metabolism, mixing of organic matter within the sediments is reduced by a factor of 5, whereas mixing of bulk sediment is one to two orders of magnitude lower than on the shelf. The food quality of organic matter in the sediments in the shallowest part of the Goban Spur transect is significantly higher than in sediments in the deeper parts. The residence time of mineralisable carbon is about 120 d on the shelf and compares well with the residence time of the biota. In the deepest station, the mean residence time of mineralisable carbon is more than 3000 d, an order of magnitude higher than that of biotic biomass.

Spatial and temporal variability of particulate matter in the benthic boundary layer at the N.W. European Continental Margin (Goban Spur)

Abstract Near bottom water samples and sediments were taken during five cruises to 6 stations forming a transect across the N.W. European Continental Margin at Goban Spur. Flow velocity spot measurements in the benthic boundary layer (BBL) always increased from the shelf to the upper slope (1470 m) from 5 to 9 cm s−1 in spring/summer and from 15 to 37 cm s−1 in autumn/winter. Decreasing values were detected at the lower slope (2000 m) and the lowest values of ca. 2 cm s−1 at the continental rise at 4500 m water depth. Long term measurements with a benthic lander at 1470 m show that currents have a tidal component and reach maximum velocities up to 20 cm s−1, sufficiently high periodically to resuspend and transport phytodetritus. During these long-term observations, currents were always weaker in spring/summer than in autumn/winter. Critical shear velocities of shelf/slope sediments increased with depth from 0.5 to 1.7 cm s−1 and major resuspension events and Intermediate Nepheloid Layers (INLs) should occur around 1000 m. Chloroplastic Pigment Equivalents (CPE) ranged from 0.0 to 0.21 μg dm−3, Particulate Organic Carbon (POC) from 12 to 141 μg dm−3 and Total Particulate Matter (TPM) from 0.2 to 10.0 mg dm−3. Aggregates in the BBL occurred with a median diameter of 152 to 468 μm. Data on suspended particulate matter in the near-bottom waters showed that hydrodynamic sorting within the particulate organic fraction occurred. Phytodetritus was packaged in relatively large aggregates and contributed little to the total organic carbon pool in nearbottom waters (CPE/POC ca.0.2%). The main organic fraction has low settling velocities and high residence times within the benthic boundary layer. As POC was not concentrated in the near bed region the degree to which carbon is accessible to the benthic community depends on aggregate formation, subsequent settling and/or biodeposition of the POC. Close to the sea bed downslope transport may dominate. Under flow conditions high enough to resuspend fresh phythodetritus from sediments at the productive shelf edge, this could be transported to 1500 m (Goban Spur) or abyssal depth (Canyon site between Meriadzek and Goban Spur) within 21 days.

Feeding types of the benthic community and particle transport across the slope of the N.W. European Continental Margin (Goban Spur)

Densities and biomass of feeding guilds of benthic foraminifera, macrofauna and megafauna were estimated at seven stations ranging from 208 m to 4460 m water depth along the OMEX-transect at the continental margin of the Goban Spur N.E. Atlantic. At the same stations flow velocities in the Bottom Boundary Layer (BBL) were measured at 30 cm height above the bottom. Overall densities of all three faunal groups decreased with increasing water depth, but a peak in density and biomass of suspension-feeding taxa was observed in all groups at similar to 1000-1500 m water depth. At these depths the highest how velocities were measured in all seasons of the year. At station II at 1470 m flow velocities of similar to 35 cm s(-1) were measured during autumn/winter, but in spring/summer flow velocities did not exceed 10 cm s(-1), but were still highest at this station. At this station a very high biomass of suspension feeders was found within the megafauna (mainly sponges), high densities of Astrorhizid foraminifera and high densities of hydrozoids, sponges and tunicates within the macrofauna. At all other stations deposit feeders predominate and much lower flow velocities occurred. It was concluded that a high load of (re)suspended material at similar to 1470 m water depth provide good feeding conditions for suspension feeders and hence that flow velocities are important in structuring the benthic community. These high numbers of suspension feeders, on the other hand, actively capture particles that would otherwise have been transported past this highly energetic region and the relative high numbers of surface- and interface-feeding infauna then bury them in the sediment. Feeding and tube structures seen on the sediment surface can locally change the flow velocities and cause resuspension and passive biodeposition of particles. [KEYWORDS: Seabight northeast atlantic; area ne atlantic; deep-sea floor; boundary-layer; vertical-distribution; seasonal deposition; sediment transport; particulate matter; foraminifera; phytodetritus]

Recent sediments, sediment accumulation and carbon burial at Goban Spur, N.W. European Continental Margin (47–50°N)

To quantify recent sediment accumulation, carbon fluxes and cycling, three N.W. European Continental Margin transects on Goban Spur and Meriadzek Terrace were extensively studied by repeated box- and multicore sampling of bottom sediments. The recent sediment distribution and characteristics appear directly related to the near-bed hydrodynamic regime on the margin, which at the upper slope break on the Goban Spur results in along-slope and periodic off-slope directed transport of particles, possibly by entrainment of particles in a detached bottom or intermediate nepheloid layer. From the shelf to the abyssal plain the surface sediments on the Goban Spur change from terrigenous sandy shelf sediments into clayey silts. 210Pb activity decreases exponentially down core, reaching a stable background value at 10 cm (shallower stations) to 5 cm (deeper stations) sediment depth. 210Pb profiles of repeatedly sampled stations indicate negligible annual variability of mixing and flux. The 210Pbxs flux to the sediment shows a decreasing trend with increasing water depth. Below about 2000 m the average 210Pbxs flux is about 0.3 dpm cm−2 y−1, a third of the fluxes measured on the shelf and upper slope stations. Sediment mixing rates (Db) correlate with macro- and meiofaunal density changes and are within the normal oceanic ranges. Lower mixing rates on the lower slope likely reflect lower organic carbon fluxes there. Mass accumulation rates on Meriadzek Terrace are at maximum 80 g m−2 y−1, almost twice as high as at Goban Spur stations of comparable depth. A minimum accumulation rate of 16.6 g m−2 y−1 is found at the Goban Spur upper slope break. Organic carbon burial rates are low compared to other margins and range from a lowest value of 0.05 g m−2 y−1 at the upper slope break to 0.11 g m−2 y−1 downslope. A maximum organic carbon burial rate of 0.41 g m−2 y−1 is found on Meriadzek Terrace. Carbonate burial rates increase along the northern transect from the shelf (13 g m−2 y−1) via a low (9.3 g m−2 y−1) on the upper slope break to the deep sea (30.7 g m−2 y−1). Carbonate burial is highest on Meriadzek Terrace (44.5 g m−2 y−1). The N.W. European Margin at Goban Spur and Meriadzek Terrace cannot be considered a major carbon depocenter.

An instrument for sampling water from the benthic boundary layer

The BIOPROBE system, an instrumented tripod is described. It collects water samples and time-series data on physical and geological parameters within the benthic boundary layer in the deep sea at a maximum depth of 4000 m. For biogeochemical studies, four water samples of 15 1 each can be collected between 5 and 60 cm above the sea-floor. BIOPROBE contains three thermistor flow meters, three temperature sensors, a transmissiometer, a compass with current direction indicator and a bottom camera system. During R.V. Meteor Cruise 17 in July 1991, BIOPROBE was successfully used on the continental slope of the western Barents Sea at a depth of 1370 m. Analyses of dissolved and particulate matter in layers of 10, 15, 25 and 40 cm above the sea-floor showed strong vertical gradients.

Processes in the benthic boundary layer at continental margins and their implication for the benthic carbon cycle

Abstract Processes in the benthic boundary layer (BBL) at different continental margins are described and the importance of lateral advection, particle aggregation, biodeposition and the resuspension loops within the BBL are discussed. New methods of BBL research are demonstrated and a possible solution is given to the benthic carbon budget problem (i.e. benthic carbon demand versus vertical carbon flux) for continental margins in relation to the understanding of soft-bottom ecosystems.

Benthic dynamics and carbon fluxes on the NW European continental margin

Across the Goban Spur on the NW European continental margin, laterally directed, intermittent, off-slope transport of particulate matter takes place by intermediate and bottom nepheloid layers (BNLs). These are generated by semidiurnal tidal currents, which on the upper slope reach maximum near-bed speeds of up to 20 cm s−1, and which are directed predominantly off-slope (during 15–20% of the tidal cycle). BNLs are semi-permanently present, increasing in thickness above the seabed in downslope direction but decreasing in particle density. Near-bed currents measured on the upper slope are stronger in autumn than during summer, and both long- and short-term records suggest interannual variability. Aggregate formation in the benthic boundary layer (BBL) is considered the dominant process controlling particle accumulation. The organic fraction has low settling velocities and high residence times within the BBL. The flux of lithogenic material into the sediment on Goban Spur decreases from >44 g m−2 a−1 on the shelf edge to 6.9 and 4.9 g m−2 a−1 on the upper slope, then increases to a maximum of 19.1 g m−2 a−1 on the continental rise. CaCO3 flux increases with depth from about 13 g m−2 a−1 on the shelf edge to a maximum of 30.7 g m−2 a−1 on the continental rise, with minima on the upper slope. Flux values at comparable depths on Meriadzek Terrace are considerably higher. Mineralization of organic carbon on Goban Spur, representing more than 97.7% of the deposition flux, decreases with depth from 19.13 g C m−2 a−1 on the shelf edge, to 4.39 g C m−2 a−1 on the continental rise, and 1.10 g C m−2 a−1 on Porcupine Abyssal Plain. Organic carbon burial fluxes range between 0.05 and >0.16 gC m−2 a−1 on Goban Spur, and up to 0.41 gC m−2 a−1 on Meriadzek Terrace. Over 90% of the organic carbon mineralization at the sediment–water interface and directly below the seabed is driven by oxygen, as shown by pore water modelling and in situ oxygen measurements. Denitrification is of only minor (<5%) importance for the organic carbon mineralization; anoxic mineralization plays a (minor) role on shallow stations. Inventories and fluxes of 210Pbxs in surface sediments on Goban Spur indicate that the slope below 1500 m receives only about half of the amount of relatively young sedimentary material compared to the upper slope and shelf. Yet total sediment fluxes increase from the upper slope downward, indicating a significant contribution of reworked sediment in lower-slope sediments. 210Pb-derived mixing coefficients correlate with macro- and meiofaunal density and biomass, decreasing with increasing depth downslope. Fluxes of lithogenic material, CaCO3 and 210Pbxs on the lower slope agree reasonably well with fluxes recorded in deep-water sediment traps, suggesting that the bulk of the sediment may be supplied via vertical settling through midwater depth. Benthic fluxes of organic carbon, however, are three times higher than deep-water trap fluxes, emphasizing the importance of lateral transport of organic matter over the slope. At present, the NW European continental margin at Goban Spur is not a major carbon depocenter.

Tolerance to long-term exposure of suspended benthic sediments and drill cuttings in the cold-water coral Lophelia pertusa

The cold-water coral Lophelia pertusa was exposed to suspended particles (<63 μm) for 12 weeks. Skeletal growth was significantly lower under exposure concentrations of ∼25 mg l⁻¹ than ∼5 mg l⁻¹ and there was a trend of lower growth rates when exposed to water-based drill cuttings than to natural benthic sediment. Polyp extension was less in corals exposed to higher material concentrations, which provides a possible explanation for observed skeletal growth differences between particle concentrations. Particle exposure had no significant impact on respiration or proportions of tissue and fatty acids in corals. The volume of additional cleaning mucus released by exposed corals was low and release did not significantly affect coral energy expenditure. Our results indicate that L. pertusa polyps can deal comparatively well with enhanced particle deposition rates and suspended matter concentrations. However, a small pilot experiment indicated that coral larvae might be particularly vulnerable to high particle concentrations.

Spatial distribution of particle composition and microbial activity in benthic boundary layer (BBL) of the Northeast Water Polynya

Heterotrophic activity and related measures of pelagic microorganisms were studied in the Northeast Water Polynya, (NEWP 77–82°N, 10–15°W) in 1993 during a FS Polarstern cruise. A bottom water sampler (BWS), which enabled collection of distinct 12 1 water samples at variable heights above the seabed, was used to study the distribution of various biological parameters with high vertical resolution in the benthic boundary layer (BBL). Samples were taken in the water column from varying depths in the intermediate water column (IWC) down to 5 m above bottom using a CTD as well as at 40, 20, 12 and 7 cm above the sea bed using the bottom water sampler. Total suspended matter, particulate organic carbon and nitrogen (POC, PON), chlorophyll a equivalents (chl. a equiv.), bacterial abundance and size distribution and microbial activity were determined in each of the samples. Most of the deep samples (IWC and BBL, maximum water depth 479 m) came from warmer Atlantic influenced water that fills a circular trough system on the northeast Greenland shelf. In general the activity of the microbial community, cell-specific activity and concentrations of POC and chl. a equiv. were significantly higher in the BBL compared to the IWC. Microbial activity appeared to be independent of the quantity of available POC, indicating the nutritional importance of dissolved organic matter for microorganisms. The spatial distribution of particle composition and microbial activity in the BBL was strongly determined by the anticyclonic current pattern and the spatial pattern of primary production in the polynya. Close coupling of biological processes in the surface waters and particle composition and microbial activity in the BBL were found below areas of fluctuating ice cover and above 260 m water depth in the northeastern Westwind Trough. Highest microbial activity occurred in the heavily ice covered Belgica Trough, although only remnants of freshly produced organic matter were present. In the open polynya near-bottom particle properties were mainly determined by lateral advection. The benthic boundary layer is shown to represent a distinct environment, with small scale vertical distribution of particle properties and stimulated microbial activity, indicating that rapid modification of organic matter occurs in the BBL before its final incorporation into the sediment.