Articles | Volume 19, issue 10
https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-19-2583-2022
© Author(s) 2022. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-19-2583-2022
© Author(s) 2022. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Research article
| 
20 May 2022
Research article |
| 20 May 2022
| 20 May 2022
Trawling effects on biogeochemical processes are mediated by fauna in high-energy biogenic-reef-inhabited coastal sediments
Department of Estuarine and Delta Systems, Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research (NIOZ) and Utrecht University, P.O. Box 140, 4400
AC, Yerseke, the Netherlands
Marine Biology Section, Department of Biology, Ghent University,
Krijgslaan 281/S8, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
Jochen Depestele
Fisheries Research Group, Research Institute for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (ILVO),
Ankerstraat 1, 8400 Oostende, Belgium
Gert Van Hoey
Marine Biology Section, Department of Biology, Ghent University,
Krijgslaan 281/S8, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
Fisheries Research Group, Research Institute for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (ILVO),
Ankerstraat 1, 8400 Oostende, Belgium
João Fernandes
Instituto Politécnico de Leiria, CETEMARES, Avenida do Porto de
Pesca 30, 2520-620 Peniche, Portugal
Incubadora de Empresas da Figueira da Foz, Lab. MAREFOZ, R.
Acácias lote 40A, 3090-380 Figueira da Foz, Portugal
Pieter van Rijswijk
Department of Estuarine and Delta Systems, Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research (NIOZ) and Utrecht University, P.O. Box 140, 4400
AC, Yerseke, the Netherlands
Karline Soetaert
Department of Estuarine and Delta Systems, Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research (NIOZ) and Utrecht University, P.O. Box 140, 4400
AC, Yerseke, the Netherlands
Marine Biology Section, Department of Biology, Ghent University,
Krijgslaan 281/S8, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
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Short summary
This study gives an assessment of bottom trawling on physical, chemical, and biological characteristics in a location known for its strong currents and variable habitats. Although trawl gears only removed the top 1 cm of the seabed surface, impacts on reef-building tubeworms significantly decreased carbon and nutrient cycling. Lighter trawls slightly reduced the impact on fauna and nutrients. Tubeworms were strongly linked to biogeochemical and faunal aspects before but not after trawling.
This study gives an assessment of bottom trawling on physical, chemical, and biological...
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