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Three supervised machine learning (ML) classification algorithms: Support Vector Classifier (SVC), K- Nearest Neighbour (K-NN), and Linear Discriminant Analysis (LDA) classification algorithms are combined with seventy-six (76) data points of nine (9) core sample datasets retrieved from five (5) selected wells in oilfields of the Subei Basin to delineate bioturbation. Application of feature selection via p-score and f-scoring reduced the number of relevant features to 7 out of the 12 considered. Each classifier underwent model training and testing allocating 80% of the data for training and the remaining 20% for testing. Under the model training, optimization of hyperparameters of the SVC (C, Gamma and Kernel) and K-NN (K value) was performed via the grid search to understand the best form of the decision boundaries that provides optimal accuracy of prediction of Bioturbation. Results aided the selection of optimized SVC hyperparameters such as a linear kernel, C-1000 and Gamma parameter—0.10 that provided a training accuracy of 96.17%. The optimized KNN classifier was obtained based on the K = 5 nearest neighbour to obtain a training accuracy of 73.28%. The training accuracy of the LDA classifier was 67.36% which made it the worst-performing classifier in this work. Further cross-validation based on a fivefold stratification was performed on each classifier to ascertain model generalization and stability for the prediction of unseen test data. Results of the test performance of each classifier indicated that the SVC was the best predictor of the bioturbation index at 92.86% accuracy, followed by the K-NN model at 90.48%, and then the LDA classifier which gave the lowest test accuracy at 76.2%. The results of this work indicate that bioturbation can be predicted via ML methods which is a more efficient and effective means of rock characterization compared to conventional methods used in the oil and gas industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This field study examined how sediment macroinfauna change patterns of sediment oxygen demand (SOD) throughout a diel oxygen cycle. Sediments with a greater faunal presence would be expected to have greater overall SOD, and at night may alter their behavior and influence SOD depending on their response to low-oxygen stress. Dynamic faunal bioturbation or bioirrigation behavior would also result in corresponding variation in SOD values on short time scales. In situ flow-through benthic metabolism chambers were used to measure SOD at a high temporal resolution in discrete sediment patches. Sediments with more macroinfauna had greater average SOD over the diel cycle, consistent with previous studies. Where more macroinfauna were present, they drove greater SOD during nightly low oxygen, presumably by enhancing their burrowing and irrigation activities. SOD was also more variable on a sub-diel timescale in sediments with more macroinfauna. Sediment oxygen demand is dynamic and highly sensitive both temporally, on very short timescales, and spatially, in terms of resident fauna, and their interaction produces heretofore unaccounted complexity in patterns of SOD particularly in shallow coastal systems. Extrapolations of temporally and spatially limited SOD measurements to a system-wide scale that do not account for the short-term and spatially variable effects of fauna may produce imprecise and misleading estimates of this critical ecosystem function. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Burrow characteristics and bioturbation activities of benthic organisms play a key role in mangrove ecosystem biogeochemical and sedimentary functioning. In this study, we aimed to understand how small-scale topographic variations in a mud bank might influence burrow morphology and distribution in a French Guiana pioneer mangrove system (Sinnamary estuary), and to upscale spatial patterns using remote sensing. We used burrow resin casting and sediment conductivity measurements to depict subsurface 3D burrow structures. We found that the spatial heterogeneity of burrow sizes (small, medium, large) and morphologies (simple I- and J-shape, complex geometries) depended on the geomorphic units within mudflats (platform, channel, depression). The aperture areas of burrow casts were used to predict the volume and complexity of each burrow type, enabling us to use drone-derived burrow opening distribution maps to calculate burrow volumes and complexity at the mudflat scale. There are clear associations between tidal channels and depressions and voluminous, multi-aperture, complex and multi-species burrows. In contrast, simple I- and J-shaped burrows inhabited by single species were mainly found on platforms. These relationships lead to a comparatively large volume of tidal-irrigated and deeply aerated sediments connected to channels and depressions compared to platform areas. We suggest that, depending on their morphology and connectivity with the topography, burrows may exhibit differences in biogeochemical functioning depending on the geomorphic unit. We warn against generalizing the functioning of mangrove ecosystems across geomorphic units where impacts may differ. Further studies are needed to understand how different burrow morphologies and life cycles may alter hydrological, sedimentary and biogeochemical functioning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Intertidal environments are highly dynamic and exhibit both regular and periodic fluctuations in environmental parameters. The interplay of these parameters controls the distribution and abundance of infaunal organisms resulting in sporadic bioturbation distributions that are well‐documented but not fully understood. This study investigates topographic controls on infaunal distributions at East Beach in White Rock, British Columbia, Canada. East Beach is a sandy intertidal flat characterized by sand dunes that give rise to two alternating shore‐parallel subenvironments: topographically high dune crests and topographically low interdunes. The dunes remain relatively fixed in their position between major storm events, resulting in geographically stable subenvironments. Photogrammetric reconstructions of dune surfaces are used to characterize surface features and quantify invertebrate burrow openings along dune profiles. This is supplemented by X‐ray radiography and examinations of porewater and organic matter content from the two subenvironments. These results show a clear inverse relationship between burrow abundance and elevation at the dune scale, with the interdunes displaying significantly higher bioturbation intensities compared to dune crests. The burrow distributions appear to be strongly influenced by water saturation, presumably due to its role in controlling oxygen availability and preventing desiccation. This research provides insights into the local factors controlling infaunal distributions and the impact of palaeo‐topography on bioturbation, particularly in intertidal settings. Additionally, these data assist in interpreting heterogeneous bioturbation distributions in the sedimentary record, which are normally not interpreted due to a paucity of analogue models developed in modern environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Estuaries are dynamic ecosystems exposed to a wide range of stressors, including metal (loid) contamination. The assessment of the behavioral characteristics of the species inhabiting these ecosystems may provide a new point of view on chemical contamination since these behaviors generally regulate population dynamics and ecosystem stability. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the changes in behavioral patterns of three estuarine benthonic species (the native polychaete Hediste diversicolor, the non-native polychaete Arenicola marina, and the native clam Scrobicularia plana) when exposed to different concentrations of the metalloid arsenic (0, 0.5, 1.5, 4.5, 13.5, 40.5 mg/kg sediment). Behavioral assessment included bioturbation activity (measured by fluorescent particle remobilization) and determination of the maximum penetration depth by each species, both after 1 and 21 days of exposure. After 21 days of exposure, the ability of each species to burrow was evaluated. Results showed that the bioturbation activity of S. plana was immediately reduced by exposure to As (day 1) but disappeared with exposure time (day 21), whereas A. marina bioturbation activity was significantly increased from day 1 to day 21, expressing their highest values in sediments of 4.5, 13.5, and 40.5 mg of As/kg on day 21. For H. diversicolor, no changes were observed within each time or between the times. Results of the burrowing assay showed that A. marina nearly doubled its burrowing time, as well as increased in double its maximum penetration depth at As concentrations ≥1.5 mg/kg sediment. These results suggest that native species can be quite resilient to chemical contamination over time. However, the greater particle remobilization by the non-native species A. marina when exposed to As may cause displacement of the native fauna, disrupting the natural mutualism created in these environments, and possibly decreasing estuary functionality and biodiversity. Behavioral assessments under chemical exposure may improve the establishment of more feasible protection goals for more sustainable estuaries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Invasive zebra and quagga (dreissenid) mussels have disrupted nutrient cycling and benthic macrofauna communities in the Laurentian Great Lakes and other invaded ecosystems. Dreissenids are now the dominant benthic macroinvertebrate in the Great Lakes, replacing the formerly dominant native bioturbating amphipod Diporeia spp. Dreissenids and Diporeia interact with their environment in fundamentally different ways, and the consequences of this functional shift in benthic community structure on benthic–pelagic coupling are not well understood, particularly in unproductive offshore lake regions.To determine how functional biology and benthic community structure impact sediment mixing and biogeochemistry in low particulate organic matter (POM) lake regions, we conducted a 6‐week sediment microcosm experiment with dreissenids, Diporeia and oligochaete worms—the second most common Great Lakes benthic macroinvertebrate.We found that sediment mixing rate and depth varied significantly among the taxa. Diporeia mixed sediment the deepest and strongest, followed by oligochaetes, while dreissenids did not appreciably mix sediment. Despite these differences, we found no significant variations among treatments in sediment oxygen penetration depth, sediment respiration (oxygen uptake) or nutrient dynamics.Our results suggest that dreissenids mix sediment less than native Great Lakes taxa, but that differential mixing rates may not measurably affect nutrient and oxygen dynamics in low‐POM sediments. Therefore, mussel effects in these areas may be manifested more through direct mechanisms rather than via altered sediment geochemistry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bioturbation (sediment disturbance by animal actions) effects on nutrient cycling and nutrient levels in surface waters are difficult to quantify, in part because the diversity and magnitude of species‐specific influences are poorly understood. These influences may have consequences for the management of the trophic state of freshwater ecosystems. Fish cause bioturbation in freshwater and marine ecosystems by digging in benthic sediments, manipulating periphyton mats while searching for prey and scraping hard substrates while feeding. We used experimental enclosures (2.25 m2) to quantify bioturbation‐mediated phosphorus (P) and nitrogen (N) regeneration from sediment by three species of fish that differ in interactions with the benthos (largemouth bass, Micropterus salmoides; tilapia, Oreochromis spp.; and sailfin catfish, Pterogoplichthys spp.) in shallow eutrophic wetlands in Southern Florida. Tilapia are omnivores that include detritus in their diet (winnowing or ingesting sediments) and dig nests in soft sediments year round, sailfin catfish actively burrow into substrate and consume detritus (digging and ingesting sediments), and largemouth bass are piscivores that do not routinely interact with the benthos when feeding but may dig nests in soft sediment in spawning season (January–April). We quantified the amount of suspended flocculent organic matter and changes in water column nutrients (total phosphorus [TP] and total nitrogen [TN]) in 2‐week trials for each species and estimated the portion of nutrient increases relative to fishless controls that could be attributed to bioturbation‐mediated internal nutrient loading through suspension of organic matter (as opposed to excretion or other sources of nutrient loading). Water column nutrient concentrations increased with increasing biomass for all species, but the bioturbation contribution differed by species. Largemouth bass increased water column nutrient concentrations (TP: 86% and TN: 5% relative to controls) but did not influence water column suspended particulate matter through bioturbation of sediment. Tilapia increased water column nutrients a modest amount (TP: 8%; TN: 15%), of which a small portion was attributed to bioturbation (c. 18% of TP). Sailfin catfish raised water column nutrients substantially (TP: 105%; TN: 46%) and up to 100% of the increased TP was attributed to bioturbation. Sailfin catfish also suppressed algal growth and TP accumulation on the sides of the enclosures and reduced nutrient concentrations of the flocculent sediments. Our results were consistent with our hypothesis that behaviour and foraging traits affect bioturbation contributions to nutrient loading. The results also demonstrated that species with similar net effects like largemouth bass and sailfin catfish, added nutrients via different mechanisms (i.e. excretion vs. bioturbation). Considering the feeding strategies and interactions with the substrate of common fish species may assist managers in meeting nutrient reduction goals for eutrophic wetlands and managed freshwater systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Most organic carbon delivered to the seafloor is degraded within the bioturbated layer. Theory and empirical evidence have shown that organic carbon reactivity relates to the age of a particle. However, due to particle mixing, the age‐depth linear relation induced by sediment accretion is obfuscated. Here we combine a Lagrangian particle tracking model that resolves the age distribution of particles in the bioturbated zone and couple it to age‐dependent organic carbon degradation. Depth profiles for organic carbon concentration, reactivity and degradation rate are presented for sediments receiving low and high reactivity organic carbon in coastal, continental slope and deep‐sea environments. Our results show that a simple first‐order kinetics model suffices for well‐mixed sediments and systems receiving pre‐processed materials. A reactive continuum approach is needed for poorly mixed sediments receiving highly reactive organic carbon and for sediments below the bioturbated layer. Plain Language Summary: Animals inhabiting marine sediments mix particles and impact organic carbon degradation kinetics and degradation rates. Experiments and theory have shown that organic carbon reactivity declines as degradation progresses with time. However, most studies employ a constant reactivity. Here we couple an individual particle mixing model with age‐dependent reactivity and show that a constant reactivity model is adequate for well‐mixed sediments and for sediments receiving organic carbon that has already been degraded elsewhere. An age‐dependent reactivity model is needed for poorly mixed sediments receiving highly reactive organic carbon. Key Points: Age‐dependent organic carbon kinetics is coupled to a Lagrangian particle tracking modelOrganic carbon concentrations, reactivities and degradation rates in the bioturbated zone are presentedA simple first‐order (one‐G) model suffices for well‐mixed sediments and sediments receiving pre‐processed organic carbon [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Spatangoid heart urchins are dominant bioturbators in marine soft-sediment ecosystems worldwide. Their repeated sediment reworking prevents biogeochemical sediment stratification and colonization by other species, with implications for sedimentary reaction processes that affect the local sediment–seawater solute exchange. Here, we used a simple exclusion experiment to investigate how a subtidal Echinocardium cordatum population (18.2 ± 6.7 individuals m−2), foraging at an individual speed of ~45 cm per day affects the sediment–seawater solute exchange. To do so, we removed all heart urchins from eight one-meter-diameter areas of the 10-m deep seafloor of Man O'War Bay, Hauraki Gulf, New Zealand, and prevented recolonization and thus sediment reworking for 56 days. Subsequently, we measured the sediment–seawater exchange of O2, NO3–, NO2–, NH4+, and N2 both within and outside the exclusion areas, under light or dark conditions, and found no difference. The absence of a legacy effect of foraging E. cordatum after their removal suggests that, at least in this habitat, their influence on the sediment–seawater solute exchange may be limited to sediment being displaced in the immediate surrounding of the urchin. This unexpected result underlines the importance of evaluating the influence of bioturbators on the sediment–seawater solute exchange in the context of local environmental conditions, animal behavior, and population characteristics.

Abstract Climate change is known to affect the distribution and composition of species, but concomitant alterations to functionally important aspects of behaviour and species-environment relations are poorly constrained. Here, we examine the ecosystem ramifications of changes in sediment-dwelling invertebrate bioturbation behaviour—a key process mediating nutrient cycling—associated with near-future environmental conditions (+ 1.5 °C, 550 ppm [pCO2]) for species from polar regions experiencing rapid rates of climate change. We find that responses to warming and acidification vary between species and lead to a reduction in intra-specific variability in behavioural trait expression that adjusts the magnitude and direction of nutrient concentrations. Our analyses also indicate that species behaviour is not predetermined, but can be dependent on local variations in environmental history that set population capacities for phenotypic plasticity. We provide evidence that certain, but subtle, aspects of inter- and intra-specific variation in behavioural trait expression, rather than the presence or proportional representation of species per se, is an important and under-appreciated determinant of benthic biogeochemical responses to climate change. Such changes in species behaviour may act as an early warning for impending ecological transitions associated with progressive climate forcing.

ABSTRACT Recent excavations at the Middle Paleolithic site of Tinshemet Cave, Israel, showcase hominin burials and associated material culture that uniquely provide new information on hominin behavior in the south Levant around 120–100 ky ago. This study presents the site's stratigraphy in association with findings from sediment micromorphological analyses, shedding light on natural and anthropogenic site formation processes as well as human activities. Results indicate that two main types of sediment have been deposited—wood ash and reworked Terra Rossa soil—mixed to various degrees across the stratigraphic units. Hominin occupation started shortly after a partial roof collapse, intermittent with carnivore presence (Unit C). Hominin occupation increased and included the use of fire, flint knapping, cooking, and burial (Unit B), and increased even more (Unit A, Layer III) with more burials, intensive use of fire, cooking, knapping, trampling, and dumping. Anthropogenic sediments are largely cemented by secondary calcite that originates from recrystallized ash; however, intact hearths are absent due to syn‐ and postdepositional processes such as extensive bioturbation, cementation of the deposits, and trampling. Other postdepositional processes include fissuring and surface erosion. This study presents the importance of micromorphology to disentangle natural, anthropogenic, depositional, and postdepositional processes to better understand hominin behavior. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ecosystem engineers are organisms that modify their physical habitats in a way that alters resource availability and the structure of the communities they live in. The evolution of ecosystem engineers over the course of Earth history has thus been suggested to have been a driver of macroevolutionary and macroecological changes that are observed in the fossil record. However, the rise to dominance of ecosystem engineers has not been thoroughly reconstructed. Here, we investigate the history of bioturbation and reef‐building (two of the most important marine ecosystem engineering behaviours today) over the Phanerozoic. Using fossil occurrences from the Paleobiology Database, we reconstruct how common communities influenced by ecosystem engineers were in the oceans, how dominant ecosystem engineers were within their own communities, and the taxonomic and ecological composition of bioturbators and reef‐builders. We find that bioturbation has become an increasingly common ecosystem engineering behaviour over the Phanerozoic, while reef‐building ecosystem engineers have not become more dominant since their Devonian apex. We also identify unique bioturbation and reef‐building regimes that are characterized by different ecosystem engineering taxonomic groups, ecological modes, and dominance, suggesting that the nature of ecosystem engineering has at times rapidly shifted over the course of the Phanerozoic. These reconstructions will serve as important data for understanding how ecosystem engineers have driven changes in biodiversity and ecosystem structure over the course of Earth history. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ecosystem engineers can radically reshape ecosystems by modulating the availability of resources to other organisms through modifying either physical or biological aspects of the environment. The introduction or removal of ecosystem engineers from otherwise stable ecosystems can impact the diversity of co‐occurring species, such as driving local extinctions of native taxa. While these impacts are well established over ecological timescales for a wealth of taxa, the macroevolutionary implications of the onset of ecosystem engineering behaviours are less clear. Despite this uncertainty, ecosystem engineering has been implicated in several major transitions in Earth history including the appearance of extensive bioturbation during the Cambrian substrate revolution and associated Ediacaran–Cambrian turnover, and the Great Oxygenation Event. Whether ecosystem engineers are frequently associated with turnover and extinction in deep time is not known. Here we investigate this with an eco‐evolutionary simulation framework in which we assign lineages the ability to impact the fitness of co‐occurring taxa through phenotype–environment feedback. We explore numerous conditions, including how frequently such feedback occurs, and whether ecosystem engineers modify or create niches. We show that there is no general expected outcome from the introduction of ecosystem engineers. In a minority of runs, ecosystem engineering lineages completely dominate, rendering all others extinct, but in others they persist (but do not dominate), or die out. We suggest that ecosystem engineers have complex impacts, but possess the capacity to profoundly shape diversity, and it is appropriate to consider them alongside other exogenous extinction drivers in deep time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Anthropogenic biodiversity loss can impair ecosystem functioning. Human activities are often managed with the aim of reversing biodiversity loss and its associated functional impacts. However, it is currently unknown whether biodiversity–ecosystem function (BEF) relationships observed during biodiversity recovery are the same as those observed during biodiversity loss. This will depend on how species extirpation and recolonisation sequences compare and how different species influence ecosystem functioning. Using data from a marine benthic invertebrate community, we modelled how bioturbation potential – a proxy for benthic ecosystem functioning – changes along biodiversity loss and recovery sequences governed by species' sensitivity to physical disturbance and recolonisation capability, respectively. BEF relationships for biodiversity loss and recovery were largely the same despite species extirpation and recolonisation sequences being different. This held true irrespective of whether populations were assumed to exhibit compensatory responses as species were removed or added. These findings suggest that the functional consequences of local biodiversity loss can be reversed by alleviating its drivers, as different species present at comparable levels of species richness during biodiversity loss and recovery phases have similar functional effects. Empirically verifying and determining the generality of our model‐based results are potential next steps for future research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The freshwater snails and mussels are recognized as ecosystem engineers owing to their ability to influence the ecological processes. We investigated the effect of the snail Filopaludina bengalensis and the mussel Lamellidens marginalis alone and in interaction with the macrophyte Lemna minor on the ecological processes (nutrient dynamics, microbial account, sediment properties and periphytic algal growth) of the freshwater ecosystem through a mesocosm experiment. Both the snail and mussel promoted the growth rate of L. minor; however, the presence of snail negatively influenced the growth of periphyton. The biogeochemical process was affected by the presence of snails and mussels. Macrophyte association further influenced this biogeochemical process. Snail and mussel enhance the growth of heterotrophic bacteria and phosphate solubilising bacteria in the sediment. Likewise, the presence of macrophyte also positively influences the microbial growth. The activities of the benthic fauna like the mussels and the snails can be considered a useful process for the sustenance of the microbes and the macrophytes representing a pattern of bottom-up regulation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Owing to the rapid and ongoing anthropogenic changes impacting ecosystem functions and their interplay with biodiversity, there is a growing focus on assessing insect functional diversity. This emphasis helps to unravel key roles of insects on ecosystem processes and to identify the assembly mechanisms that regulate species coexistence.The ecological functions of phytophagous scarab beetles (Scarabaeidae) have been relatively unexplored, and potential functional traits are scattered throughout the literature. Species within this group exhibit diverse lifestyles, forms and sizes. They exploit various resources such as decomposing wood, foliage, roots and flowers, with a small subset identified as predators. Although many of their representatives are significant agricultural pests, information on their contributions in natural ecosystems has not been consolidated.This study reviews the ecological functions potentially carried out by phytophagous scarab beetles and proposes functional traits to be incorporated into studies of functional diversity. Through this, the goal is to integrate the scattered information, stimulate the generation of questions that go beyond classical ecological theory and contribute to advancing our knowledge of their ecosystem functions, as well as the foundations for understanding community structure. We propose to use trophic groups to define functions such as bioturbation, organic matter decomposition, biological control and potential pollination.A simplified list of functional traits was obtained by conducting correlation analyses using a trait matrix from a region in northern Colombia. This represents a significant advance for the study of traits within the framework of functional ecology, applicable to territorial planning and biodiversity conservation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Deep‐sea benthic communities are strongly controlled by the quantity and quality of organic matter sinking from the ocean surface. The interaction between benthic fauna and seafloor sediments mainly occurs through bioturbation that modifies substrate properties (e.g., geochemical profiles). The intensity of the bioturbation has long been linked with organic matter and measured as a diffusive process by considering the vertical particle reworking (endobenthic bioturbation), disregarding the seafloor horizontal mixing (epibenthic bioturbation). Here, a novel approach to quantify horizontal mixing is presented: Seafloor Bioturbation Intensity (SBI). SBI calculations were based on seafloor image datasets from eight stations that reflected different environmental conditions in the north‐western Pacific (e.g., chlorophyll a, silicate). To calculate SBI, we characterized the area occupied by all different types of traces (i.e., lebensspuren) related to epibenthic bioturbation, trace makers, and their ingested sediment thickness. Our results showed a weak negative correlation between organic matter and SBI. This relationship contrast with the traditionally held view on vertical bioturbation intensity, where a dominant positive correlation is expected. It is demonstrated that lebensspuren morphotypes contributed differently to SBI. Not all morphotypes—and, by extension, their corresponding trace makers—are equally controlled by the same environmental factors. This investigation does not dismiss the importance of organic matter content, but emphasizes the importance of other environmental variables that need to be considered when determining the long‐term relation between epibenthic fauna and bioturbation intensity. Finally, we emphasize the importance of characterizing horizontal bioturbation for approaching global biogeochemical cycles and conservational strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A box was designed to keep the acorn worm Saccoglossus mereschkowskii in laboratory conditions for 60 days and to monitor its behavior and feeding. Locomotion and construction of burrows in the sediment were found to be due to peristaltic movements of the proboscis, which periodically changes its shape from cylindrical to mushroom-like, and vice versa. Worms built U-shaped burrows connected with burrows of neighbor worms by flank anastomoses, thus producing a branched system of passages in a sediment layer up to 8 cm deep. The system is of importance for aeration of the upper sediment layer. When a worm is feeding, the proboscis sticks out from the anterior opening of the burrow and stretches along the surface of the sediment. Organic particles adhere to mucus secreted by the epidermal epithelium of the proboscis and are transported by ciliary beating to a furrow between the collar and proboscis, where the mouth is located. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The excavation of Chinese pangolin (Manis pentadactyla) is expected to alter habitat heterogeneity and thus affect the functioning and structure of forest ecosystems. In this study, the bioturbation of Chinese pangolin on forest soils in three regions (Heping, Tianjingshan, and Wuqinzhang) across Guangdong province was quantified. Overall, a mean of 2.66 m3·ha−1 and 83.1 m2·ha−1 of burrows and bare mounds, respectively, was excavated by Chinese pangolin; the disturbed soils had significantly lower water content and P, C, available N concentrations, but higher bulk density, pH, and microbial abundance than those undisturbed soils. The unevenness of habitat heterogeneity improvement was mainly ascribed to the stronger soil disturbance caused in resting burrows by pangolins. Patterns of altering habitat heterogeneity were site‐specific, with high‐intensity soil disturbance occurring most in shrubs, meadows, steep habitats at high elevations, and mountain tops in Heping, while in broad‐leaved, coniferous and mixed coniferous and broad‐leaved forests away from human settlements in Tianjingshan and upper mountains at high elevations far away from roads and human settlements in Wuqinzhang. Road networks are the main interference for the burrow distribution in Heping and Wuqinzhang and should be programmed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Most maritime habitats contain microplastic (MPs) contamination. The quality of the benthic ecosystem's habitat is declining as MPs accumulate in marine system. The contamination of MPs must therefore be investigated. We studied MPs pollution in the Mahi River, estuary, and macrobenthos. In the present study, the abundance of MPs fragments gradually decreased from the high tide zone to the low tide zone and muddy sediment has high MPs concentrations due to sediment characteristics and particle size. The majority of sediment and biota MPs were fibrous and black. MPs in both silt and biota have identical chemical compositions (modified cellulose), shapes, and colors. A significant source of pollutants and MPs fluxing into the ocean is well within the river system. Perinereis aibuhitensis ingested the most MPs out of 11 species, whereas Amphipods did not show any presence of MPs. Our findings showed that functional characteristics are essential for macrobenthos MPs intake. MPs in macrobenthos are high due to biological functions such as feeding, ecological groups, feeding mechanisms, body size, and bioturbation. MPs in marine sediment and organisms are tracked down to the Mahi River exceeding 50 km. The present work has investigated the idea that the macrobenthos that live in the sediment are ingesting the MPs that are building up there and this ingestion relies on the macrobenthos' functional characteristics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Objective] To study the bacterial community structure in sediments of "shellfish-fish-grass" productive wetlands. [Method] The IIlumina-MiSeq high-throughput sequencing technology was used to analyze the bacterial community structure in sediments of different units. [Result] The diversity and richness of the bacterial community were significantly higher in the unit composed of juvenile shellfish and high-density shellfish purification unit than in the other treatment units. Proteobacteria, Chloroflexi, Acidobacteriota, Actinobacteriota and Bacteroidota were the dominant phylum of the bacterial community in the sediments. Redundancy analysis showed that the main driving factors of the change of bacterial community was the total phosphorus. [Conclusion] The shellfish placed in the wetland can reduce the nitrogen and phosphorus content in the sediment, and the diversity and richness of the bacterial community in the sediment can be improved through the bioturbation of the shellfish, and the results of this study provide a scientific basis for the treatment of aquaculture tailwater in the "shellfish-fish-grass" productive wetlands. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The influence of bioturbation induced by bottom‐dwelling macrozoobenthos on nitrogen dynamics in lotic stream sediments remains unclear. In this work, we advance the understanding of faunal bioturbation in lotic environments by developing a fully‐coupled flow and multicomponent reactive transport model and investigate the influence of sediment reworking and burrow ventilation processes on nitrogenous transformations. The model results indicate that sediment reworking and burrow ventilation significantly increase nitrate (NO3−) influx, penetration depth, and reaction rates in the streambed. Denitrification rates were observed up to three times higher in beds with U‐shaped burrows compared to flatbeds. The ratio of mound height to stream water depth ratio (h/H0) is a dominant control on determining the relative importance of the sediment reworking and burrow ventilation processes in modulating nitrogenous reactions. A power‐law scaling framework is ultimately proposed to predict NO3− removal efficiency based on the Damköhler number in bioturbated lotic streambeds. Plain Language Summary: The increase in nitrate (NO3−) levels can harm rivers by causing problems like eutrophication, toxic algal blooms, and low oxygen levels. Microbes, like those involved in denitrification, can help reduce NO3− levels in the riverbed, where surface water and groundwater mix. Creatures like macroinvertebrates that live in the riverbed also play a role in how NO3− moves and is used. We wanted to know if these creatures, by disturbing the sediment and irrigating it, change how NO3− behaves in the riverbed. Our computer modeling showed that having U‐shaped burrows in the sediment can enhance the rate at which NO3− is removed, up to three times more than in flatbed sediments. As the ratio of the mound height to the total depth becomes less than 0.1, the influence of sediment reworking on NO3− influx and consumption rates decreases, and burrow ventilation becomes more important. We also came up with a way to predict NO3− removal efficiency in bioturbated riverbeds under flowing water conditions. These findings underscore the significance of bioturbation in rivers with moving water and have important implications for managing and restoring rivers. Key Points: Developing a Navier‐Stokes‐Brinkman‐Darcy‐Reaction fully‐coupled approach to study interplay between nitrogen cycling and faunal bioturbationSediment reworking and burrow ventilation processes could significantly alter the nitrogenous transformations in low flow environmentsA power‐law scaling framework can be used to predict nitrate removal efficiency within the bioturbated sediments from the Damköhler number [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bioturbation is a key ecosystem function with a fundamental role in mediating major biogeochemical cycles. The intensity and depth of bioturbation is influenced by the taxa present, which is often a function of food supply. The deep sea is generally oligotrophic with sediments composed predominantly of small, shallow burrowing macrofauna (<10 cm). Human activity is increasingly introducing POC to the deep-sea, however, organic enrichment of the deep-sea, and the subsequent response of bioturbators is poorly understood. Here we present data on benthic function in deep-sea systems that have experienced organic enrichment. We show that organic enrichment enhances deep-sea bioturbation through larger, advanced successional taxa, and deeper bioturbation depths. Enhanced bioturbation in the deep-sea should confer positive ecosystem functions (nutrient recycling, microbiological activity, remineralization), but adherence to approaches and interpretations guided by the paradigm of small, shallow-burrowing infauna could significantly underestimate deep-sea benthic processes at a global scale. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The evolutionary rise of powerful new ecosystem engineering impacts is thought to have played an important role in driving waves of biospheric change across the Ediacaran–Cambrian transition (ECT; c. 574–538 Ma). Among the most heavily cited of these is bioturbation (organism‐driven sediment disturbance) as these activities have been shown to have critical downstream geobiological impacts. In this regard priapulid worms are crucial; trace fossils thought to have been left by priapulan‐grade animals are now recognized as appearing shortly before the base of the Cambrian and represent some of the earliest examples of bed‐penetrative bioturbation. Understanding the ecosystem engineering impacts of priapulids may thus be key to reconstructing drivers of the ECT. However, priapulids are rare in modern benthic ecosystems, and thus comparatively little is known about the behaviours and impacts associated with their burrowing. Here, we present the early results of neoichnological experiments focused on understanding the ecosystem engineering impacts of priapulid worms. We observe for the first time a variety of new burrowing behaviours (including the formation of linked burrow networks and long in‐burrow residence times) hinting at larger ecosystem engineering impacts in this group than previously thought. Finally, we identify means by which these results may contribute to our understanding of tracemakers across the ECT, and the role they may have had in shaping the latest Ediacaran and earliest Cambrian biosphere. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The continuous rise in hydrocarbon demand, the production decline in conventional oilfields, and the remarkable improvement in extraction methods have allowed the hydrocarbon industry and subsequently, geoscientists, to turn to studies on both unconventional and mature fields with untapped potential. In such reservoirs, the application of advanced drilling, completion, and production techniques must be preceded by the identification of permeable stratigraphic intervals that favour commercial exploitation. Accordingly, bioturbated deposits can play a key role in providing permeable pathways for enhanced production. Herein, we analyse the effects of bioturbation on the porosity and permeability of the Buda Formation, a highly bioturbated, tight (low-porosity matrix) Upper Cretaceous chalk reservoir from the Texas Gulf Coast Basin, which has been commercially exploited because of the occurrence of natural fractures. Our results show that (in addition to the natural fractures) burrows (and borings) substantially increased the porosity and permeability of this formation, thus, potentially contributing to enhanced hydrocarbon (or groundwater) storage and production. These biogenic structures might also have favoured the development of natural fractures and stylolites in the Buda Formation. However, further studies are required to prove this hypothesis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Organisms alter the primary texture of sediments, leading to alteration in petrophysical properties mediated by a textural and mineralogical contrast between burrow-fill and sediment host, which affects reservoir properties and fluid flow characteristics. In this article, in order to understand the microscopic pore structure and flow state of fluids in microscopic pores of bioturbated reservoirs, Ophiomorpha-bearing bioturbated reservoirs in the Neogene Sanya Formation of the Qiongdongnan Basin in the northern South China Sea were selected to research. Micro-CT was applied to scan selected core plugs, and a 3D pore structure model was established. The geometric characteristics of the microscopic pore structure were quantitatively and visually characterized by a modified maximal ball algorithm, and connectivity analysis of the pore structure was carried out. Numerical simulations of the percolation characteristics of the analyzed bioturbated reservoir samples were performed using digital core software (Avizo) and multi-physics field simulation software (Comsol). The results show that: (1) 3D pore structures reveal that pore volume, pore area, pore equivalent radius, throat area, throat equivalent radius and throat length have a large distribution range; among them, the pore volume has the largest distribution range, which can vary by six orders of magnitude, indicating that the pore size distribution of the bioturbated reservoir is uneven and has strong heterogeneous characteristics; (2) the connected pore structure is very complex, and as the equivalent radius of connected pore increases, the coordination number also gradually increases, the better the connectivity. Numerical percolation simulation results also suggested that larger connected pore space plays a key role in the effective permeability of the reservoir. This study has important implications for analyzing the modification effect of bioturbation on oil and gas reservoirs, and enhancing production and recovery in the study area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Multiple expressions of climate change, in particular warming‐induced reductions in the type, extent and thickness of sea ice, are opening access and providing new viable development opportunities in high‐latitude regions. Coastal margins are facing these challenges, but the vulnerability of species and ecosystems to the effects of fuel contamination associated with increased maritime traffic is largely unknown. Here, we show that low concentrations of the water‐accommodated fraction of marine fuel oil, representative of a dilute fuel oil spill, can alter functionally important aspects of the behaviour of sediment‐dwelling invertebrates. We find that the response to contamination is species specific, but that the range in response among individuals is modified by increasing fuel concentrations. Our study provides evidence that species responses to novel and/or unprecedented levels of anthropogenic activity associated with the opening up of high‐latitude regions can have substantive ecological effects, even when human impacts are at, or below, commonly accepted safe thresholds. These secondary responses are often overlooked in broad‐scale environmental assessments and marine planning yet, critically, they may act as an early warning signal for impending and more pronounced ecological transitions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Spatangoid heart urchins are dominant bioturbators in marine soft-sediment ecosystems worldwide. Their repeated sediment reworking prevents biogeochemical sediment stratification and colonization by other species, with implications for sedimentary reaction processes that affect the local sediment–seawater solute exchange. Here, we used a simple exclusion experiment to investigate how a subtidal Echinocardium cordatum population (18.2 ± 6.7 individuals m−2), foraging at an individual speed of ~45 cm per day affects the sediment–seawater solute exchange. To do so, we removed all heart urchins from eight one-meter-diameter areas of the 10-m deep seafloor of Man O'War Bay, Hauraki Gulf, New Zealand, and prevented recolonization and thus sediment reworking for 56 days. Subsequently, we measured the sediment–seawater exchange of O2, NO3–, NO2–, NH4+, and N2 both within and outside the exclusion areas, under light or dark conditions, and found no difference. The absence of a legacy effect of foraging E. cordatum after their removal suggests that, at least in this habitat, their influence on the sediment–seawater solute exchange may be limited to sediment being displaced in the immediate surrounding of the urchin. This unexpected result underlines the importance of evaluating the influence of bioturbators on the sediment–seawater solute exchange in the context of local environmental conditions, animal behavior, and population characteristics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Burrowing ecosystem engineers, such as termites, crabs, marmots, and foxes, can profoundly affect the biological structure and ecosystem functions of their environments. However, the relative importance of the effects of burrowing engineers on sediments are challenging to predict and are expected to be influenced by engineer density, engineer functional traits (e.g., burrow morphology), and environmental conditions (e.g., geomorphology, vegetation presence). To develop robust hypotheses predicting the impacts of burrowing ecosystem engineers, we conducted a systematic meta‐analysis evaluating the effects of burrowing crabs on sediment properties, nutrient stocks, and ecosystem functions in soft‐sediment coastal habitats (e.g., salt marshes, mangrove forests, tidal flats). Additionally, we tested the impacts of crab burrow density, burrowing crab superfamily (a proxy for crab burrow morphology and diet), and biotic conditions (i.e., vegetation) on the effects of burrowing crab engineers on coastal sediments. Burrowing crabs rework and oxygenate sediments and accelerate rates of nutrient cycling (i.e., nitrification and CO2 flux). However, the magnitude and direction of burrowing crab effects depend on burrowing crab superfamily, the presence of vegetation, and their interaction. Crab burrow density did not consistently predict burrowing engineer effects on sediments. Future efforts need to focus on implementing rigorous manipulative experiments to assess crab ecosystem engineering effects, since methodological variation has hindered efforts to generalize their effects. Our findings suggest that crab engineering effects are predictable across environmental contexts, and understanding the context dependency of crab engineering effects may promote the management and restoration of the critical ecosystem services that are mediated by crab engineers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Through their accumulation in soils, microplastics have recently become a matter of concern. The aim of this review is to assemble and investigate the recent studies about microplastics in soil by focusing on their sources, occurrence, fate in soil, and analytical methods. The objective is also to clarify and elucidate their potential impacts on soil fauna, plants and microorganisms. In this paper, articles reporting the quantity of microplastics and their characteristics in soil at 62 sites situated across 17 countries were reviewed. The land type, microplastic abundances, types and sizes were compared. We summarized and discussed the sampling and analytical methods used and the variation of microplastic concentration according to their sources. The data showed that microplastic in soil from available global studies ranged from 0 to 3573×103 particles kg−1, with major dominance of polyethylene, polystyrene and polypropylene found in 50, 37 and 32 studies, respectively. The data analysis showed the high migration of small particles, spherical shape with high polymer density in the major studies. We also described the mechanisms controlling the vertical transport of microplastics: agricultural activity (plowing: at a depth between 10 cm (very shallow plowing) and 40 cm (deeper soil tillage)), bioturbation by soil organisms and plants, and leaching that can lead to the contamination of the groundwater.This review elucidated the behavior and fate of microplastics within the soil, serving as a reference for upcoming studies aimed at devising solutions to mitigate the toxicity associated with microplastics in soil.

Abstract Most organic carbon delivered to the seafloor is degraded within the bioturbated layer. Theory and empirical evidence have shown that organic carbon reactivity relates to the age of a particle. However, due to particle mixing, the age‐depth linear relation induced by sediment accretion is obfuscated. Here we combine a Lagrangian particle tracking model that resolves the age distribution of particles in the bioturbated zone and couple it to age‐dependent organic carbon degradation. Depth profiles for organic carbon concentration, reactivity and degradation rate are presented for sediments receiving low and high reactivity organic carbon in coastal, continental slope and deep‐sea environments. Our results show that a simple first‐order kinetics model suffices for well‐mixed sediments and systems receiving pre‐processed materials. A reactive continuum approach is needed for poorly mixed sediments receiving highly reactive organic carbon and for sediments below the bioturbated layer.

Mangroves are expanding polewards due to global change, often encroaching into adjacent temperate saltmarshes. In both vegetated ecosystems, brachyurans are responsible for ecological processes and functions such as nutrient cycling and sediment bioturbation. South African mangroves occur at a latitudinal limit and are establishing further south due to past planting events and global change, making these ideal study systems for the effects of mangrove expansion and encroachment. Here, we investigated the effect of mangrove encroachment on brachyuran community composition at two saltmarsh sites with planted mangrove stands of different ages. Transects were laid perpendicular to each estuary where three habitat types were demarcated (mangrove, ecotone, saltmarsh). Sediment samples were collected for analyses and quadrats were used to measure pneumatophore density, saltmarsh cover, and brachyuran abundance and diversity. We found that brachyuran community structure at each site has significantly changed over seven years, with two mangrove-associated fiddler crab species, Tubuca urvillei and Paraleptuca chlorophthalmus, now recorded at the younger planted site, indicating a new southern distributional limit. Community structure was also significantly different amongst habitat types (p < 0.05) with Parasesarma catenatum dominating saltmarshes while Danielella edwardsii was more prominent in mangroves. However, community composition did not differ significantly between the two (differently aged) sites (p > 0.05). Pneumatophore density had a proportional relationship with crab abundance, diversity and richness, while saltmarsh cover had an inversely proportional relationship with crab abundance, diversity and richness. It is likely that as mangroves continue to expand into saltmarshes, more mangrove-associated species will move into saltmarshes, potentially altering ecosystem processes in this unique habitat. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The macrobenthos are crucial for the stability of estuarine ecosystems due to their burrowing behavior in the sediment and their uptake of nutrients from plants. These activities lead to significant alterations in both the morphological and biogeochemical processes within the region. Methods: However, there is limited investigation into carbon cycling processes specifically related to crab bioturbation. Additionally, few studies have examined enzymatic activities and carbon fractions in sediments from crab burrow walls at different crab growth stages. This study aims to explore the impact of both plant invasiveness and crab bioturbation on carbon storage. Results: Our findings suggest that plant invasion leads to higher organic accumulation due to the reduction of recalcitrant organic carbon (ROC) (decreased by 11.6% in invasive and 62.6% in native site from April to December), faster photosynthetic rates (25.8 μmol/m² s in invasive and 10.7 μmol/m² s in native site), and an increased presence of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) in the soil over time. However, the increase of easy oxidized carbon (EOC) may lead to less carbon storage in soil (increase by 67.7% in invasive and 48.8% in native site from April to December). In addition to invasiveness, the bioturbation activities of macrobenthos also affect carbon storage. Sediments from crab burrows exhibit higher EOC content (33.6% more than the bulk soil) and higher levels of carbon cycling-related enzymes, including S-ACT, S-β-GC, and S-ACP activities (24.2%, 8.99%, and 135.6% higher than the bulk soil, respectively). Discussion: These changes contribute to reduced carbon accumulation in the soil. Therefore, crab bioturbation is a more significant factor affecting carbon sink capacity than plant invasion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Whilst the importance of foundation species for biodiversity conservation has been largely acknowledged (e.g., coral and bivalve reefs, seagrass, kelp and rhodolith beds), the role of their associated species as secondary habitat engineers has just begun to be appreciated. Here, we evaluated whether secondary engineering of rhodolith beds by the sand tilefish Malacanthus plumieri influences the composition and β-diversity of benthic macroinvertebrates and reef fish assemblages. Our findings indicate that, by selecting, relocating, and rearranging rhodoliths into mounds, M. plumieri creates a distinctive habitat for macroinvertebrates and fishes. M. plumieri mounds increase fish abundance by 57% in rhodolith beds, with an 82% species turnover rate between mounds and non-mounded areas. In contrast, the macroinvertebrates in M. plumieri mounds are largely a subset of the species from non-mounded areas, with an 86% species nestedness rate. Despite decreasing the abundance of macroinvertebrates in the mounds by half, M. plumieri increases the heterogeneity and structural complexity of rhodolith beds, affecting the composition of associated fish assemblage at a larger spatial scale. Our results suggest that, by increasing the structural complexity of rhodolith beds and shaping their associated biodiversity, the abundance of M. plumieri mounds could be a useful proxy to define priority areas for conservation across the South Atlantic rhodolith beds, especially in the light of ongoing impacts related to offshore oil exploitation, overfishing and carbonate mining. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fishing-down-marine-food-webs has resulted in alarming declines of various species worldwide. Benthic rays are one examples of such overexploited species. On tidal flats, these rays are highly abundant and play an ecologically important role. They use tidal flats as refuge, feeding and resting grounds, during which they bury into the sediment, which results in sediment bioturbation. Changes in bioturbation intensity, following ray removal, may affect the biogeomorphology of tidal flats with possible cascading effects on the macrozoobenthic community. However, it is poorly understood how these indirect effects could influence ecosystem function. We therefore studied the geomorphic impact of benthic rays (specifically the pearl whipray/stingray Fontitrygon margaritella) on the tropical tidal flats of the Bijagós Archipelago, Guinea-Bissau, on a landscape scale. We investigated 1) bioturbation rates by rays using drone and ground surveys, 2) the spatial distribution of ray pits on multiple tidal flats, 3) the impact of rays on sediment properties and macrozoobenthos by experimental exclusion (15 months). Benthic rays bioturbated 3.7 ± 0.35% of the tidal flat's sediment surface per day over one single 24-h period, which equals a complete top-sediment-surface turnover every 27 days. The spatial distribution of ray pits was affected by tidal flat geomorphology since pits decayed faster at areas exposed to strong hydrodynamic forces. Predator exclusion altered sediment properties, leading to changes in sedimentation (− 17%) and erosion (− 43%) rates. In addition, macrozoobenthic species composition changed, marked by an increase in Capitellidae worms and a greater biomass of Malacostraca over time. These changes indicated substantial effects of ray bioturbation on the biotic and geomorphic landscape of tidal flats. Overall, we conclude that changing abundances of benthic rays can have clear landscape-wide geomorphological effects on intertidal ecosystems. These indirect consequences of fisheries should be incorporated in integrative management plans to preserve tidal flats and connected ecosystems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The early Paleozoic Era (∼540–420 Ma) was an interval of profound biogeochemical changes including increasing oxygen (O 2) and the onset of bioturbation (sediment mixing by animals). It is hypothesized that incipient bioturbation caused a monotonic decrease in sedimentary burial of pyrite (FeS 2), which would have slowed atmospheric O 2 accumulation. However, pyrite accumulation can exhibit complex responses to dynamic, low-O 2 environmental conditions. To assess pyrite burial in a potential modern analogue to early Paleozoic environments, we collected sediment cores from the Chesapeake Bay, an estuary with multiple gradients in sulfate concentration, hypoxia intensity, organic carbon flux and lability, and bioturbation. Results indicate that pyrite accumulation is maximized not under strong sulfate depletion in highly reducing sediments, but rather in sediments that occupy the mid-range of sulfate–chloride ratios. This probably occurs through efficient replenishment of pore water sulfate and/or through the generation of sulfur redox intermediates, which promote pyrite formation via the polysulfide reaction pathway. In light of these results and in contrast to earlier models, we hypothesize that mild early Paleozoic bioturbation temporarily increased pyrite burial efficiency by stimulating higher sulfate reduction rates and increasing sedimentary sulfide retention. Compiled sulfur and carbon data from a geochemical database indicate that median sulfur-carbon ratios of fine-grained marine siliciclastic rocks increased from the Ediacaran through the Ordovician, then decreased and became much less variable from the Silurian onward. Thus, the Cambrian and Ordovician Periods may constitute a distinct interval of the Proterozoic-Phanerozoic transition in which bioturbation temporarily accelerated O 2 buildup. This transition probably ended in the Silurian, when p O 2 rose to sufficient levels to homogenize sedimentary carbon–sulfur cycling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The invasive red swamp crayfish Procambarus clarkii (Girard, 1852) can affect freshwater ecosystems, their macrophyte communities in various ways. To examine the effects of red swamp crayfish on clearwater macrophyte-dominated lakes, we performed a 28-day mesocosm experiment, without and with presence of red swamp crayfish, with or without access to sediments using netting. All in the presence of one of the following three different submerged macrophytes: Myriophyllum spicatum L., Vallisneria denseserrulata (Makino) Makino, or Hydrilla verticillate (L.f.) Royle. This experimental design allowed a partial separation of the effects of disturbing the sediment using netting from other factors such as excretion and direct harm of the plants. Nutrients and total suspended solids concentrations were lower in the crayfish-with-net than in the crayfish-without-net treatments but had similar concentrations in the crayfish-with-net and crayfishless-without-net treatments. Compared to the crayfish-with-net treatment, there were more broken leaves in the crayfish-without-net treatments for V. denseserrulata and H. verticillata, while no difference was found for M. spicatum, likely reflecting their different growth forms. Our results suggest that the sediment disturbance by the crayfish was more important than their plant handling/consumption and nutrient excretion for an observed water quality change from clear to turbid. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Umhlatuzana rockshelter is known for its continuous record of Middle and Later Stone Age lithic assemblages. This study presents multiproxy geoarchaeological data (micromorphology, X‐ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy with energy‐dispersive spectroscopy) to reconstruct the depositional and post‐depositional history of the site. Although the Stone Age deposits macroscopically appear homogeneous, micromorphological analysis reveals the existence of primary, unaltered depositional microlayering throughout the sequence. Sediments related to combustion activities on‐site are observed in both the Holocene and Pleistocene deposits. Post‐depositional geochemical alterations result in the formation of several phosphatic minerals that significantly affect the site's preservation conditions. One of those is vashegyite, a rare magnesium phosphate mineral related to acidic and moist sedimentary environments. Bioturbation features are prominent at the microscale, but sediment mixing does not seem to affect the vertical distribution of the artifacts. The observation of horizontal microlayering in both the Pleistocene and Holocene illuminates the dominant mechanism of sedimentation throughout the site's 70,000‐year occupational history. It moreover shows that the lithics can be analysed as coherent assemblages. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Particle mixing by benthic fauna beneath the sediment‐water interface (or bioturbation) fundamentally challenges the proxy based retrieval of past climatic conditions from deep‐sea sediment cores. Previous efforts targeted the impacts of bioturbation on the nature of paleoceanographic changes gleaned from the proxy record, whereas impacts on seasonal and/or interannual variability reconstructions have received less attention. We present TurbIFA (Tracking uncertainty of reworking & bioturbation on IFA), a software that adapts and combines existing algorithms to quantitatively estimate the impact of sediment reworking and other uncertainties and assess significance of ocean and climate variability reconstructions based on individual foraminiferal analyses (IFA). Building upon previous idealized investigations of bioturbation using hydroclimate‐sediment simulations, TurbIFA advances the IFA proxy system modeling such that users may directly assess the sensitivity of their data to various local parameters related to shell reworking across the global ocean. Using the output of state‐of‐the‐art coupled atmosphere‐ocean general circulation models, TurbIFA simulates planktic foraminiferal δ18O or Mg/Ca‐temperature signal carriers and evaluates uncertainties in the sample size, analytical protocols along with as those arising from bioturbation. Application of TurbIFA to synthetic and existing data sets indicates that the significance of IFA‐based reconstructions can be assessed once the impacts of sediment accumulation rates, sediment mixed layer depths, length of time integrated by the chosen IFA sampling interval, and changes in the amplitude of climate variability (i.e., the targeted environmental signal) are comprehensively evaluated. We contend that TurbIFA can aid quantitative assessments of past seasonal and interannual variability gleaned from the paleoceanographic record. Plain Language Summary: Planktic foraminifera are marine zooplankton with a life cycle of approximately a month. They dwell in the upper ocean, where they precipitate calcium carbonate shells that, postmortem, settle through the water column and become a main constituent of deep‐ocean sediments. The geochemical composition of individual planktic foraminiferal shells provides snapshots of past surface ocean temperatures during their lifespan. Statistical distributions of these data inform on the past seasonal and/or interannual climate variability, but post‐depositional processes may bias these reconstructions. Here we quantify the effects of the vertical displacement of foraminiferal shells in sediments by benthic microfauna, which contaminates sediment core samples with older shells deposited under colder or warmer climates. The code routines are available in an open‐source repository. The final user can define their study‐specific variables as inputs, thereby allowing the application of this method to a broad spectrum of climate and sedimentary settings. Key Points: A new software (TurbIFA) quantifies the uncertainties in IFA data sets tied to sampling, analytical errors, and bioturbationTurbIFA assesses the sensitivity of IFA reconstructions to bioturbation parameters and propagates analytical and sampling uncertaintiesApplication to existing data sets showcases its ability to assess statistical significance of IFA‐based climate variability reconstructions [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Oxygen deficiency is a major problem in the Baltic Sea. To study the impact of hypoxia on the functional diversity of benthic fauna and the possibility of macrozoobenthos recovery, data were analyzed in a gradient of oxygen conditions in the Gdańsk Basin. The research conducted on the basis of biological traits analysis enabled us to analyze the number, type and spatial distribution of biological traits—a proxy for functions performed by macrozoobenthos. A significant depletion of macrofauna was already observed under conditions of reduced oxygen above the bottom, both in terms of functional diversity and biomass. Although taxa observed in hypoxia (DO < 2 mL L−1) perform a number of functions, the remaining species do not form complex structures in the sediments or cause deep bioturbation and bioirrigation. Moreover, their extremely low biomass plays an irrelevant role in benthic–pelagic coupling. Thus, benthic fauna under hypoxia is not an element that ensures the functioning of the ecosystem. We assess that traits important for species dispersal and the presence of taxa resistant to short-term hypoxia in the oxic zone above the halocline provide a "backup" for ecosystem functioning under altered diverse oxygen conditions below the halocline after cessation of hypoxia in the southern Baltic Sea. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the process of reworking sediments and thus shaping biogeochemical processes, marine bottom-dwelling animals are thought to play a pivotal role in many benthic environments. Bioturbation (particle reworking) includes the downward transport of particles into the sediment as a major process and is sometimes detected as subsurface maxima (peaks) of specific particulate substances (tracers). Here, we document the fact that subsurface peaks, such as those typically attributed to biological particle transport in sediments, may equally be generated by otter boards in bottom-trawling fishery. Boards can generate tracer peaks whereby they scoop sediment from the surface, flip it over, and deposit it onto the adjacent seafloor. These peaks are indistinguishable from those generated by benthic fauna burying surface material at sediment depth. We demonstrate this for the particle tracer chlorophyll a in silty sand from the western Baltic Sea with fauna that generally do not burrow deep in a global comparison. Our inability to distinguish the driving processes generating the peaks indicates limits to our understanding of the magnitude and spatial extent of bioturbation traces in this environment. It also poses a problem for the assessment of fishery resource use and benthic processes. However, based on natural fauna abundance, behavioral information, and fishery intensity data, we identify macrofauna and not otter boards as the dominant cause of peaks at the sites investigated here. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While parasitism is a common lifestyle on Earth, its importance for the functioning of marine ecosystems has been overlooked for a long time. In particular, parasites have significant potential to influence central ecological processes through their impacts on hosts that serve as ecosystem engineers. Using an ex situ experimental approach, we explored the effects of trematode parasites on the engineering bioturbation activity of a common and abundant bivalve along European Atlantic soft‐bottom coastlines, the peppery furrow shell Scrobicularia plana, as well as knock‐on effects for nutrient exchanges at the sediment–water interface (SWI). Trematodes negatively impacted the host's ability to transport sediment particles and solutes in a density‐dependent way, with parasite burden explaining 22–31% of the inter‐individual variability. This could be explained by parasitism impairing the bivalve physiological state and ability to burrow, as we observed a decrease in the condition index and the burrowing depth of the bivalves with an increase in the number of parasites they host. In contrast, the influence of S. plana on benthic biogeochemical fluxes did not vary significantly according to parasitic burden over a short time scale. Here, we focused on the effects of trematode parasites on the behaviour of S. plana alone, and thus excluded other macrofaunal organisms. We should next test whether trematodes modulate the structure and functioning of benthic communities dominated by S. plana to better understand and quantify the engineering role of parasites in soft‐bottom coastal environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sedimentological and ichnological descriptions of fluvio‐tidal translating point bars are rare, and complex physico‐chemical processes make highly detailed but concise facies descriptions challenging. Herein, mesofacies are defined to describe and interpret three ancient translating point bars from the Lower Cretaceous McMurray Formation, Alberta, Canada. Twenty‐three mesofacies are defined, based on their recurring sedimentological and ichnological characteristics. These mesofacies form the building blocks of beds and bedsets that make up three depositional facies. Facies 1 reflects sand dune migration at the channel base, which grades into inclined heterolithic stratification of Facies 2 and 3. Facies 2 occurs in the centre and seaward portions of the translating point bars and records tide‐dominated deposition of sand and muddy sand during periods of reduced river discharge. Ichnological suites and bioturbation intensities in these beds reflect persistent but variable brackish‐water conditions, fluctuating deposition rates and the deposition of mud. Mud beds are derived from flows with high suspended‐sediment concentrations. Tidally derived mud beds are typically bioturbated with trace fossil suites indicative of slow deposition rates and brackish‐water conditions. Mud deposited during elevated river discharge is burrowed after the dewatering of the bed. Facies 3 occurs at the landward apex of the translating point bar and is marked by sand‐rich and mud‐rich dune deposits with abundant soft‐sediment deformation, indicative of elevated flow velocities and deposition rates. Bioturbation is rare and sporadically distributed owing to unstable substrates. The distribution of the facies reflect the hydrodynamic variations that occurred vertically and laterally across the bar in response to temporal variations in fluvial and tidal flow interaction, as recorded by their mesofacies. The detailed facies analysis strongly suggests that deposition of the three McMurray Formation translating point bars occurred in proximity to the turbidity maximum zone of a fluvio‐tidal channel system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Circular depressions are concave, shallow depressions found on planar landscape surfaces in the southern Namib Desert. They occur on gravelly substrates with nearly level to very slightly inclined surfaces. The depressions range from 6 to 10 m in diameter with centers typically depressed 10–20 cm below the level of the surrounding terrain. Locations of individual circular depressions were mapped at one site using ground-based measurements and at three additional sites using Google Earth imagery. At all sites, circular depressions are highly overdispersed with densities ranging from approximately 10–20/ha and corresponding nearest neighbor distances of 17–24 m. Large fragments of weathered calcrete and stones occur on soil surfaces surrounding circular depressions, but not within the depressions. Circular depressions at one site contained active burrow systems of Brants' whistling rat (Paratomys brantsii). Bioturbation by these rodents contributes to the non-cohesive nature of the sandy substrate, which promotes aeolian deflation and formation of the depressions. Excavations of the burrow systems by the honey badger (Mellivora capensis) in search of rodent prey can transfer large stones and calcrete fragments from the subsurface to the surface and subsequently move those materials about the surface. Even if such sequential, horizontal displacements are in random directions, such movements can eventually yield a central, clast-free area surrounded by a peripheral zone where the clasts accumulate once they have been displaced beyond the margin of the area to which the predator is drawn in search of rodent prey. A conceptual model consisting of a two-dimensional random walk of large clasts about the surface until they are displaced from the focal "arena" of rodent occupation provides a novel explanation for origin of a spatially organized pattern that is initiated through the random displacement of those materials. Comparable microtopographic patterning associated with bioturbation in other arid and semi-arid environments may have similar origins. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Taxonomy is a dynamic and evolving scientific field in biological and paleontological research, which describes and systematises species and other taxa and thus lays the foundation to solve and structure biological questions. The study of past (fossil) and modern (present) seafloor traces holds huge potential for understanding the composition, behavioural ecology, and ecosystem impact of benthic communities, e.g., in terms of bioturbation and carbon cycling. In trace fossil research (paleoichnology), ichnotaxonomical analysis is based on the application of ichnotaxobases, morphology being the most important and useful criterion. However, marine neoichnological analyses (modern traces; lebensspuren) have no standardised ichnotaxobases. In the literature, classification based on morphological descriptions or behavioural assignations can be found, but without consensus. This lack of standardised terminology hinders comparisons among studies and regions. Through this manuscript, we discuss the limitations of marine lebensspuren characterisation through underwater observations and how further classification could be done (i.e., possible ichnotaxobases). Considering that most of the classifications will be based on marine still images, we propose a classification for marine lebensspuren based on a combination of three labels: 1) morphology (e.g., M-ridged trail), 2) behaviour determination (e.g., locomotion and feeding), and 3) tracemaker taxonomy (e.g., Echinocrepis rostrata). Accordingly, the classification will be 1) M-ridged trail 2) Locomotion and feeding 3) Echinocrepsis rostrata. A set of recommendations is given to address all three labels. Also, we describe some of the contrasting positions of paleo- and neoichnology, particularly where a solution presently seems difficult to find, and argue that open nomenclature could be useful as still images contain large amounts of information. Finally, we provide examples of the usage of this classification for input to a marine lebensspuren online repository and how this nomenclature can help to compare worldwide lebensspuren in a consistent way. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article describes the sedimentation environments of Lower Cretaceous (Aptian–Albian) terrigenous deposits in the North Caspian. These rocks are oil and gas reservoirs and are characterized by an uneven distribution of the pelitic and silty fractions, which leads to a high content of residual water, low permeability, and poor consistency of the filtration-capacity properties with each other. A detailed lithological and facies analysis of the rocks was carried out for correct interpretation of geophysical data. The following marine environments predominated in the studied area in the Early Cretaceous: coastal, shallow marine, relatively shallow shelf with active hydrodynamics; relatively deep-water shelf with low hydrodynamics. The sections show a change from shallow to deeper facies and vice versa, which allows us to conclude periodic fluctuations in sea level. The results of lithological analysis clearly indicate the predominance of shallow marine and coastal sediments in the Aptian and deeper, shelf sediments in the Albian. Thus, we can suggest a sea transgression at the end of the Early Cretaceous and detect signs of it in the sections of Aptian–Albian deposits in the North Caspian. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Having a wide geographical distribution and, as an engineering species, actively transforming the landscapes they inhabit, ants have a significant impact on the environment, creating new biogenic landforms and changing a number of its parameters, including biotic ones. This review is devoted to the consideration of the diverse environment-forming activities of ants in different regions of the world. An analysis of the scientific literature carried out in this context revealed a clear disproportion between the fairly good knowledge of tropical regions and the insufficient knowledge of temperate latitudes. The environment-forming activity of ants actively populating grasslands removed from agricultural use: steppes, continental and floodplain meadows of temperate latitudes has been especially poorly studied, which determines the undoubted priority of this area of research.

Abstract Multiple expressions of climate change, in particular warming‐induced reductions in the type, extent and thickness of sea ice, are opening access and providing new viable development opportunities in high‐latitude regions. Coastal margins are facing these challenges, but the vulnerability of species and ecosystems to the effects of fuel contamination associated with increased maritime traffic is largely unknown. Here, we show that low concentrations of the water‐accommodated fraction of marine fuel oil, representative of a dilute fuel oil spill, can alter functionally important aspects of the behaviour of sediment‐dwelling invertebrates. We find that the response to contamination is species specific, but that the range in response among individuals is modified by increasing fuel concentrations. Our study provides evidence that species responses to novel and/or unprecedented levels of anthropogenic activity associated with the opening up of high‐latitude regions can have substantive ecological effects, even when human impacts are at, or below, commonly accepted safe thresholds. These secondary responses are often overlooked in broad‐scale environmental assessments and marine planning yet, critically, they may act as an early warning signal for impending and more pronounced ecological transitions.