Particle reworking and solute transport by the sediment-living polychaetes Marenzelleria neglecta and Hediste diversicolor

International audienceThis experimental study quantified and compared particle-mixing and solute transport by the polychaetes Marenzelleria neglecta (2 g ww, 3200 ind.mâ2) and Hediste diversicolor (2 g ww, 800 ind.mâ2) in Baltic Sea sediments. Particle tracers (luminophores) were added to the sediment surface and their vertical distribution in the sediment was measured after 10 d. The rate of particle mixing was quantified using a gallery-diffusion model calculating the biodiffusion coefficient Db and the non-local transport parameter r. Bioirrigation was measured by adding an inert solute tracer (bromide) to the overlying water 1, 1.5 and 2 d before the end of the experiment, and quantified by calculating the net bromide flux and fitting the bromide profiles to a 1D diffusion model providing an apparent biodiffusion coefficient Da. The two polychaete worms displayed similar particle-mixing and solute transport efficiencies (based on total biomass) despite different modes of bioturbation. However, H. diversicolor was a more efficient particle-reworker and M. neglecta a more efficient bioirrigator, on an individual level. H. diversicolor buried a higher percentage (13%) of luminophores below the top 0.5 cm surface layer than M. neglecta (6%). Db did not differ between the two species (2.4Ã10â3 cm2 dâ1) indicating a similar rate of diffusive mixing of the top sediment, however, the nonlocal transport parameter r was 2.5 yâ1 for H. diversicolor and zero for M. neglecta, suggesting no significant particle-transport below the biodiffusive layer by M. neglecta. The average individual net bromide fluxes obtained were ca. 0.01 mL minâ1 for H. diversicolor and 0.003 mL minâ1 for M. neglecta, corresponding to an area-specific rate of ca. 12 L mâ2 dâ1 at the used densities. Da did not differ between the two polychaetes, suggesting a higher individual solute exchange efficiency of M. neglecta considering the much higher ventilation rates reported for H. diversicolor than for Marenzelleria sp. The ongoing colonization of Baltic Sea sediments by M. neglecta at high densities may thus lead to an enhanced soluble release of both nutrients and contaminants. These results add information to the understanding of the potential effects of the invasion of M. neglecta on sediment biogeochemistry when competing with and/or replacing native species