Published in

Oceanologica Acta, 3(26), p. 269-279

DOI: 10.1016/s0399-1784(03)00013-6

Links

Tools

Export citation

Search in Google Scholar

Variability in benthic oxygen fluxes during the winter-spring transition in coastal sediments: An estimation by in situ micro-electrodes and laboratory mini-electrodes

Journal article published in 2003 by Bruno Lansard, Christophe Rabouille ORCID, Delphine Massias
This paper is available in a repository.
This paper is available in a repository.

Full text: Download

Green circle
Preprint: archiving allowed
Red circle
Postprint: archiving forbidden
Red circle
Published version: archiving forbidden
Data provided by SHERPA/RoMEO

Abstract

Two expeditions were achieved at the winter-spring transition in the Golfe de Fos (Mediterranean Sea) at a site situated at 21 m depth. An in situ autonomous oxygen profiler and laboratory oxygen mini-electrodes were used to measure the oxygen distribution in the sediments and calculate the diffusive oxygen fluxes. Clearer waters during the second expedition promoted a rapid shift from a net heterotrophic environment to a photosynthesis-dominated sediment. The diffusive exchange fluxes of oxygen through the sediment-water interface varied from an average consumption of 5.3 mmol m–2d–1 (February) to a net production of 12 mmol m–2 d–1 (March). At both periods, a large spatial heterogeneity was recorded by the different electrodes, with a larger difference between oxygen profiles when photosynthesis was active. This is probably indicative of a coupling between photosynthesis and respiration in hot spots located close to the photosynthetic organisms. The comparison between in situ micro-electrode profiles and laboratory mini-electrode measurements revealed a good agreement when respiration was dominant, but photosynthetic activity was not detected by the laboratory mini-electrode profiles.