Baeyens, W.

Billon, G.

Gao, Y.

Gillan, D.

Leermakers, M.

Pede, A.

Rousseau, V.

Sabbe, K.

Verstraete, T.

Vyverman, W.

Open Marine Archive

 - 64 -
IMPACT OF PHYTOPLANKTON BLOOM DEPOSITION ON MICROBIAL 
COMMUNITIES AND METAL FLUXES IN CONTAMINATED NORTH SEA 
SEDIMENTS: A MICROCOSM STUDY 
Pede Annelies1, David Gillan2, Yue Gao3, Gabriel Billon4, Martine Leermakers3, Willy Baeyens3, 
Veronique Rousseau5, Tine Verstraete1, Wim Vyverman1 and Koen Sabbe1  
1 Lab. Protistology & Aquatic Ecology, Department of Biology, Ghent University, Krijgslaan 281-S8, 
9000 Ghent, Belgium 
E-mail: ajpede.pede@ugent.be 
2 Marine Biology Laboratory, Université Libre de Bruxelles, 50 Av Roosevelt, 1050 Brussels, Belgium 
3 Department of Analytical and Environmental Chemistry, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Pleinlaan 2, 
1050 Brussels, Belgium 
4 Université des Sciences et Technologies de Lille, UMR-CNRS 8110, France 
5 Ecologie des systèmes aquatiques, Université Libre de Bruxelles, CP221, Boulevard du Triomphe, 
1050 Brussels, Belgium 
 
Metal contamination and eutrophication are two interrelated problems affecting many coastal 
zones, including the Belgian Continental Zone (BCZ) of the southern North Sea. High concentrations 
of heavy metals, such as Cd, Cu, Pb, Zn, Hg and Ni, have been reported, especially in muddy 
subtidal sediments. Furthermore, eutrophication due to the input of nutrients and organic matter 
from adjoining estuaries results in recurrent spring algal blooms. Sedimentation of these algae and 
algae-derived organic matter results in intense remineralization in the sediments. This can cause 
significant changes in the redox state of the benthic ecosystem, affecting benthic microbial 
community structure and metal behavior. This study investigated the benthic response of 
phytoplankton bloom deposition on microbial communities and metal fluxes in a muddy, heavily 
contaminated subtidal station (130) from the BCZ. We used microcosms to evaluate the deposition 
of high concentrations (3μgl-1 chl a) of Skeletonema sp. and Phaeocystis globosa on microbial 
community structure. Sediments were sampled after 0, 2 and 7 days. Changes in microbial 
eukaryote community composition and activity were analyzed using molecular methods (18S rDNA 
and rRNA based DGGE respectively). These data were complemented by monitoring of the benthic 
metal fluxes and other geochemical variables (a.o. O
2
, pH, chlorophyll and DOC), and changes in 
composition and activity of benthic prokaryotes. The interaction between organic matter deposition, 
microbial community structure and activity, and metal dynamics will be discussed. 


Impact of phytoplankton bloom deposition on microbial communities and metal fluxes in contaminated North Sea sediments: A microcosm study

Impact of phytoplankton bloom deposition on microbial communities and metal fluxes in contaminated North Sea sediments: A microcosm study

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