New technologies to study effects of physical disturbances at the sediment-water interface: The development of an Integrated Sediment Disturber (ISD)(Vortrag)

Abstract

New, innovative technologies were developed and integrated within the EU-project COBO (Coastal Ocean Benthic Observatory) to investigate benthic responses to natural and anthropogenic impacts. The Alfred Wegener Institute for Polar and Marine Research (AWI) leads a work-package developing the so-called Integrated Sediment Disturber (ISD) to study the complex interactions between the biota and environmental perturbations and relaxations. The ISD carries three rotating fork-like disturber units able to rework the upper sediment layers at chosen time intervals. An Autonomous Positioning Drive allows the positioning of oxygen micro-sensors within and between the disturbed zones. A camera system continuously monitors all ISD actions. The ISD was deployed for a 2 months experiment in summer/autumn 2006. Sediment sampling has been carried out at the start, after one month and at the end of the long-term deployment. Scientific aims of the experiment are: to investigate benthic community function, with a focus on carbon and nutrient regeneration to investigate response to physical and chemical perturbation (organic additions, resuspension, anoxia) by benthic communities to examine functional resistance and resilience to single and combined pressure