The Inverted Microbial Loop Stimulates Mineralisation of Sedimentary Organic Detritus

Results from mesocosm experiments investigating benthic community respiration in intertidal sediment. Sediment was from the Oostershelde estuary,The Netherlands. Treatments included an intact control, as well as sediment with only microbes, only macrofauna, and a combination of microbes and macrofauna where the macrofaunal community was controlled. 13C labelled organic detritus was added at the start of experiments, and respiration as monitored over 7 days as both oxygen consumption and as production of 13C labelled dissolved inorganic carbon. Data are presented for respiration rates (both oxygen consumption and dissolved organic carbon production), and assimilation of added carbon by both macrofauna and bacteria.