Changes in benthic bacterial communities during hypoxic disturbance

The study describes in situ hypoxia-induced changes in bacterial communities of surface sediments, during a shorter and longer-term artificially induced hypoxia on the seafloor of the Baltic Sea. In addition, changes in bacterial communities are studied in a relation to hypoxia-induced ecosystem responses, including nutrient fluxes at the sediment-water interface and changes in benthic macrofauna. The study provides information on how resistant bacterial communities are to hypoxic stress and what the consequences of hypoxia-induced changes in bacterial community composition are on the surrounding ecosystems. The information is needed to assess the coastal ecosystem sensitivity to eutrophication-driven hypoxia.