Sediment chlorophyll-a, pheophytin, biogenic silica, and carbohydrate content (EPS) from the Rowley River mudflat in September 2012, Rowley, MA

Tidal flats are critical components of coastal estuarine ecosystems characterized by high rates of benthic primary productivity and biogeochemical cycling. In order to investigate the impact of anthropogenic nutrient loading on tidal flat biogeochemistry we carried out a two-week fertilization experiment. Throughout the course of the study we conducted two light-dark, whole-core incubations and took measurements of three indicators of microphytobenthos activity in addition to quantifying the resident eastern mud snail (Ilyanassa obsoleta) population.

潮间带滩涂是海岸河口生态系统的关键组成部分，以极高的底栖初级生产力（benthic primary productivity）与生物地球化学循环（biogeochemical cycling）速率为核心特征。为探究人为营养盐负荷对潮间带滩涂生物地球化学过程的影响，本研究开展了为期两周的施肥实验。实验期间，我们完成了两组明暗全柱培养实验，测定了三项微型底栖藻类（microphytobenthos）活动相关指标，并对栖息的东方泥螺（Ilyanassa obsoleta）种群进行了定量统计。