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The Return of Shallow Shelf Seas as Extreme Environments: Anoxia and Macrofauna Reactions in the Northern Adriatic Sea

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Anoxia

Part of the book series: Cellular Origin, Life in Extreme Habitats and Astrobiology ((COLE,volume 21))

Abstract

Anoxia is a key issue in the past and present marine ecosystems. This is because no other form of disturbance so severely affects marine communities over such extensive areas. Anoxia is also the only manifestation of human-induced disturbance that was also an important factor in ancient systems. While microorganisms may rule the Earth, it is fundamentally the macrofauna that defines marine ecosystems and provides the ecosystem services on which we rely. Recurrent or intermittent hypoxia and anoxia represent the least consistent and therefore the most extreme habitat conditions for benthic communities. The unpredictable and rapid onset of anoxia-related mortalities has hampered our ability to document and understand the reactions of benthic organisms. One approach is to experimentally recreate, on a small-scale, hypoxia and anoxia in situ. We have designed and deployed an experimental anoxia generating unit (EAGU), equipped with time-lapse camera and sensor arrays, to analyze the behaviors and mortality sequences of benthic macrofauna in the Northern Adriatic (Mediterranean Sea), a model for eutrophication-related low dissolved oxygen events. This yields information that helps evaluate the condition and status of benthic communities, including in ancient marine ecosystems.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Marine Biology, University of Vienna, Althanstrasse 14, 1090, Vienna, Austria

    Michael Stachowitsch & Bettina Riedel

  2. Department of Paleontology, University of Vienna, Althanstrasse 14, 1090, Vienna, Austria

    Martin Zuschin

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  1. Michael Stachowitsch
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  2. Bettina Riedel
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  3. Martin Zuschin
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Correspondence to Michael Stachowitsch .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. , Dept. for Earth and Environmental Resear, Ludwig-maximilians-University, Richard-Wagner-Str. 10, Munich, 80333, Germany

    Alexander V. Altenbach

  2. , Geology & Geophysics Department, Wood Hole Oceanographic Institution, Woods Hole Road 266, Woods Hole, 02543, Massachusetts, USA

    Joan M. Bernhard

  3. Jerusalem, The Hebrew University Of, P.O.Box 1132, Efrat, 90435, Israel

    Joseph Seckbach

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Stachowitsch, M., Riedel, B., Zuschin, M. (2012). The Return of Shallow Shelf Seas as Extreme Environments: Anoxia and Macrofauna Reactions in the Northern Adriatic Sea. In: Altenbach, A., Bernhard, J., Seckbach, J. (eds) Anoxia. Cellular Origin, Life in Extreme Habitats and Astrobiology, vol 21. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-1896-8_19

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