When sampling freshwater sediments (with corers and dredges), we will occasionally pull up sediments that are more water than sediments for the very top 5 cm or so. This top layer is easily poured, thicker than milk but thinner than a good thick milkshake. In limited experience, this tends to happen in ponds that are isolated from flows and wind. Since the firmer sediments are now several cm below this layer and, the thin and underlying thicker sediments layers tend to be black and probably low in oxygen, I am wondering what, if anything, could be living here. Anyone familiar with these sediments?
Its name is the sapropel, and organisms inhabited can be named as sapropelebionts. Amongst them exist the very interesting representatives of the free-living ciliates from anaerobionts for which the oxygen is poison! I'm studying long time these creatures, so you can find some papers on my site. As well I recommend perfect articles of Alfred Kahl, J. Finlay & T. Fenchel.
Meanwhile also invertebrates are inhabiting this biotop, but they have differenbt adoptions for the specific surroundings...
As well you should know that in some biotopes like sapropel (it is characteristic especially for some lakes) anaerobic metabolism is much more typical than aerobic...
Andrey
Andrey,
Thanks very much for info. Now that I have a term for it -- very loose sediments didn't work well in google -- it will be easier to search for info. As for there being anaerobic eucaryotes (e.g., ciliates), who knew??? The diversity of life is endlessly surprising.
You may find some ideas in this wetland and deep water classification by Cowardin et al. Some of these with high organics and relatively shallow may be wetlands with the anaerobic conditions, hydric soils. Wetlands are anaerobic and accumulate organics in the anoxic conditions. I find the responses very interesting.
Cool, I learned something new. Benthic habitats are more diverse than you think!
- Badges
- Science method
- Similar topics
- Biological Science
- Ecology