High dissolved organic carbon release by benthic cyanobacterial mats in a Caribbean reef ecosystem

Scientific Reports
Hannah J BrockeMaggy M Nugues

Abstract

Benthic cyanobacterial mats (BCMs) are increasing in abundance on coral reefs worldwide. However, their impacts on biogeochemical cycling in the surrounding water and sediment are virtually unknown. By measuring chemical fluxes in benthic chambers placed over sediment covered by BCMs and sediment with BCMs removed on coral reefs in Curaçao, Southern Caribbean, we found that sediment covered by BCMs released 1.4 and 3.5 mmol C m(-2) h(-1) of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) during day and night, respectively. Conversely, sediment with BCMs removed took up DOC, with day and night uptake rates of 0.9 and 0.6 mmol C m(-2) h(-1). DOC release by BCMs was higher than reported rates for benthic algae (turf and macroalgae) and was estimated to represent 79% of the total DOC released over a 24 h diel cycle at our study site. The high nocturnal release of DOC by BCMs is most likely the result of anaerobic metabolism and degradation processes, as shown by high respiration rates at the mat surface during nighttime. We conclude that BCMs are significant sources of DOC. Their increased abundance on coral reefs will lead to increased DOC release into the water column, which is likely to have negative implications for reef health.

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Citations

Sep 5, 2019·Scientific Reports·Ethan C CissellSophie J McCoy
Nov 2, 2016·Frontiers in Microbiology·Eva C PreisnerRobert S Norman
Apr 13, 2020·Journal of Phycology·Guillermo Diaz-Pulido, Cristina Barrón
Apr 30, 2021·MSphere·Elias BromanFrancisco J A Nascimento
Jul 10, 2021·Environmental Science and Pollution Research International·Balakrishnan ManikandanKunuyil Nandakumar

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Methods Mentioned

BETA
microsensors

Software Mentioned

MP
Excel Extensions ( CPCe )
Coral Point Count
MPR
- plotter

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