Microphytobenthos is most often the primary source of carbon for coastal soft-sediment communities, especially in intertidal and shallow subtidal environments. The influence of benthic macrofaunal organisms on microphytobenthic biomass, spatial distribution and photosynthetic capacities is not only resulting from their feeding intensity but also indirectly from their bioturbation activity, which regulates nutrient fluxes and sediment mixing. This study compares the impact of two species (Hediste diversicolor and Scrobicularia plana) that dominate macrofaunal communities in estuarine intertidal mudflats on microphytobenthic biomass and photosynthetic activity. Imaging-PAM fluorescence was used to non-invasively map the development of microphytobenthic biomass and to assess its spatial extent. Our results showed that, due to intense deposit feeding, Scrobicularia plana quickly limited microphytobenthos growth and photosynthetic activity, even at low density (<250 ind m-2). In contrast, the negative impact of Hediste diversicolor on microphytobenthos development due to direct consumption was very low. Thereby, the stimulation of nutrient fluxes at the sediment-water interface resulting from bioirrigation seems to enhance microphytobenthos growth and photosynthesis.
Keywords: Imaging-PAM; Macrofauna; Microphytobenthos; Photosynthesis; Spatial distribution.
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