Intra- and inter-specific variability in benthic foraminifera modulates surface sediment reworking
- 1Univ. Lille, CNRS, Univ. Littoral Côte d'Opale, UMR 8187, LOG, Laboratoire d'Océanologie et de Géosciences, Station Marine de Wimereux 1 , F 59000, Lille, France
- 2Univ. Bordeaux, CNRS, Bordeaux INP, EPOC, UMR 5805 2 , Pessac F-33600, France
- 3Univ. Angers, Nantes Université, Le Mans Université, CNRS, Laboratoire de Planétologie et Géosciences, LPG UMR 6112 3 , 49000 Angers, France
Abstract
Bioturbation is a key ecological process that regulates benthic ecosystem functioning, including organic matter remineralization and nutrient regeneration. Despite growing evidence that meiofauna, and benthic foraminifera in particular, contribute to sediment bioturbation, the extent to which bioturbation modes and rates vary within and among meiobenthic species remains insufficiently understood. In this context, using three-dimensional microtopographic mapping, the present study investigates both inter- and intra-specific variability in the surface sediment reworking rate (SSRR) generated by four common intertidal benthic foraminiferal taxa, with different biological traits (e.g. shape, microhabitat). Inter-specific variability was examined by comparing the SSRR of three similarly sized taxa differing in morphology, namely Ammonia confertitesta, Haynesina germanica and Quinqueloculina spp. By contrast, intra-specific variability was assessed using Quinqueloculina spp. individuals distributed across five size classes ranging from 200 to 700 µm. Furthermore, the interplay between size and biological trait was investigated by including an additional species, Eggerelloides scaber. Our results demonstrate that SSRR increases markedly with individual size (e.g. SSRR generated by Quinqueloculina spp. increases from 0.59 to 20.56 mm³ ind⁻¹ d⁻¹ between the smallest and highest group size) and that species of comparable size can produce highly contrasting reworking patterns depending on their biological traits.
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BibTeX
@article{doutrelant2026intra,
title = {{Intra- and inter-specific variability in benthic foraminifera modulates surface sediment reworking}},
author = {Manon Doutrelant and Vincent M. P. Bouchet and Emmanuelle Geslin and Alicia Romero-Ramirez and Sébastien Lefebvre and Aurélie Ciutat and Olivier Maire},
journal = {Royal Society Open Science},
year = {2026},
month = sep,
doi = {10.1098/rsos.260545},
url = {https://royalsocietypublishing.org/rsos/article/13/9/260545/483407/Intra-and-inter-specific-variability-in-benthic},
note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Intra- and inter-specific variability in benthic foraminifera modulates surface sediment reworking
AU - Manon Doutrelant
AU - Vincent M. P. Bouchet
AU - Emmanuelle Geslin
AU - Alicia Romero-Ramirez
AU - Sébastien Lefebvre
AU - Aurélie Ciutat
AU - Olivier Maire
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/09/30
JO - Royal Society Open Science
DO - 10.1098/rsos.260545
UR - https://royalsocietypublishing.org/rsos/article/13/9/260545/483407/Intra-and-inter-specific-variability-in-benthic
AB - Bioturbation is a key ecological process that regulates benthic ecosystem functioning, including organic matter remineralization and nutrient regeneration. Despite growing evidence that meiofauna, and benthic foraminifera in particular, contribute to sediment bioturbation, the extent to which bioturbation modes and rates vary within and among meiobenthic species remains insufficiently understood. In this context, using three-dimensional microtopographic mapping, the present study investigates both inter- and intra-specific variability in the surface sediment reworking rate (SSRR) generated by four common intertidal benthic foraminiferal taxa, with different biological traits (e.g. shape, microhabitat). Inter-specific variability was examined by comparing the SSRR of three similarly sized taxa differing in morphology, namely Ammonia confertitesta, Haynesina germanica and Quinqueloculina spp. By contrast, intra-specific variability was assessed using Quinqueloculina spp. individuals distributed across five size classes ranging from 200 to 700 µm. Furthermore, the interplay between size and biological trait was investigated by including an additional species, Eggerelloides scaber. Our results demonstrate that SSRR increases markedly with individual size (e.g. SSRR generated by Quinqueloculina spp. increases from 0.59 to 20.56 mm³ ind⁻¹ d⁻¹ between the smallest and highest group size) and that species of comparable size can produce highly contrasting reworking patterns depending on their biological traits.
SN - 2054-5703
ER -