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1.
Satish J. Patel Bhawanisingh G. Desai 《Journal of the Geological Society of India》2009,74(2):233-259
Animal-sediment relationships of two benthic communities (Crustaceans and Polychaetes) were studied around Mandvi coast in
the Gulf of Kachchh, Western India. This coast consists of many micro-geomorphic landforms in which benthic communities are
inhabited and select their niches and produce endemic biogenic structures. Five intertidal subfacies have been described and
four types of grounds are identified, based on substrate consistency. 18 species of crustaceans, 15 species of polychaetes
and unsegmented worm nemertea have been identified. Crustacean behavioural activities were observed in dunes, beaches and
ridge-runnel in the form of burrowing, pellet making, feeding and crawling traces. Pelleted wall lining burrows of the suspension
feeder stomatopodean species of Oratosquilla striata are also abundant in runnels. Motile, deposit feeder polychaetes are abundant on the ridges and are occasionally found on
the lower reaches of the beaches, while suspension and filter feeders are found in the runnels. Lagoons consist of mainly
grouped funnel branched burrows of Oniphus eremita which is identical to ichnogenus Balanoglossites. Nemertea, which are opportunistic algal grazers, have exploited restricted niches for dwelling-feeding purposes and constructed
vertical burrow with pentamerous conical mound. The shore platform consists of cemented, calcareous tubes of filter feeder
Serpula along with symbiotic encrusters like Ostrea and barnacles. Ichnocoenoses are discussed and three-dimensional ichno-sedimentologic models are reconstructed for Beach,
Ridge, Runnel and Lagoon of the Mandvi intertidal zone. 相似文献
2.
沉积物中的生物遗迹记录是生物与环境相互作用的结果,是沉积环境及生态环境的良好指示标志。通过野外观察和实验室研究方法（取样,粒度分析,CT扫描及三维重构等技术）,研究了黄河三角洲潮坪环境现代生物遗迹的组成与分布特征。取得了以下几点认识:1）潮坪各个微环境中现代生物遗迹的分布有很大的差异性。现代生物遗迹主要分布在潮间带中,并且,从泥坪到混合坪到砂坪依次减少。潮上带主要有日本大眼蟹的层面进食迹和层内U形、Y形、多分叉形的居住潜穴。潮间带的泥坪中有大量日本大眼蟹的层面进食迹和层内U形、Y形、多分叉的居住潜穴,少量双齿围沙蚕的层面爬行迹,觅食迹,和层内的垂直、Y形居住潜穴,跳跳鱼的层面爬行迹,泥螺的层面拖迹,红带织纹螺的层面觅食迹;混合坪中有大量双齿围沙蚕的层面爬行迹,觅食迹和层内的垂直、Y形居住潜穴,少量日本大眼蟹的层面进食迹和层内U形、Y形、多分叉的居住潜穴,托氏昌螺的层面觅食迹,四角蛤的垂直潜穴,少量豆形拳蟹的层面爬行迹和层内Y形居住潜穴,泥螺的层面拖迹;砂坪中有竹蛏的垂直进食和居住潜穴,棒锥螺的觅食迹,以及秀丽织纹螺的觅食迹。2）对日本大眼蟹、双齿围沙蚕和四角蛤所造的层内潜穴,进行了三维重构,为精细研究这些潜穴的建构特征提供了图像基础。 相似文献
3.
杭州湾庵东浅滩沉积物中发现有多种造迹生物,主要有蝼蛄、泥甲虫、宁波泥蟹、珠带拟蟹守螺、泥螺、弹涂鱼、蚂蚁和鸟类等,营造的生物遗迹主要为觅食迹、居住迹和爬行迹(爬迹、拖迹和鸟足迹)等。分析表明,浅滩不同亚环境的造迹生物及其遗迹的主要类型和分布特征具有明显的差异性: (1)在潮上带植被茂密的草滩环境中,以层面上的生物觅食迹、居住迹和鸟足迹为主,造迹生物主要有蝼蛄、泥甲虫、蚂蚁和鸟类等,其中以蝼蛄的潜穴最为丰富。(2)在高潮滩的积水泥沼环境中,有大量近海喜盐植物,生物遗迹主要有宁波泥蟹的“J”形、“W”形和“Y”形潜穴、弹涂鱼的羽状爬迹、珠带拟蟹守螺在层面上营造的弧形、圆圈状的觅食迹和“C”形的条带状生殖迹。(3)在中、低潮间带的粉砂质环境中,以层面上珠带拟蟹守螺不规则的觅食迹为主。生物遗迹的分布与浅滩沉积底质沉积物粒度与含水量等特征密切相关。本研究不仅丰富了杭州湾浅滩沉积的新遗迹学研究,而且对古代潮汐沉积及其环境研究有重要的借鉴意义。 相似文献
4.
杭州湾庵东滨岸潮间带软底质沉积中发现的造迹动物有泥螺、珠带拟蟹守螺、弹涂鱼、宁波泥蟹、沙蚕、竹蛏、虹光亮樱蛤、海葵以及鸟类和植物等,包括软体动物、节肢动物、环节动物、脊索动物、腔肠动物等5个动物门类,共计8属,营造的生物遗迹主要有运动迹（爬迹、拖迹、足辙迹）、居住迹、觅食迹（进食迹）、生殖迹、停息迹、排泄迹、逃逸迹以及鸟类足迹和植物根迹等。分析表明潮间带不同的沉积环境,造迹生物及其遗迹的主要类型、空间分布、丰度、多样性具有明显的差异。1）研究区潮间带不同的沉积环境,造迹生物种类与分布不同,其遗迹的主要类型和分布特征具有明显的差异性,高潮区沉积物主要是富含有机质的砂质泥,生物遗迹包括珠带拟蟹守螺拖迹、停息迹和生殖迹,泥螺拖迹和停息迹,宁波泥蟹的觅食迹、居住迹和足辙迹,沙蚕的拖迹、觅食迹、居住迹和排泄迹,弹涂鱼的爬行迹和居住迹,以及鸟类足迹和植物根迹,其中层面遗迹以珠带拟蟹守螺的拖迹、沙蚕拖迹和觅食迹丰度最高,层内遗迹以沙蚕居住潜穴丰度最高,分布面积最广,扰动程度强烈,宁波泥蟹居住潜穴局部密集,扰动程度强烈,植物根迹密集,深度可达50~60 cm,这些生物遗迹常与平行直脊波痕和干涉波痕共生。中潮区沉积物主要由灰色粉砂和含砂粉砂构成,含水率较高,植被较稀疏。中潮区平坦的潮坪上生物遗迹主要由虹光亮樱蛤的居住潜穴和竹蛏的居住潜穴和摄食迹组成,丰度较高,具有少量泥螺拖迹以及植物根迹和鸟足迹。在中潮区潮沟两侧,沉积物颗粒较细,常见珠带拟蟹守螺的拖迹,宁波泥蟹的居住潜穴、足辙迹,弹涂鱼的爬迹。中潮区潮坪上多发育舌型波痕,生物遗迹多与舌型波痕共生。低潮区沉积物主要是灰色粉砂和粉砂质砂,含水率高,多为汤底,无植被,常见遗迹主要是虹光亮樱蛤的居住潜穴,竹蛏的居住潜穴以及少量海葵居住潜穴。2）沉积物的粒度、含水率影响遗迹的清晰度;3）由于受潮水、波浪运动的冲刷作用,沉积物表面的遗迹易被破坏,保存率极低,底内动物的居住潜穴保存率相对较高。该研究不仅为杭州湾潮间带沉积环境研究提供了新的现代生物遗迹信息,而且也可为古代强潮河口湾潮间带沉积环境中的古遗迹学研究提供借鉴。 相似文献
5.
6.
Paras M. Solanki Nishith Y. Bhatt Satish J. Patel Jagdish M. Patel 《Journal of the Geological Society of India》2017,90(4):396-404
On the basis of distinct lithologic features such as composition, grain size, bedding characteristics and sedimentary structures, six facies were identified in Callovian to Oxfordian rocks exposed southwest of Bhuj, Kachchh. They are interbedded calcareous shale-siltstone (ICSSF), limestone (LF), ferruginous sandstone (FerSF), felspathic sandstone (FelSF), grey shale (GSF) and oolitic limestone (OLF) facies. The rich and highly diversified trace fossils reveal a wide range of animal behaviours represented by dwelling, feeding, crawling and resting structures. Horizontal feeding structures are found abundantly in all lithofacies indicating low wave and current energy and deposition of poorly sorted muddy to sandy sediments. A few coarse layers containing Arenicolites, Ophiomorpha and Skolithos indicate the presence of opportunistic animals (due to their first appearance under harsh conditions) under -intermittently moderate wave and current energy or storm wave conditions (due to coarse grain size and dominance/presence of only vertical trace fossils) in the shoreface zone. Taenidium occurs mainly in the lower shoreface to transitional zone suggesting low to moderate energy conditions. Thalassinoides occurs in middle to lower shoreface settings under relatively low-energy conditions. Zoophycos represents offshore environment, where it occupies the deepest bioturbation levels.The characteristic lithofacies and assemblages of trace fossils in the rocks of the Chari/Jumara Formation indicate a depositional environment fluctuating from the upper shoreface to offshore zone. 相似文献
7.
8.
Two new tetrapod burrow casts from the Naobaogou Formation （Middle or Late Permian） of Nei Mongol,China are described.It marks the first pre-Cenozoic tetrapod burrow from China,and one of the earliest records of tetrapod burrows.Comparison to other Permian and Triassic burrows suggests that these burrows were created by tetrapod slightly smaller than Lystrosaurus.Deduced from the morphology and sizes of two burrows and known tetrapods of the Naobaogou Formation,the burrow should be the production of a therapsid,most likely a dicynodon.These burrows indicate a seasonal climate and this area was semiarid or arid during that time. 相似文献
9.
Diffusive boundary layers (DBL), sediment oxygen flux, and natural passive flow through model macrofauna burrows were compared
in two benthic chambers: one with a conventional rotational stirrer and the other with a two-dimensional flow diffuser system.
Oxygen microprobe profiles showed that at similar velocities the mean diffusive boundary layer (DBL) thickness induced by
a conventional rotor stirrer (453±118 μm) was not significantly different to that produced by the diffuser system (403±53
μm). The rotor produced twice as much DBL spatial variability (coefficient of variation 27%) as the diffuser (CV 11%). Variability
between the rotor system’s DBL transect replicates was also two times greater (average CV of 22%) compared to the diffuser
(CV 14%). At equivalent stirring speeds over experimental sediments, mean O2 consumption rates were also not significantly different between the two systems. The diffuser induced consistently greater
(16–37%) passive Bernoullian flow through model macrofauna borrows irrespective of the position of inhalant-exhalent openings.
The rotor stimulated anomalous burrow flow regimes over a greater area of the chamber floor (36%) compared to the diffuser
(23%). Depending on vent orientation the rotor was shown to reverse (exhalent to inhalant) burrow flow regimes in the central
9% of the chamber floor. This artifact of radial pressure and velocity differentials may have severe implications for tube
dwelling infauna that rely on unidirectional flow. The diffuser system more closely mimicked natural two-dimensional water
flow over the sediment surface and structures therein and is likely to give more representative results when measuring benthic
processes within incubation devices. 相似文献
10.
Anthony J. Martin 《Cretaceous Research》2009,30(5):1223-1237
Three enigmatic structures in an outcrop of the Otway Group (Albian) of Victoria, Australia, compose the first known evidence suggestive of dinosaur burrows outside of North America and the oldest from the fossil record. The most complete of the Otway structures nearly matches the size and morphology of a burrow attributed to the only known burrowing dinosaur, Oryctodromeus cubicularis from the Upper Cretaceous (Cenomanian) of Montana (USA). The suspected burrows cross-cut alluvial facies and overlie nearby strata containing dinosaur tracks. The structures contain identical sand fills in their upper portions, implying a near-synchronous origin and filling; graded bedding in the most complete structure also indicates passive filling of an originally open structure. This probable burrow is a 2.1 m long, gently descending, semi-helical tunnel, with a near-constant diameter (about 30 cm) that connects with an enlarged terminal chamber. The structures are unlikely to have been caused by physical or chemical sedimentary processes, and hence are considered as biogenic structures; moreover, their size and morphology imply tetrapod tracemakers. Burrow allometry indicates tracemakers with a mass of 10–20 kg, matching size estimates for small ornithopods from the Otway Group. Burrowing behavior in hypsilophodontid-grade dinosaurs, which compose most of the dinosaurian assemblage in the Lower Cretaceous of Victoria, was proposed previously as an adaptation for surviving formerly polar conditions in southeastern Australia. This paradigm is explored in detail, particularly through actualistic examples of tetrapod burrowing in cold climates. These structures may provide the first clues of ornithopod burrowing in these extreme environments, while also establishing search images for similar structures in other Lower Cretaceous outcrops in Victoria. 相似文献
11.
Fiddler crabs,Uca pugilator, collected from the field showed no avoidance to burrowing in 1 μg g?1 tributyltin (TBT)-contaminated sand held in laboratory trays. Treatment ofU. pugilator with levels of tributyltin as low as 0.5 μg l?1 for 1–3 wk resulted in an acceleration of the righting reflex in females, indicative of hyperactivity. Crabs of both sexes exhibited a reduction in burrowing activity, as measured by the number of burrows dug at 15 and 60 min after release into laboratory trays containing sand, and by the number of crabs within burrows at those times. The reduction in burrowing activity was not dose-dependent at concentrations of 0.5 to 50 μg l?1, and was unchanged between one and three weeks of exposure. Since fiddler crabs are dependent on burrows for many aspects of their lives, the reduction in burrowing behavior, should it occur in nature, would have serious consequences for the species. 相似文献
12.
河南鲁山寒武系第二统辛集组为一套风暴作用影响下的含磷和海绿石的碎屑岩沉积,主要由中厚层石英砂岩及极薄层泥岩与砂岩互层组成。遗迹化石发育在交错层理砂岩以及极薄层泥岩与薄层砂岩互层的层面上。Skolithos sp. 属于风暴衰减期的Skolithos遗迹相机会种(r-选择)遗迹化石,它们以短小的垂直居住潜穴及低遗迹分异度和丰度为特征。Palaeophycus tubularis,P. striatus,Taenidum sp.,Gordia marina,Planolites montanus,P. beverleyensis等属于风暴间歇期的Cruziana遗迹相均衡种(K-选择)遗迹化石,以水平进食、觅食潜穴为主,遗迹分异度和丰度中等。早寒武世风暴衰减期,频繁的风暴事件不利于研究区机会种遗迹化石的保存,同时风暴间歇期持续时间短、风暴停息期不发育,造成均衡类生物殖居窗口期短暂,亦不利于对沉积底质的连续殖居。这种特殊的风暴沉积以及早寒武世造迹生物较差的掘穴能力,导致研究区遗迹化石种类及数量远不及寒武纪以后的风暴沉积。 相似文献
13.
Although the supply and fate of suspended sediment is of fundamental importance to the functioning and morphological evolution
of muddy estuaries, reliable sediment budgets have been established in only a few cases. Especially for smaller estuaries,
inadequate bathymetric surveys and a lack of intertidal sedimentation data often preclude estimation of the sediment budget
from morphological change, while instrument-derived residual fluxes typically lie well within the errors associated with measurement
of much larger gross tidal transports. Given suitably long-term records of continuously monitored suspended sediment concentration
(SSC), however, analysis of the major scales of variation in sediment transport and their relation to hydrodynamic and meteorological
forcing permits qualitative testing of hypotheses suggested by directly measured residual fluxes. This paper analyzes data
from a 1-year acoustic Doppler profiler deployment in the Blyth estuary, a muddy mesotidal barrier-enclosed system on the
UK east coast. Flux calculations indicate a small sediment import equivalent to just 1.5% of the gross flood tide transport.
Little confidence can be assigned to either the magnitude or direction of such a small residual when considered in isolation.
However, the inference that the sediment regime is finely balanced is qualitatively supported by the close similarity between
flood-tide and ebb-tide SSC values. Singular spectrum analysis of the SSC time series shows the expectedly large contributions
to the variance in SSC at intratidal and subtidal (semimonthly and monthly) scales but also picks out intermittent variability
that is initially attributed to a combination of non-tidal surge and wind stress forcing. Closer examination of the data through
cross-correlograms and event-scale analysis indicates that local meteorological forcing is the major factor. Acting through
the resuspension of intertidal mudflat sediments at times of strong westerlies, meteorological forcing is directly implicated
in episodic sediment export from the estuary. Thresholding of tide-averaged fluxes using a range of critical wind stress values
further indicates that ‘tide-dominated’ (i.e., low wind stress) and ‘wave-dominated’ (high wind stress) conditions are associated
with sediment import and export. Sediment balance is potentially sensitive to the frequency of high wind stress events, since
the associated sediment exports are several times larger than the average import under calm conditions. Intermittent meteorological
forcing may thus exert an important control on the sedimentary balance of otherwise tidally dominated muddy estuarine systems,
and the role of wind climate should not be overlooked in studies of estuary response to environmental change. 相似文献
14.
Subir Sarkar Santanu Banerjee Pradip Samanta Silambuchelvan Jeevankumar 《Journal of Earth System Science》2006,115(1):49-60
This paper addresses macroscopic signatures of microbial mat-related structures within the 1.6Ga-old Chorhat Sandstone of
the Semri Group — the basal stratigraphic unit of the Vindhyan succession in Son valley. The Chorhat Sandstone broadly represents
a prograding succession of three depositional facies ranging from shallow shelf to coastal margin with aeolian sandsheet.
The mat-mediated structures were generated because of plastic or brittle deformation of sand, turned cohesive and even thixotropic
because of microbial mat growth. Mat growth also favoured abundant preservation of structures that usually have low preservation
potential. Prolific growth of microbial mat in the subtidal to intertidal zone of the Chorhat sea was facilitated due to lack
of grazing and burrowing activities of organisms in the Precambrian. It further indicates low rate of sedimentation between
the storms, as also attested by frequent superposition of storm-beds, even near the storm wave base. It also reduces erosion
and that, in turn, would imply low sediment concentration in flows leading to development of bedforms that are likely to be
smaller in size and isolated from each other in a single train in contrast to those that form in mat-free sands. 相似文献
15.
Florencia Botto Agustina Mendez-Casariego Macarena Valiñas Oscar Iribarne 《Estuaries and Coasts》2008,31(1):134-143
We show that, as previously described, there are conflicts between areas used by people and shorebirds. However, we propose
that burrowing organisms add complexity to the shorebird–human interaction that should be taken into account for management
and conservation. This is because SW Atlantic mudflats are dominated by high densities (up to 60 crabs m−2) of a strong bioturbator, the burrowing crab Neohelice granulata (=Chasmagnathus granulatus). These crabs affect the habitat use and foraging performance of shorebird species. The two-banded plover Charadrius falklandicus feed more in burrow areas whereas the yellowlegs Tringa spp. and the white-rumped sandpiper Calidris fuscicollis tend to avoid burrow areas. We evaluated the effect of human recreational activities on shorebirds, taking into account shorebird–crab
interaction, during shorebird migratory periods (November to April) of 2001, 2002, and 2003. This study was performed at the
Mar Chiquita coastal lagoon (37° 40′ S, Argentina). Results showed that people only rarely used the extensive soft bottom
intertidals dominated by burrowing assemblages of N. granulata because the soft sediments make walking difficult. Therefore, human impact is reduced for the two-banded plover. However,
for several migratory shorebirds that also avoid burrow areas, these areas act as suboptimal alternative areas when human
impact is important in their preferred habitats. When human activity is low, shorebirds remain foraging in the area but they
decrease their feeding intakes. The extensions of burrow areas differ among estuaries and are likely to generate between-estuaries
differences as stopover sites for shorebirds. Also, other species that form large burrowing assemblages can have a similar
impact on shorebird–human interactions. 相似文献
16.
Thomas Krings Dr. 《GeoJournal》1987,14(1):63-70
This article intends to describe the social situation and living conditions of the drought refugees living in the periphery
of Mopti. The complex phenomenon of ‘poverty’ and of social discrimination is explained by different indicators (kind of ‘informal
economy’, kind of dwelling, composition of food, hygienic situation). In contemporary Africa hunger has become a problem of
those people who have lost their original social and economic roots. This holds expecially true for the drought refugees.
The transformation of nomads and peasants into proletarian and dependent outcasts will be demonstrated. 相似文献
17.
渤海湾西北岸大吴庄牡蛎礁是近年来研究程度最高的礁体,天津空港物流中心牡蛎礁则是近年来新发现的礁体。该两处礁体上部的牡蛎个体内部充填的泥、个体之间的泥以及礁体上覆沉积泥层中的硅藻研究表明,礁顶上下（即礁体的上部-顶部和上覆沉积泥层的下部）均富含潮间带环境指示种的Auliscus caelatus,表明礁体发育后期和上覆沉积泥层的初期,均为潮间带环境。尽管如此,从礁顶向上覆沉积泥层转换方式在两处礁体却不相同:（1）大吴庄:Auliscus caelatus种向上逐渐减少,暗示着大吴庄剖面由礁体上部的潮间带中上部、直至上覆沉积泥层下部的潮间带上部、进一步向上覆沉积泥层上部的潮上带转化的趋势。（2）空港:牡蛎礁上覆沉积泥层出现了比例达6%~23%的河口咸水-半咸水种Achnanches brevipes,而下伏礁体内则未见该种,暗示此处泥层受河口作用显著影响。此种不同揭示了礁体停止发育的原因有所不同:在5 520cal BP时,大吴庄礁顶进入潮间带中上部,礁体经常脱离海水而发育停止;在约4 000 cal BP时,空港礁体所在位置因河流作用突然增强,在时间上看很可能是黄河改道在天津入海,古黄河携带大量泥砂入海,掩盖了潮间带的牡蛎礁而导致牡蛎礁发育停止。 相似文献
18.
Delineation of groundwater recharge zones and identification of artificial recharge sites in West Medinipur district,West Bengal,using RS,GIS and MCDM techniques 总被引：14，自引：4，他引：10
Artificial recharge plays a pivotal role in the sustainable management of groundwater resources. This study proposes a methodology
to delineate artificial recharge zones as well as to identify favorable artificial recharge sites using integrated remote
sensing (RS), geographical information system (GIS) and multi-criteria decision making (MCDM) techniques for augmenting groundwater
resources in the West Medinipur district of West Bengal, India, which has been facing water shortage problems for the past
few years. The thematic layers considered in this study are: geomorphology, geology, drainage density, slope and aquifer transmissivity,
which were prepared using IRS-1D imagery and conventional data. Different themes and their corresponding features were assigned
proper weights based on their relative contribution to groundwater recharge in the area, and normalized weights were computed
using the Saaty’s analytic hierarchy process (AHP). These thematic layers were then integrated in the GIS environment to delineate
artificial recharge zones in the study area. The artificial recharge map thus obtained divided the study area into three zones,
viz., ‘suitable,’ ‘moderately suitable’ and ‘unsuitable’ according to their suitability for artificial groundwater recharge.
It was found that about 46% of the study area falls under ‘suitable’ zone, whereas 43% falls under the ‘moderately suitable’
zone. The western portion of the study area was found to be unsuitable for artificial recharge. The artificial recharge zone
map of the study area was found to be in agreement with the map of mean groundwater depths over the area. Furthermore, forty
possible sites for artificial recharge were also identified using RS and GIS techniques. Based on the available field information,
check dams are suggested as promising artificial recharge structures. The results of this study could be used to formulate
an efficient groundwater management plan for the study area so as to ensure sustainable utilization of scarce groundwater
resources. 相似文献
19.
A new method to reconstruct aquatic palaeoenvironments is presented. It is based on a non-metrical ‘fish environment reconstruction
index’ (FERI), calculated for the total fish community recorded at an archaeological site. As an example, a FERI is generated
for the Baltic Sea using the ecological requirements of northern European fish species. The present study evaluates the proposed
method by using fish bone assemblages from a region (the middle Holocene Baltic Sea coast) with well-studied hydrographic
history. The bones originate from consecutive human riparian and coastal settlements of hunter-gatherers. The results obtained
for the parameters salinity and sediment structure correlate well with geological knowledge. The new method shows a successive
change from freshwater to brackish and finally to nearly marine conditions before, during, and towards the end of the marine
transgression that created the present Baltic Sea. Additionally, a shift in the sediment structure from muddy to sandy/rocky
conditions is recognisable. 相似文献
20.
The seafloor is the site of intense biogeochemical and mineral dissolution-precipitation reactions which generate strong gradients in pH near the sediment-overlying water interface. These gradients are usually measured in one-dimension vertically with depth. Two-dimensional pH distributions in marine sediments were examined at high resolution (65 × 65 μm pixel) and analytical precision over areas of ∼150 to 225 cm2 using a newly developed pH planar fluorosensor. Dramatic three-dimensional gradients, complex heterogeneity, and dynamic changes of pH occur in the surficial zone of deposits inhabited by macrofauna. pH can vary by ±2 units horizontally as well as vertically over millimeter scales. pH minima zones often form in association with redoxclines within a few millimeters of inner burrow walls, and become more pronounced with time if burrows remain stable and irrigated for extended periods. Microenvironmental pH minima also form locally around decaying biomass and relict burrow tracks, and dissipate with time (∼5 d). H+ concentrations and fluxes in sandy mud show complex acid-base reaction distributions with net H+ fluxes around burrows up to ∼12 nmol cm−2 d−1 and maximum net reaction rates varying between −90 (consumption) to 120 (production) μM d−1 (∼90 nmol cm−1 d−1 burrow length). Acid producing zones that surround irrigated burrows are largely balanced by acid titration zones along inner burrow walls and outer radial boundaries. The geometry and scaling of pH microenvironments are functions of diagenetic reaction rates and three-dimensional transport patterns determined by sediment properties, such as diffusive tortuosity, and by benthic community characteristics such as the abundance, mobility, and size of infauna. Previously, undocumented biogeochemical phenomena such as low pH regions associated with in-filled relict biogenic structures and burrowing tracks are readily demonstrated by two-dimensional and time-dependent images of pH and sedimentary structure. 相似文献