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Bioerosion along a bathymetric gradient in a cold-temperate setting (Kosterfjord, SW Sweden): an experimental study

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Abstract

In the cold-temperate setting of the Swedish Kosterfjord, a 2-year experiment was launched in order to assess bioerosion rates and to investigate the endolithic borer communities in relation to light availability (relative bathymetry), hydrography and exposure time. The inventory of microendolithic traces, studied by SEM analysis of epoxy resin casts of planted bivalve shells, yields diverse ichnocoenoses comprising a total of 21 traces produced by boring cyanobacteria (7), chlorophytes (4), fungi (6) and traces of uncertain affinity (4). The link between the endoliths (biotaxa) and the traces they leave (ichnotaxa) is evaluated by the study of the boring organisms in situ by transmission light microscopy of planted Iceland spar and bivalve shells. Additionally, the activity of various macroborers (foraminiferans, polychaetes, echinoids, gastropods and sponges) is documented, adding to a distinct diversity maximum at 7 m water depth. A highly condensed photic zonation, due to the high latitude (59°) and eutrophic conditions, is recorded by the measurement of the Photosynthetically Active Radiation (PAR) and is confirmed by the bathymetric range of the photic related ichnocoenoses. At 1 m water depth, a mature shallow euphotic ichnocoenosis dominated by cyanobacteria and at 7 m, a deep euphotic ichnocoenosis dominated by chlorophytes, respectively, is developed after as little as 12 months exposure. With the vanishing light availability from 15 m downwards, the ichnocoenoses development is significantly slowed and only immature dysphotic and aphotic borer communities (dominated by fungi) are encountered. Strong fluctuations of salinity (down to 8%) and temperature (0–20°C) in the euphotic zone indicate most phototrophs present to be considerably euryhaline and eurytherm, while most endolithic fungi appear preferentially in the deeper, more stable marine waters.

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Acknowledgements

We are indebted to Ingrid Glaub (Frankfurt a. M.) and Stjepko Golubic (Boston) for their competent reviews and fruitful correspondence. We gratefully acknowledge the TMBL staff for their logistic as well as scientific support, especially Hans G. Hannsson, Lisbeth Jonsson, Bertil Rex and Lillemor Svärdh. Furthermore, we would like to thank Ruth Nielsen (Kopenhagen) and Gudrun Radtke (Wiesbaden) for their helpful comments. This work is financially supported by the German Research Council (DFG-FR 1134/5-1)

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  1. Institute of Palaeontology, Loewenichstrasse 28, D-91054, Erlangen, Germany

    Max Wisshak, Marcos Gektidis & André Freiwald

  2. Tjärnö Marine Biological Laboratory, SE-45296, Strömstad, Sweden

    Tomas Lundälv

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  1. Max Wisshak
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Wisshak, M., Gektidis, M., Freiwald, A. et al. Bioerosion along a bathymetric gradient in a cold-temperate setting (Kosterfjord, SW Sweden): an experimental study. Facies 51, 93–117 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10347-005-0009-1

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