Passive irrigation and functional morphology of crustacean burrows in a tropical mangrove swamp

Stieglitz, Thomas, Ridd, Peter, and Muller, Paul (2000) Passive irrigation and functional morphology of crustacean burrows in a tropical mangrove swamp. Hydrobiologia: the international journal on limnology and marine sciences, 421 (1). pp. 69-76.

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Abstract

Flushing measurements and a resin cast of a burrow inhabited by Sesarma messa and Alpheus cf macklay were taken from a Rhizophora spp. forest. The burrow had 9 openings and occupied a swamp surface area of 0.64 m2. Passive irrigation of the burrow was investigated by recording change in conductivity of burrow water in a chamber 45 cm below the swamp surface during tidal inundation of the swamp. The chamber was completely flushed within approximately one hour, i.e. by a single tidal event. Burrow morphology was determined by means of resin casting. The investigated burrow was of discrete structure, with an overall depth of 1.2 m and a total volume of 68 l, i.e. ca. 9% of the volume of swamp soil. The below ground surface area of chambers and tunnels was 3.8 m2. The mean and maximum chamber/tunnel diameter was 7 cm and 11 cm respectively. The soil in the close vicinity of the burrow was extensively penetrated by roots, and any two parts of the burrow were located no further than 20 cm away from each other. By reducing diffusion distances within the soil and by being well flushed, the burrows provide an efficient mechanism for removal of excess salt accumulated in the soil around mangrove roots due to exclusion.

Item ID: 12875
Item Type: Article (Research - C1)
ISSN: 0018-8158
Keywords: Burrows; Flushing; Irrigation; Mangrove swamp; Morphology; Sesarma
Date Deposited: 09 Jul 2012 06:38
FoR Codes: 04 EARTH SCIENCES > 0405 Oceanography > 040503 Physical Oceanography @ 51%
04 EARTH SCIENCES > 0406 Physical Geography and Environmental Geoscience > 040603 Hydrogeology @ 49%
SEO Codes: 97 EXPANDING KNOWLEDGE > 970102 Expanding Knowledge in the Physical Sciences @ 51%
96 ENVIRONMENT > 9699 Other Environment > 969999 Environment not elsewhere classified @ 49%
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