Succession in marine benthic habitats and fauna in response to oxygen deficiency: analysed by sediment profile-imaging and by grab samples

This study shows, for the first time, in situ images of changes in marine b enthic habitats in response to oxygen deficiency. Tight coupling is demonst rated between gradual degradation of benthic habitat and faunal behaviour, species richness, abundance and biomass. The critical oxygen level that for ced changes in the benthic faunal successional stages was similar to 10% th at of air saturation (similar to 0.7 mi O-2 1(-1)). Before this critical sa turation level was reached, tube-building polychaetes their tubes extended higher into the water column, the width of the sub-oxic sediment layer decr eased, and vertical animal burrows (formerly oxidised and brown in colour) became sulphidic and black. Over a 10 mo hypoxic period (June 1997 to April 1998) in the Gullmarsfjord (Swedish west coast), benthic community success ional stages declined from equilibrium to virtually azoic conditions. As no rmoxic conditions returned, pioneering stages gradually recolonised the are a.