Who really matters: Influence of German Bight key bioturbators on biogeochemical cycling and sediment turnover

- Echinocardium is a key mediator of biogeochemical cycling in the German Bight.
- Nucula has no impact on biogeochemical cycling but is an active bioturbator.
- Bioturbation activity in Amphiura is likely reduced by arm regeneration.
- Mapping of bioturbation potential was a poor tool for identifying key bioturbators.
- Experimental bioturbation potential was a good predictor of biogeochemical cycling.

Loss of bioturbating key species from marine sediments has been shown to strongly reduce benthic biogeochemical cycling and ecosystem functioning. It is thus of paramount importance to identify key bioturbators and quantify their effect on biogeochemical processes. To do so trait based community and species bioturbation potential (BPc and BPi) was mapped for 423 North Sea stations in the German Bight. Mapping of BPc and BPi identified Amphiura filiformis, Echinocardium cordatum and Nucula nitidosa as major bioturbating species in the German Bight. The effects of these species on benthic nutrient flux (i.e., changing concentrations of silicate ∆[SiO2], ammonium ∆[NH4+], nitrate ∆[NO3−] and nitrite ∆[NO2−]) were quantified in laboratory experiments together with their bioturbation rate (Db) and bioirrigation activity. The experiments indicated that mapped species bioturbation potential (BPi) may be a poor tool for identifying key bioturbators while calculated experimental BPi (expBPi) was a good indicator for species impact on biogeochemical cycling. Out of the three investigated species only E. cordatum significantly influenced biogeochemical cycling, whereas the effect of A. filiformis remained inconclusive potentially because arm damage and regeneration may affect the bioturbation activity of many individuals. The bivalve N. nitidosa showed only little impact on biogeochemical cycling, although this species was found to be an active bioturbator. Accordingly, E. cordatum may be considered one of the most important contributors to biogeochemical cycling at the sediment-water interface in the German Bight.