scholarly journals The Importance of Ecological Accommodation Space and Sediment Supply for Cold-Water Coral Mound Formation, a Case Study From the Western Mediterranean Sea

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Haozhuang Wang ◽  
Jürgen Titschack ◽  
Claudia Wienberg ◽  
Chelsea Korpanty ◽  
Dierk Hebbeln
Keyword(s):  
Grain Size ◽  
Size Distribution ◽  
Grain Size Distribution ◽  
Cold Water ◽  
Sediment Supply ◽  
Coral Growth ◽  
Accommodation Space ◽  
Mound Formation ◽  
Siliciclastic Sediments ◽  
Water Coral

The formation of cold-water coral (CWC) mounds is commonly seen as being the result of the sustained growth of framework-forming CWCs and the concurrent supply and deposition of terrigenous sediments under energetic hydrodynamic conditions. Yet only a limited number of studies investigated the complex interplay of the various hydrodynamic, sedimentological and biological processes involved in mound formation, which, however, focused on the environmental conditions promoting coral growth. Therefore, we are still lacking an in-depth understanding of the processes allowing the on-mound deposition of hemipelagic sediments, which contribute to two thirds of coral mound deposits. To investigate these processes over geological time and to evaluate their contribution to coral mound formation, we reconstructed changes in sediment transport and deposition by comparing sedimentological parameters (grain-size distribution, sediment composition, accumulation rates) of two sediment cores collected from a Mediterranean coral mound and the adjacent seafloor (off-mound). Our results showed that under a turbulent hydrodynamic regime promoting coral growth during the Early Holocene, the deposition of fine siliciclastic sediments shifted from the open seafloor to the coral mounds. This led to a high average mound aggradation rate of >130 cm kyr–1, while sedimentation rates in the adjacent off-mound area at the same time did not exceed 10 cm kyr–1. Thereby, the baffling of suspended sediments by the coral framework and their deposition within the ecological accommodation space provided by the corals seem to be key processes for mound formation. Although, it is commonly accepted that these processes play important roles in various sedimentary environments, our study provided for the first time, core-based empirical data proving the efficiency of these processes in coral mound environment. In addition, our approach to compare the grain-size distribution of the siliciclastic sediments deposited concurrently on a coral mound and on the adjacent seafloor allowed us to investigate the integrated influence of coral mound morphology and coral framework on the mound formation process. Based on these results, this study provides the first conceptual model for coral mound formation by applying sequence stratigraphic concepts, which highlights the interplay of the coral-framework baffling capacity, coral-derived ecological accommodation space and sediment supply.

Modeling shelter abundance for juvenile Atlantic salmon in a residual flow reach of a hydro power plant using SSIIM 2

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Spyros Pritsis ◽  
Nils Ruther ◽  
Kordula Schwarzwälder ◽  
Anastasios Stamou
Keyword(s):  
Grain Size ◽  
Atlantic Salmon ◽  
Size Distribution ◽  
Grain Size Distribution ◽  
Sediment Supply ◽  
Substrate Composition ◽  
Juvenile Atlantic Salmon ◽  
River Reach ◽  
Bed Changes ◽  
Shelter Availability

<p>Nowadays, the aquatic biodiversity is highly under pressure due to anthropogenic changes of the rivers such hydraulic structures changing the diversity of flow and aquatic fauna as well as sediment continuity. This can have severe consequences on the fish population in the river reach. Fish are strongly depending on a certain substrate composition throughout all their life stages. Juveniles for example are depending on a certain availability of shelter in the substrate in order to survive this stage.</p><p>Therefore, we investigate the effects of changes in the sediment composition at a hydropower plant in Switzerland on the availability of potential shelter for juvenile fish. By utilizing the observed correlation between parameters describing the fine tail of a riverbed’s grain size distribution and shelter abundance for juvenile Atlantic salmon, we predict the available shelter in a river reach by using a 3D hydrodynamic numerical model directly coupled to a morphodynamic model. The initial substrate composition was assumed to be spatially uniform, its parameters based on a grain size distribution curve derived from collected sediment samples.</p><p>This model can now be used for habitat improvement scenario modeling. Based on the assumption that a specific mixture of sediment coming from upstream travelling through the river reach will positively influence the potential shelter availability, different scenarios can be investigated. The baseline for comparison was the simulation of the bed changes without any sediment supply from upstream. The baseline discharge was set to 100 m<sup>3</sup> /s and was applied for 24 hours. The resulting bed changes create a map of the potential shelter availability of this grain size mixture. Then, two scenarios with sediment inflow from the upstream boundary were simulated. One coarse and one fine mixture of sediment were chosen as inputs, with the goal of investigating their impact on shelter abundance. The former designed to have a positive effect while the latter expected to reduce interstitial voids in the substrate and have a negative effect on available shelter.</p><p>The investigation is conducted as part of the EU Horizon 2020 funded project FIThydro (funded under 727830)</p>

scholarly journals Estimation of Bed Load Transport in River Osun, South-Western of Nigeria Using Grain Size Distribution Data

2020 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
O.S. Olaniyan
Keyword(s):  
Grain Size ◽  
Size Distribution ◽  
Grain Size Distribution ◽  
Bedload Transport ◽  
Cross Sectional Area ◽  
Sediment Supply ◽  
Distribution Data ◽  
Sectional Area ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Standard Methods

Sediment transport rate depends on bed composition, flow hydraulics and sediment supply. There is a paucity of information on bedload transport in River Osun. In this study, bedload in River Osun was estimated using grain size distribution data to predict channel migration and mitigate flooding. Grab sampler was used to collect sediment samples at the sampling point across the river designated as T1-T4. Sieve analysis was carried out in triplicate on sediment from sampling points using standard methods. Discharge and cross-sectional area were measured between December 2017 and December 2018 at sampling stations using standard methods. The seasonal and bedload were estimated using standards equations. The percentage of bed material particles above 5mm and less than or equal to 2mm were 50 and 22.49%, respectively. The average median grain (d50) size was 2.4mm. The discharge and cross-sectional area across River Osun ranged (0.53-17.46) m3/s and (3.83-47.46) m2. The seasonal suspended and bedload across the river were (206.43×103 kg/annum) and 2,538.77×103(kg/annum), respectively. The estimated sediment load of River Osun could be useful in determining the dredging period at any point across the river where deposition of sediment could be monitored.

scholarly journals Fluvial response to changes in the magnitude and frequency of sediment supply in a 1-D model

2018 ◽  
Vol 6 (4) ◽  
pp. 1041-1057 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tobias Müller ◽  
Marwan A. Hassan
Keyword(s):  
Grain Size ◽  
Sediment Transport ◽  
Size Distribution ◽  
Grain Size Distribution ◽  
High Frequency ◽  
Sediment Supply ◽  
Pulse Period ◽  
Flume Experiments ◽  
Evacuation Time ◽  
D Model

Abstract. In steep headwater reaches, episodic mass movements can deliver large volumes of sediment to fluvial channels. If these inputs of sediment occur with a high frequency and magnitude, the capacity of the stream to rework the supplied material can be exceeded for a significant amount of time. To study the equilibrium conditions in a channel following different episodic sediment supply regimes (defined by grain size distribution, frequency, and magnitude of events), we simulate sediment transport through an idealized reach with our numerical 1-D model “BESMo” (Bedload Scenario Model). The model performs well in replicating flume experiments of a similar scope (where sediment was fed constantly, in one, two, or four pulses) and allowed the exploration of alternative event sequences. We show that in these experiments, the order of events is not important in the long term, as the channel quickly recovers even from high magnitude events. In longer equilibrium simulations, we imposed different supply regimes on a channel, which after some time leads to an adjustment of slope, grain size, and sediment transport that is in equilibrium with the respective forcing conditions. We observe two modes of channel adjustment to episodic sediment supply. (1) High-frequency supply regimes lead to equilibrium slopes and armouring ratios that are like conditions in constant-feed simulations. In these cases, the period between pulses is shorter than a “fluvial evacuation time”, which we approximate as the time it takes to export a pulse of sediment under average transport conditions. (2) In low-frequency regimes the pulse period (i.e., recurrence interval) exceeds the “fluvial evacuation time”, leading to higher armouring ratios due to the longer exposure of the bed surface to flow. If the grain size distribution of the bed is fine and armouring weak, the model predicts a decrease in the average channel slope. The ratio between the “fluvial evacuation time” and the pulse period constitutes a threshold that can help to quantify how a system responds to episodic disturbances.

scholarly journals Fluvial response to changes in the magnitude and frequency of sediment supply in a 1D model

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tobias Müller ◽  
Marwan Hassan
Keyword(s):  
Grain Size ◽  
Sediment Transport ◽  
Size Distribution ◽  
Grain Size Distribution ◽  
High Frequency ◽  
Sediment Supply ◽  
Pulse Period ◽  
Flume Experiments ◽  
Evacuation Time ◽  
1D Model

Abstract. In steep headwater reaches, episodic mass movements can deliver large volumes of sediment to fluvial channels. If these inputs of sediment occur with a high frequency and magnitude, the capacity of the stream to rework the supplied material can be exceeded for a significant amount of time. To study the equilibrium conditions in a channel following different episodic sediment supply regimes (defined by grain size distribution, frequency, and magnitude of events), we simulate sediment transport through an idealized reach with our numerical 1D model BESMo (Bedload Scenario Model), which was configured using flume experiments with a similar scope. The model performs well in replicating the flume experiments (where sediment was fed constantly, in 1, 2 or 4 pulses) and allowed the exploration of alternative event sequences. We show that in these experiments, the ordering of events is not important in the long term, as the channel quickly recovers even from high magnitude events. In longer equilibrium simulations, we imposed different supply regimes on a channel, which after some time leads to an adjustment of slope, grain size, and sediment transport that is in equilibrium with the respective forcing conditions. We observe two modes of channel adjustment to episodic sediment supply. 1) High-frequency supply regimes lead to equilibrium slopes and armouring ratios that are like conditions in constant feed simulations. In these cases, the period between pulses is shorter than a fluvial evacuation time, which we approximate as the time it takes to export a pulse of sediment under average transport conditions. 2) In low-frequency regimes the pulse period (i.e. recurrence interval) exceeds the fluvial evacuation time, leading to higher armouring ratios due to longer exposure of the bed surface to flow. If the grain size distribution of the bed is fine and armouring weak, the model predicts a lowering in the average channel slope. The ratio between the fluvial evacuation time and the pulse period constitutes a threshold that can help to quantify how a system responds to episodic disturbances.

scholarly journals PODMÍNKY TRANSPORTU A AKUMULACE SEDIMENTŮ V ČLOVĚKEM OVLIVNĚNÝCH KORYTECH BESKYDSKÝCH TOKŮ: PŘÍKLADOVÁ STUDIE SOUTOKU ŘEKY MORÁVKY A MOHELNICE

2012 ◽  
Vol 19 (1-2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Václav Škarpich ◽  
Tomáš Galia ◽  
Jan Hradecký
Keyword(s):  
Grain Size ◽  
Size Distribution ◽  
Grain Size Distribution ◽  
Sediment Supply ◽  
Sediment Flux ◽  
Transport Parameters ◽  
Sediment Delivery ◽  
Load Transport ◽  
Gravel Bars ◽  
Gravel Bed Streams

This paper summarizes results of grain-size distribution of gravel bars and transport conditions in the context of sediment sources in the confl uence area of the Morávka and Mohelnice rivers (Moravskoslezské Beskydy Mts). We deal with a hypothesis that general changes of grain-size distribution of gravel bars are controlled by disconnection in sediment flux in the Morávka River and, by contrast, that higher sediment delivery is related to the Mohelnice river basin. The second focus is the evaluation of fluvial transport parameters of a channel influenced by control works and sediment mining. Bed load transport research was conducted with the application of BAGS (Bedload Assessment for Gravel-bed Streams) spreadsheet-based program. Sediment analysis of the channel confluence showed limited sediment supply character indicated by coarser sediment delivery from the Morávka River. This fact is related to the effect of hungry water caused mainly by the Morávka Reservoir. On the other hand, the Mohelnice River displayed trends of relatively higher sediment delivery without potential disconnectivities in sediment flux. Results of this analysis brought an insight into a potential scheme of the future development of the studied reaches. We suppose preservation of recent trends in case of the occurrence of signifi cant changes in land use or watershed management.

scholarly journals The influence of Atlantic climate variability on the long-term development of Mediterranean cold-water coral mounds (Alboran Sea, Melilla Mound Field)

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robin Fentimen ◽  
Eline Feenstra ◽  
Andres Rüggeberg ◽  
Efraim Hall ◽  
Valentin Rime ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Grain Size ◽  
Environmental Conditions ◽  
Cold Water ◽  
Water Masses ◽  
Alboran Sea ◽  
Mound Formation ◽  
Glacial Periods ◽  
Alborán Sea ◽  
Water Coral

Abstract. This study provides a detailed reconstruction of climatic events affecting a cold-water coral mound located within the East Melilla Coral Province (Southeast Alboran Sea) over the last 300 ky. Based on benthic foraminiferal assemblages, macrofaunal quantification, grain size analysis, sediment geochemistry, and foraminiferal stable isotope compositions, a reconstruction of environmental conditions prevailing in the region is proposed. The variations in planktonic and benthic δ18O values indicate that cold-water coral mound formation follows global climatic variability. Cold-water corals develop during both interglacial and glacial periods, although interglacial conditions would have allowed better proliferation. Environmental conditions during glacial periods, particularly during the Last Glacial Maximum, appear to better suit the ecological requirements of the erect cheilostome bryozoan Buskea dichotoma. Benthic foraminiferal assemblages suggest that high organic carbon flux characterized interglacial periods. Results from this study imply that increased influence of warm and moist Atlantic air masses during interglacial periods led to increased fluvial discharge, providing nutrients for cold-water corals. Important interglacial Atlantic Water mass inflow further promoted strong Alboran Gyres, and thus mixing between surface and intermediate water masses. Increased turbulence and nutrient supply would have hence provided suitable conditions for coral development. In contrast, benthic foraminiferal assemblages and grain size distributions suggest that the benthic environment received less organic matter during glacial periods, whilst bottom flow velocity was reduced in comparison to interglacial periods. During glacial periods, arid continental conditions combined to more stratified water masses caused a dwindling of coral communities in the southeastern Alboran Sea, although aeolian dust input may have allowed these to survive. In contrast to Northeast Atlantic counterparts, coral mound build-up in the southeastern Alboran Sea occurs during glacial as well as during interglacial periods and at very low aggradation rates (between 1 and 9 cm ky−1). We propose that Buskea dichotoma plays an important role in long-term mound formation at the East Melilla Coral Province, noticeably during glacial periods.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document