The Role of Trophic and Oceanographic Conditions in the Ecology of Deep-Sea Nematodes
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The Role of Trophic and Oceanographic Conditions in the Ecology of Deep-Sea Nematodes by Katja Guilini The Role of Trophic and Oceanographic Conditions in the Ecology of Deep-Sea Nematodes ISBN 9789090265360 EAN 9789090265360 Cover design: Valerie Smets and Katja Guilini Lay-out: Valerie Smets and Katja Guilini Printed by: QualiCopy bvba, Maaltebruggestraat 169, 9000 Gent Marine Biology Research Group Campus Sterre - S8 Krijgslaan 281 B-9000 Gent Belgium Publically defended on December 6th, 2011 Chairman at the defense: Prof. Dr. Koen Sabbe For citation to published work reprinted in this thesis, please refer to the original publications. Guilini K (2011) The role of trophic and oceanographic conditions in the ecology of deep-sea nematodes. Ghent Uinversity (UGent), 307 pp. The research leading to this thesis received funding from the European Community’s Sixth Framework Program under the Hotspot Ecosystem Research on the Margins of European Seas project (HERMES, contract number GOCE-CT-2005-511234), from the European Community’s Seventh Framework Program under the Hotspot Ecosystem Research and Man’s Impact on European Seas project (HERMIONE, grant agreement number 226354), and from the Flanders Fund for Scientific Research (FWO, project number 3G0346) and Special Research Fund (BOF, the relation between function and biodiversity of Nematoda in the deep sea [FUNDEEP], project number 01J14909). The Role of Trophic and Oceanographic Conditions in the Ecology of Deep-Sea Nematodes De Rol van Trofische en Oceanografische Condities in de Ecologie van Diepzeenematoden by Katja Guilini Promotor: Prof. Dr. Ann Vanreusel Academic year 2011 - 2012 Thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor in Science: Marine Sciences Members of the examination committee Members of the reading committee * Prof. Dr. Ann Vanreusel, Promotor Ghent University, Gent, Belgium Prof. Dr. Magda Vincx Ghent University, Gent, Belgium Prof. Dr. Tom Moens * Ghent University, Gent, Belgium Dr. Jan Vanaverbeke Ghent University, Gent, Belgium Dr. Dick van Oevelen * NIOO-KNAW, Yerseke, The Netherlands Dr. Gritta Veit-Köhler * Senckenberg am Meer - DZMB, Wilhelmshaven, Germany Prof. Dr. Wim Vyverman Ghent University, Gent, Belgium Dr. Marleen De Troch Ghent University, Gent, Belgium Prof. Dr. Dominique Adriaens, Chairman Ghent University, Gent, Belgium vi Table of contents Acknowledgements i Summary vii Samenvatting xiii Chapter 1 General Introduction 4 Chapter 2 Nutritional importance of benthic bacteria for deep-sea nematodes from the arctic ice margin: results of an isotope tracer experiment 30 Chapter 3 Deep-sea nematodes actively colonize sediments, irrespective of the presence of a pulse of organic matter: results from an in-situ experiment 56 Chapter 4 Evidence for the trophic state and bentho-pelagic coupling of deep-sea nematodes across the southern ocean 88 Chapter 5 Cold seep and oxygen minimum zone associated sources of margin heterogeneity affect benthic assemblages, diversity and nutrition at the cascadian margin (ne pacific ocean) 124 Chapter 6 General discussion, conclusions and future challenges 170 Addenda Addendum 1 Antarctic deep-sea meiofauna and bacteria react to the deposition of particulate organic matter after a phytoplankton bloom 194 Addendum 2 Characterization of the seafloor at the systco stations based on video observations and ground truthing sedimentology 226 Cited literature 242 Acknowledgements ii Fresh out of school, I had no idea of what I wanted to do with my life, I had no professional focus. Ann Vanreusel was the person kind enough - one might say crazy enough - to trust me with a position in her team. She challenged me with intriguing research questions, discussions and responsibilities for coordinating complex samplings and sample sets. Above all she taught me to be persistent and patient in order to succeed in this field of research. She also offered me the chance to embark on adventurous voyages at sea and mingle between outstanding researchers in the field and on conferences. Her personal touch and kindness also undoubtedly contributed to the great experience of these PhD years. For all this, Ann, I am very grateful. During my five years of research, I had the honor and pleasure to be surrounded by some excellent researchers who considerably contributed to the quality of this work. Ann, also you are among them. Dick van Oevelen is the person I’d like to thank for introducing me in feeding ecology. Our collaboration started with the early concept of an experiment, included a memorable time at sea and resulted in two scientific papers of high norm. Thank you for sharing your knowledge, your different point of view and the nice talks when work was at rest. This fruitful collaboration also received great support from Karline Soetaert, Jack Middelburg and Eric Boschker. Their expertise was indispensible for realizing this work. I also thank Gritta Veit-Köhler, for the excellent teamwork at sea and subsequent processing of our data. It is a real pleasure working with you. So are the insightful discussions with Tom Moens. Thank you Tom for always providing answers or advice when I knocked your door unexpectedly. I also thank Thomas Soltwedel, Ingo Schewe and Lisa Levin for involving me in their fields of research and for providing me with essential tools or samples. At the Marine Biology lab I am part of a well-organized and ambitious team. A lot of credit for that should go to Magda Vincx, who shows that professionalism and good fun with colleagues go hand in hand. I also sincerely thank the members of the jury committee: Ann Vanreusel, Tom Moens, Magda Vincx, Wim Vyverman, Dick van Oevelen, Gritta Veit-Köhler, Jan Vanaverbeke, Marleen De Troch and Dominique Adriaens; for their constructive criticism which substantially improved the final version of this script. I warmly thank the people who joined and helped me during my two big expeditions to the Polar Regions. First of all I thank Gustavo Fonseca and Dick van Oevelen for their contagious enthusiasm and invaluable help during the campaign to the Arctic Sea. During this campaign I was also assisted and amused by the outstanding team of ROV pilots from the MARUM center of the University of Bremen, under supervision of Volker Rathmeyer. Through their passion for exploration, they honestly made me doubt to become an ROV pilot. Other people who deserve a special word of gratitude are Mieke Eggermont, Melanie Bergmann, Katarzyna Grzelak, Henri Robert, Annika Henche, Matilda Haraldsson, Bram Feij, André Meijboom, Delhia Fontaine, Torben Riehl, Eberhard Sauter, Oliver Sachs, and Laura Würzberg. I cherish Acknowledgements the memories of sharing exciting work and great pleasure with all of you in the really special atmosphere created onboard the RV Polarstern. I also thank the chief scientists Michael Klages, Ulrich Bathmann and Angelika Brandt for their professional guidance of both polar campaigns. Naturally, I also thank Captain Uwe Pahl and his competent crew for leading us all safely into the far, open waters and back home. Most of the work for this PhD was of course not realized at sea. I spend most of the time at the Marine Biology home base in Gent. There, I had the pleasure to be surrounded by great colleagues on which I could count for both sharing thoughts about work and chats to forget about work for a moment. Some colleagues deserve special thanks for the time and effort they spend on processing samples and nematode slides to ease my work load. There is Annick whom I very grateful for picking many, many nematodes, making slides and helping out with papers and logistics. You’re indispensible for both the good functioning and atmosphere in the lab. So is Guy. Thank you Guy for your help with sorting out samples and resolving my endless computer bugs. Dirk, I thank you for your helpfulness in finding the right tools, performing extractions as well as analyses, and your never-fading urge to master new techniques or to solve problems. I also thank Bart and Niels for processing samples and nematode slides, and above all to make time when their agenda’s technically hardly allowed. A word of appreciation also goes to Jurgen for his enthusiasm during the design and construction of innovative tools. I also thank Isolde for having all paperwork sorted out and for being on standby whenever I dropped in with a question. Ellen, I thank you for joining me at the NIOO for practical work and for sharing thoughts, opinions and ideas concerning our parallel work at the lab. I also thank Pieter Van Rijswijck and Peter Van Breugel for their generous assistance during practical work at the NIOO. Also Jan’s and Tania’s opinion during nematode identifications were of great help to me. I thank Marleen for sharing her knowledge on fatty acid analysis. During the final stage, Lidia came to my help and provided me with the first results with which I’ll enter a next exciting phase of my academic career. Thank you Lidia. Some of my colleague PhD’ers were friends from before I started my research project, others became good friends along the path. I hope they share the feeling that it is impossible to write down in one sentence why and how grateful I am for their friendship, and that I cherish many great memories of times we shared. Nevertheless, I’ll give it a try and start by thanking Ulrike and Marijn for their enthusiasm and motivating attitude. You were there from before the start, showed great interest in my work and had a great influence on the pleasure I had during working hours. I’d love to continue our garden visits, diners, drinks and chats. And of course also Karl, the fantastic story teller, should not be missed. Julie, chouchou, thank you for encouraging me throughout the years and sharing so many parallels.