Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 21, 2026

Unraveling the Unseen Players in the Ocean - A Field Guide to Water Chemistry and Marine Microbiology
Published on: November 5, 2014
Effects of Field Simulated Marine Heatwaves on Sedimentary Organic Matter Quantity, Biochemical Composition, and
Santina Soru1, Patrizia Stipcich2, Giulia Ceccherelli3
1Dipartimento di Scienze della Vita e dell'Ambiente, Università degli Studi di Cagliari, Via T. Fiorelli, 1, 09126 Cagliari, Italy.
Abstract:
Since rising temperature (T) will enhance biochemical reactions and coastal marine sediments are hotspots of carbon cycling, marine heatwaves' (MHWs') intensification caused by climate change will affect coastal biogeochemistry. We investigated the effects of MHWs on sediment organic matter (OM) in a nearshore locality (NW Sardinia, Mediterranean Sea) receiving an artificial warm water plume generating T anomalies of 1.5-5.0 °C. Sediments were collected before and after 3 and 11 weeks from the initial plume release. Both MHWs influenced sedimentary OM quantity, composition, and degradation rates, with major effects associated with the highest T anomaly after 3 weeks. Both MHWs enhanced sedimentary OM contents, with larger effects associated with the highest T anomaly. Phytopigment contents increased in the short term but dropped to initial levels after 11 weeks, suggesting the occurrence of thermal adaptation or stress of microphytobenthos. In the longer term we observed a decrease in the nutritional quality of OM and a slowdown of its turnover mediated by extracellular enzymes, suggestive of a decreased ecosystem functioning. We anticipate that intensification of MHWs will affect benthic communities not only through direct effects on species tolerance but also by altering benthic biogeochemistry and the efficiency of energy transfer towards higher trophic levels.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
Marine Microbial Ecology
Deep Sea Microbial Ecology
Freshwater Microbial Ecology
Microbial Bioremediation of Hydrocarbons
Microbial Corrosion
Microbes and Climate Change

