Wave Sediment Transport Effects on Soft Bottom Benthic Feeding Biology

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Wave induced flow and sediment transport are dominant processes on the spatial and temporal scales of benthic organism behavior, feeding and growth. The responses of marine benthic organisms to waves have been investigated via coupled field and laboratory observations and tests of "null-effect" hypotheses. It has been determined that both sediment microorganisms and macrofaunal consumers can respond to oscillatory flow and sediment transport on short time scales. Using field and laboratory experimentation, the effects of oscillatory flows on the feeding biology of intertidal and shelf invertebrates will be studied. Many of the experimental tests will utilize a uniquely constructed oscillatory water tunnel, which have future benefits in the study of the adaptations of benthic animals to their physical environments.