Engineering of Seston by Suspension Feeders: An Important Process in Fine Sediment and Detritus Dynamics? <p> HR: <span class="hr"> 13:30h<br></span> AN: <span class="an"> NB13A-01 <a href="../absbook/sm05_NB13A.html">[Abstracts]</a><br></span> TI: <span class="ti"> Engineering of Seston by Suspension Feeders: An Important Process in Fine Sediment and Detritus Dynamics? AU: <span class="au"> Warren, L L<br></span> EM: <span class="em"> l.warren@ucl.ac.uk<br></span> AF: <span class="af"> University College London, Darwin Building, Gower Street, London, WC1E 6BT United Kingdom <br></span> AU: <span class="au"> Wotton, R S<br></span> EM: <span class="em"> r.wotton@ucl.ac.uk<br></span> AF: <span class="af"> University College London, Darwin Building, Gower Street, London, WC1E 6BT United Kingdom <br></span> AU: <span class="au"> * Wharton, G <br></span> EM: <span class="em"> g.wharton@qmul.ac.uk<br></span> AF: <span class="af"> Queen Mary University of London, Mile End Road, London, E1 4NS United Kingdom <br></span> AB: <span class="ab"> Faecal pellets (FPs) are ubiquitous in aquatic systems and have been well studied in lake and marine environments. Recently, attention has focused on FPs in running waters, particularly the pellets produced by suspension feeders that often occur at very high population densities. These animals ingest organic matter and mineral grains non-selectively from the water column, aggregating the material into much larger FPs. This `engineering' of seston alters the bulk particle characteristics which has implications for fine sediment dynamics (deposition, storage and entrainment). The fate of the ingested particles affects the spiralling of nutrients within streams and the presence and availability of detritus, both as a substrate for microbial colonisation and as a food source for invertebrates. In a lowland, groundwater-dominated catchment in Southern England we found an abundance of FPs within streams and these were partitioned at discrete locations within the channel. FPs accumulated through spring and summer and were flushed out of the system by the autumn high flows. <br></span> DE: <span class="de"> 1800 HYDROLOGY<br></span> SC: <span class="sc"> North American Benthological Society [NB]<br></span> MN: <span class="mn"> 2005 Joint Assembly<br></span></p></body></html>