Field evidence of flocculated sediments on a coastal algal reef
Abstract Flocculation of sediments is crucial for morphodynamics, biogeochemical cycles, and ecological processes in aquatic environments. Here we present field evidence that bio-cohesion primarily drives the flocculation of suspended sediments on a coastal algal reef. Results from concurrent measur...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Nature Portfolio
2025-01-01
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| Series: | Communications Earth & Environment |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s43247-024-01957-9 |
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| _version_ | 1841544291226222592 |
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| author | Zhi-Cheng Huang Tian-Jian Hsu Trung Nguyen Ly |
| author_facet | Zhi-Cheng Huang Tian-Jian Hsu Trung Nguyen Ly |
| author_sort | Zhi-Cheng Huang |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Flocculation of sediments is crucial for morphodynamics, biogeochemical cycles, and ecological processes in aquatic environments. Here we present field evidence that bio-cohesion primarily drives the flocculation of suspended sediments on a coastal algal reef. Results from concurrent measurements of sediment mass and volume concentrations, along with Reynolds stress, reveal unexpected trends, and the data deviate from the classic Rouse formula when non-cohesive sediment is assumed. Direct estimates of particle effective density show a dependence on mean particle diameter, with a fractal dimension of 2.18. The reduced effective density (or settling velocity) and low fractal dimension are typical of flocs containing lower-density saltwater and organic materials. Additionally, organic content negatively correlates with effective density and positively correlates with the mean particle diameter, confirming that bio-cohesion drives the observed flocculation. These results provide quantitative evidence that organic matter promotes macrofloc formation and floc size growth in a reef environment. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-7b6bb4d0a19e4bb0bad83a8f4f4ed9a4 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2662-4435 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Communications Earth & Environment |
| spelling | doaj-art-7b6bb4d0a19e4bb0bad83a8f4f4ed9a42025-01-12T12:41:06ZengNature PortfolioCommunications Earth & Environment2662-44352025-01-01611710.1038/s43247-024-01957-9Field evidence of flocculated sediments on a coastal algal reefZhi-Cheng Huang0Tian-Jian Hsu1Trung Nguyen Ly2Graduate Institute of Hydrological and Oceanic Sciences, National Central UniversityCivil, Construction and Environmental Engineering, Center for Applied Coastal Research, University of DelawareGraduate Institute of Hydrological and Oceanic Sciences, National Central UniversityAbstract Flocculation of sediments is crucial for morphodynamics, biogeochemical cycles, and ecological processes in aquatic environments. Here we present field evidence that bio-cohesion primarily drives the flocculation of suspended sediments on a coastal algal reef. Results from concurrent measurements of sediment mass and volume concentrations, along with Reynolds stress, reveal unexpected trends, and the data deviate from the classic Rouse formula when non-cohesive sediment is assumed. Direct estimates of particle effective density show a dependence on mean particle diameter, with a fractal dimension of 2.18. The reduced effective density (or settling velocity) and low fractal dimension are typical of flocs containing lower-density saltwater and organic materials. Additionally, organic content negatively correlates with effective density and positively correlates with the mean particle diameter, confirming that bio-cohesion drives the observed flocculation. These results provide quantitative evidence that organic matter promotes macrofloc formation and floc size growth in a reef environment.https://doi.org/10.1038/s43247-024-01957-9 |
| spellingShingle | Zhi-Cheng Huang Tian-Jian Hsu Trung Nguyen Ly Field evidence of flocculated sediments on a coastal algal reef Communications Earth & Environment |
| title | Field evidence of flocculated sediments on a coastal algal reef |
| title_full | Field evidence of flocculated sediments on a coastal algal reef |
| title_fullStr | Field evidence of flocculated sediments on a coastal algal reef |
| title_full_unstemmed | Field evidence of flocculated sediments on a coastal algal reef |
| title_short | Field evidence of flocculated sediments on a coastal algal reef |
| title_sort | field evidence of flocculated sediments on a coastal algal reef |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s43247-024-01957-9 |
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