2026-09-20T12:49:02Z hull-repository.worktribe.com

oai:hull-repository.worktribe.com:4215721 2025-09-19T10:14:26Z 084104101115105115 openaccess

Thesis Use of MicroCT to determine the functional ecology of intertidal infauna Intertidal infauna through the process of bioturbation, play a major role in estuarine ecosystem functioning. Despite this, methods to both quantitatively and qualitatively assess the features produced from bioturbation have been limited. This study builds upon the recently developed technique by Mazik et al. (2008), by stabilizing sediment cores and using μCT scanning to obtain burrow parameters along a salinity and elevation gradient. In-situ agar stabilization reduced the collapse of large infaunal biogenic features in sediment cores on intertidal mudflats and accurately determined burrow volumes and surface area of these structures through μCT and three dimensional image processing software, demonstrating that the presence of the polychaete Hediste diversicolor can increase surface area of bioturbated sediments to over 50%. It is likely that agar stabilization may also be an adequate substitute for several other stabilizing techniques used on sub-tidal sediment cores. Butterfield, Jonathan MSc Masters 2014-02-01 Elliott, M. (Michael), 1952 November 3- Mazik, Krystina University of Hull oai:hull-repository.worktribe.com:4215721 https://hull-repository.worktribe.com/4215721/1/Thesis Biological sciences https://hull-repository.worktribe.com/output/4215721 2014 en openAccess Public