Bioturbation of soils and sediments

Names and classification

Other names

bioturbation of soils; sediments

Family

Soil, Substrate, Erosion & Sediment Dynamics

Record type

ecological_process

Habitat and ecology

Ecological role

Supports Atlas reasoning about ecosystem function, dependencies, threats, conservation leverage points and cross-module consequences.

Process and seasonal context

Definition

Mixing and aeration of soil or sediment by burrowing, rooting and animal movement.

Drivers

rainfall; slope; vegetation; soil properties; waves; currents; disturbance

Inputs

rock; soil; sediment; organic matter

Outputs

soil; suspended sediment; deposited sediment; coastal sand

Spatial scales

soil patch → slope → watershed → coast

Temporal scales

event → centuries

Validity and limits

Context-specific; do not extrapolate across habitat, season, elevation, salinity or disturbance state without evidence.

Sources and further reading

• From ridge to reef—linking erosion and changing watersheds to coral reef impacts
• Sedimentation processes in a coral reef embayment: Hanalei Bay, Kauaʻi
• Coral Reef Project: Kauaʻi
• Invasive Impacts on Erosion
• Dune Restoration