Macrofauna as a major driver of bentho‐pelagic exchange in the southern North Sea

The contribution of sediments to nutrient cycling the coastal North Sea is strongly controlled by intensity fluxes across sediment water interface. Pore-water advection one major exchange mechanism that well described models, as it determined physical parameters. In contrast, biotransport (i.e., bioirrigation, bioturbation) other transport much more complex. Observational data reflecting biotransport, from German Bight for example, scarce. We sampled provinces repeatedly over years 2013 2019. By employing ex situ whole core incubations, we established seasonal and spatial variability macrofauna-sustained benthic oxygen nutrients. A multivariate, partial least squares analysis identified faunal activity, in specifically bioturbation alongside temperature, most important drivers fluxes. Their combined effect explained 63% observed fluxes, 36–48% Additional 10% were type availability plankton biomass. Based on our extrapolation provinces, conclude pore-water macrofaunal activity contributed equally total uptake Bight.