The interplay between terrestrial organic matter and benthic macrofauna: Framework, synthesis, and perspectives

Ecosystems are shaped by physical, chemical, and biological drivers, which affect the quality quantity of basal energy sources, with impacts that cascade to higher trophic levels. In coastal, shelf, marine habitats, terrestrial-derived organic matter (ter-OM) can be a key driver ecosystem structure function. Climate change is expected alter land–ocean connectivity in many regions, broad range potential consequences for impacted ecosystems, particularly coastal zone. The benthic compartment an important link between large carbon pools stored on land environment. At same time, macrofauna plays role processing, uptake, fate ter-OM aquatic environment, implications functioning, benthic–pelagic coupling, burial, biogeochemical cycles. However, information about relationships (including loads) community responses remains spread across disciplines, perspective changing climate still missing. Here, we explore interplay macrofaunal communities through paired narrative research weaving analysis, combines systematic mapping bibliometric analysis. review describes past development status field as well lack some geographical regions habitats worldwide. We highlight cycling growing evidence function communities, not strictly limited estuarine habitats. poses challenges prediction future fluxes this additional stressor, thus requiring new methodological approaches (e.g., multimarker OM characterization) long-term monitoring programs different spatiotemporal scales.