A review of bioturbation and sediment organic geochemistry in mangroves

Mangroves, which are a group of salt tolerant plant community growing in the transition zones of fresh and marine water systems, play an important role as sediment trap. In mangrove ecosystems, litterfall accumulates as organic carbon and nutrients over the sediment surface, where bioturbation profoundly affects the sediment biogeochemistry. Here, we provide a brief overview of the bioturbating organisms in mangroves and discuss their roles in controlling the sediments organic biogeochemistry. The mangrove soils formed on marine alluvium is transported as sediment and deposited by the river and sea. This type of soil is typically saline, anoxic, acidic and periodically waterlogged and composed of different combinations of sand, silt, clay and mud. The decapod crustaceans, specifically, crabs are the main…