Microphytobenthos Dynamics in Coastal Ecosystems

Microphytobenthos (MPB) constitute communities of microalgae, predominantly diatoms, that form biofilms on intertidal and shallow subtidal sediments. As key primary producers at the land–sea interface, MPB drive carbon fixation, influence sediment stability and regulate nutrient fluxes in coastal zones globally. Seasonal blooms of MPB biofilms are shaped by an interplay of light availability, sediment temperature and grazing pressure, leading to a characteristic cycle of spring proliferation followed by a summer depression and autumn resurgence. Vertical migration enables motile diatoms to optimise photosynthesis and avoid photoinhibition by adjusting their position within the microphotic zone, while non-photochemical quenching provides rapid photoprotection under high irradiance. Variations in sediment grain size, organic matter content and hydrodynamic forcing control both the spatial distribution of MPB biomass and its resuspension into the water column, thereby linking benthic and pelagic food webs. Recent advances in remote sensing, microfluidic imaging and coupled physical–biological models have refined our understanding of MPB dynamics at scales ranging from individual cells to entire estuaries. The global significance of these organisms is underscored by their contribution to coastal carbon budgets, benthic–pelagic coupling and the maintenance of ecosystem services such as water filtration and habitat provision for higher trophic levels.

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Microphytobenthos Dynamics in Coastal Ecosystems publication trend

The graph below shows the total number of articles in microphytobenthos dynamics in coastal ecosystems across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).

Technical terms

Microphytobenthos (MPB): Assemblages of microalgae and cyanobacteria inhabiting sediment surfaces in coastal environments.

Non-photochemical quenching (NPQ): A photoprotective process by which excess light energy is dissipated as heat to prevent photodamage.

Epipelic diatoms: Motile benthic diatoms that glide through sediment interstices to optimise light exposure.

Benthic–pelagic coupling: Ecological interactions and material exchange between sedimentary (benthic) and water column (pelagic) compartments.

Depth-integrated biomass: The total mass of MPB measured throughout the sediment profile, accounting for vertical distribution.

References

1. Mapping depth-integrated microphytobenthic biomass on an estuarine tidal flat using Sentinel satellite data. International Journal of Applied Earth Observation and Geoinformation (2023).
2. The Photoprotective Behavior of a Motile Benthic Diatom as Elucidated from the Interplay Between Cell Motility and Physiological Responses to a Light Microgradient Using a Novel Experimental Setup. Microbial Ecology (2024).
3. Spatial Variability of Benthic-Pelagic Coupling in an Estuary Ecosystem: Consequences for Microphytobenthos Resuspension Phenomenon. PLOS ONE (2012).
4. On biotic and abiotic drivers of the microphytobenthos seasonal cycle in a temperate intertidal mudflat: a modelling study. Biogeosciences (2018).
5. Regulation of Intertidal Microphytobenthos Photosynthesis Over a Diel Emersion Period Is Strongly Affected by Diatom Migration Patterns. Frontiers in Microbiology (2016).