Ecology

Ultra-small prokaryotes were prevalent across diverse aquifer lithologies and anoxic to oxic groundwatersWe used 16S rRNA gene amplicons to assess microbial community composition in 81 groundwater samples. Samples were collected from 59 wells over 10 aquifers in four geographic regions, separated by over a thousand kilometers, and encompassed wide-ranging aquifer chemistries and lithologies (Fig. 1a), comprising primarily shallow sandy-gravel aquifers, but also sand/silt, gravel/peat, volcanic (basalt, ignimbrite) and shell-bed aquifers (Table S1). A large portion of microbial community diversity comprised ultra-small groups of prokaryotes (Fig. 1b). Out of 52,553 OTUs, 21.8% (or 18.4% of 46,713 ASVs) were assigned to seven ultra-small microbial phyla (when considering CPR as the single Patescibacteria phylum). These comprised the bacterial phyla Patescibacteria and Dependentiae, and archaeal DPANN radiation. Altiarchaeota was included in DPANN as previously suggested [63, 64], although its taxonomic placement is uncertain due to genomic under-sampling [65, 66].Fig. 1: Distribution and abundance of ultra-small prokaryotes across groundwater sites.a Distribution of groundwater samples along DOC (0–26 g/m3), DO (0.37–7.5 g/m3) and nitrate-N (0.45–12.6 g/m3) concentrations scaled between 0 and 100. b Top plot: Richness of ultra-small prokaryote variants (rarefied ASVs) at each site. Middle plot: Proportion of ultra-small prokaryotes compared with the total microbial communities (black bars = OTUs, grey crosses = ASVs). Samples are ordered from least to most abundant. Lower plot: Phylum-level breakdown of amplicon based-relative abundance of Patescibacteria, Dependentiae and DPANN archaea (bottom). Symbol bars indicate aquifer lithology (top symbol bar), and oxygen content (lower symbol bar) with dark to light blue shading representing anoxic, suboxic, dysoxic to oxic groundwater. c Class-level rank abundance curve showing the average relative abundance of each genome across sites. The center line of each boxplot represents the median; the top and bottom lines are the first and third quartiles, respectively; and the whiskers show 1.5 times the interquartile range.Full size imageUltra-small prokaryotes were detected in all samples, regardless of lithology, chemistry or geography. They have also been reported from several aquifers and lithologies in the USA (sandy gravel, agriculturally-impacted river sediment, mixed marine sedimentary/metasedimentary rocks, plutonic rock, and sandstone [10, 18, 19, 22], and from a carbonate rock aquifer system in Germany [67, 68]. Collectively these findings demonstrate that ultra-small microorganisms are geographically widespread across diverse aquifer lithologies. Moreover, while ultra-small microorganisms have mostly been detected in anoxic environments [69,70,71,72] or cultivated under anoxic conditions [15, 25], we found representatives in all oxic groundwaters ( >3 mg/L DO) [73] (54/81 samples, Table S1). A few members of DPANN and Patescibacteria lineages have previously been detected in oxic environments [28, 67, 68, 74, 75], suggesting a degree of oxygen tolerance (genetic evidence presented below) or that these organisms are concentrated in anoxic niches within the aquifer substrate.The relative abundance of ultra-small microorganisms was highly variable across the studied aquifers, ranging from 0.04% to 22% of all bacterial and archaeal 16S rRNA gene sequences (7.2% average ±5.5% standard deviation; Fig. 1b). Samples with low relative abundances of ultra-small microorganisms (lower than the average) had overall lower alpha diversity (Shannon diversity indices and OTU or ASV richness) and were mostly from volcanic aquifer sites (Fig. 1b; Table S2). At the phylum level, Patescibacteria and Nanoarchaeota tended to dominate groundwater ultra-small communities (Fig. 1b). However, we found that ultra-small species level diversity overall was considerable with up to 1429 unique OTUs in a single groundwater sample (or up to 653 variants via the more conservative ASV method) (Table S2). Rarefaction curves show most variant diversity was captured across all samples, with curve slopes equaling zero (or approaching zero post rarefaction) (Fig. S1; Table S2). Finally, our results confirm the site specificity of ultra-small prokaryotes [10], with only 16 OTUs common across ≥50% of all 81 groundwater samples, or five ASVs across ≥20% of samples (three Parcubacteria, a Ca. Uhrbacteria, and a Woesearchaeales) (Table S2).High shared phylogenetic and genomic similarity to ultra-small prokaryotes from groundwaters elsewhereTo further assess the phylogeny and assess the genomic attributes and metabolic capacities of groundwater microbial communities, we reconstructed MAGs from 16 groundwater samples (eight wells over four sites and two aquifers). The dataset comprised 7,695 MAGs, including 539 unique MAGs ( >50% complete, 90% complete) (Table S3; Fig. S2). Based on phylogenetic analysis using GTDB [7, 76], MAGs represent 51 phyla, including five ultra-small microbial phyla (Table S3; Fig. S3). The ultra-small MAGs were found at all four sites and accounted for >1/3 of all unique MAGs (216 MAGs 50–100% complete, with 76 MAGs >90% complete). MAGs included 171 assigned to Patescibacteria, six to Dependentiae, and 39 to DPANN archaea (28 Nanoarchaeota, 10 Micrarchaeota, and one Altiarchaeota; Fig. 2a, b). The high representation of ultra-small prokaryotes in the MAG dataset further highlights the prevalence, diversity and abundance of these organisms in groundwater. Consistent with previous studies [6, 9, 77], genomes of ultra-small prokaryotes were small (1 ± 0.4 Mbp on average) with a tendency towards low GC contents (Figs. 3a, S2), and possessed limited metabolic capacities, which significantly differ between ultra-small bacterial and archaeal domains (results in Supplementary Materials; Figs. 3b, S2, S4).Fig. 2: Diversity of groundwater ultra-small microbial communities.Maximum likelihood phylogenetic trees of 177 unique ultra-small bacterial MAGs (a) and 39 unique ultra-small archaeal MAGs (b) recovered in this study. Outer rings indicate the site characteristics where MAGs were enriched. Enrichment factors were calculated as (average relative abundance in oxic and planktonic ultra-small microbial communities, respectively)/(average relative abundance in anoxic-to-dysoxic or sediment-enriched microbial communities, respectively). Trees are based on either 120 concatenated bacterial marker genes or 122 concatenated archaeal marker genes from GTDB-Tk, and were rooted to other groundwater bacterial and archaeal MAGs, respectively (Table S3). Scale bars indicate the number of substitutions per site. Branch background shading denotes Patescibacteria classes (clockwise): Gracilibacteria, Saccharimonadia, UBA1384, Dojkabacteria, Microgenomatia, Doudnabacteria, ABY1, Paceibacteria_A and Paceibacteria. c Proportion of ultra-small microbial OTUs (top) and MAGs (bottom) enriched in low and high oxygen groundwater, and in planktonic and sediment-enriched samples (Table S1). Enrichment factors were calculated as described above.Full size imageFig. 3: Estimated genome size, metabolic content and novelty of groundwater ultra-small prokaryotes.a Estimated genome size of groundwater MAGs calculated as (bin size – (bin size * contamination)) / (completeness), as described by Castelle et al. [9]. Genomes of ultra-small prokaryotes are colored by phylum-level. Other microbial genomes are shown in grey. b Principal Component Analysis (PCA) based on the composition of COG metabolic categories in recovered ultra-small MAGs. c (Right) Range of all pairwise AAI values (grey) and maximum AAI values (blue) between ultra-small prokaryote MAGs recovered in this study and GTDB representative genomes for a given phylum. Red dashed lines represent the AAI range defining the same family of organisms (45–65%) [74]. The number of genomes included in this analysis is indicated for each phylum in brackets. (Left) Proportion of ultra-small prokaryotic MAGs reconstructed in this study classified at each taxonomic level using GTDB-Tk.Full size imageCompared to reference genomes (GTDB species representatives), all recovered ultra-small MAGs are predicted to be novel species [78], and almost half were novel groundwater genera (Fig. 3c, results in Supplementary Materials). Most shared the highest affinity matches with other ultra-small genomes derived from aquifers elsewhere (e.g., in the USA), indicating niche adaptation within these lineages (although ultra-small MAGs from these groundwater ecosystems are over-represented in the GTDB database). Niche-specific phylogenetic conservation among geographically distant microorganisms in groundwater has likewise been reported among geographically distant anammox bacteria in groundwater [30].Ultra-small microbial communities were structured by geography, lithology, and dissolved oxygen concentrationsWhile ultra-small prokaryotes were ubiquitous in groundwater, and overall highly similar to those found in groundwater at different global locations, community compositions varied across sites. To investigate environmental factors (Table S1) influencing ultra-small community composition, we performed distance-based redundancy analysis (Fig. 4a). DO, pH, nitrate-N, sulfate, and DOC were significantly associated with differences in the distribution of 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequences annotated as Patescibacteria, Dependentiae and DPANN (permutation test, p  More

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Quantitative Biodiversity Dynamics, Ecology and Biodiversity, Utrecht University Botanic Gardens, Utrecht University, Padualaan 8, Utrecht, 3584 CH, The NetherlandsEdwin PosNaturalis Biodiversity Center, PO Box 9517, Leiden, 2300 RA, The NetherlandsEdwin Pos, Olaf S. Bánki, Paul Maas, Tinde R. van Andel & Hans ter SteegeCoordenação de Biodiversidade, Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas da Amazônia – INPA, Av. André Araújo, 2936, Petrópolis, Manaus, AM, 69067-375, BrazilLuiz de Souza Coelho, Diogenes de Andrade Lima Filho, Iêda Leão Amaral, Francisca Dionízia de Almeida Matos, Mariana Victória Irume, Maria Pires Martins, José Ferreira Ramos, Juan Carlos Montero, Charles Eugene Zartman, Henrique Eduardo Mendonça Nascimento, Juan David Cardenas Revilla, Flávia R. C. Costa, Juliana Schietti, Priscila Souza, Rogerio Gribel, Marcelo Petratti Pansonato, Edelcilio Marques Barbosa, Luiz Carlos de Matos Bonates, Ires Paula de Andrade Miranda & Cid FerreiraPrograma Professor Visitante Nacional Sênior Na Amazônia – CAPES, Universidade Federal Rural da Amazônia, Av. Perimetral, s/n, Belém, PA, BrazilRafael P. SalomãoCoordenação de Botânica, Museu Paraense Emílio Goeldi, Av. Magalhães Barata 376, C.P. 399, Belém, PA, 66040-170, BrazilRafael P. Salomão, Ima Célia Guimarães Vieira, Leandro Valle Ferreira & Dário Dantas do AmaralEMBRAPA – Centro de Pesquisa Agroflorestal de Roraima, BR 174, km 8 – Distrito Industrial, Boa Vista, RR, 69301-970, BrazilCarolina V. CastilhoSchool of Geography, University of Leeds, Woodhouse Lane, Leeds, LS2 9JT, UKOliver L. Phillips, Euridice N. Honorio Coronado, Ted R. Feldpausch, Roel Brienen, Fernanda Coelho de Souza, Tim R. Baker, Aurora Levesley, Karina Melgaço & Georgia PickavanceGrupo de Investigación en Biodiversidad, Medio Ambiente y Salud-BIOMAS, Universidad de Las Américas, Campus Queri, Quito, EcuadorJuan Ernesto GuevaraKeller Science Action Center, The Field Museum, 1400 S. Lake Shore Drive, Chicago, IL, 60605-2496, USAJuan Ernesto GuevaraDepartamento de Botânica, Instituto de Pesquisas Científicas e Tecnológicas do Amapá – IEPA, Rodovia JK, Km 10, Campus Do IEPA da Fazendinha, Amapá, 68901-025, BrazilMarcelo de Jesus Veiga Carim & José Renan da Silva GuimarãesHerbario Amazónico Colombiano, Instituto SINCHI, Calle 20 No 5-44, Bogotá, DC, ColombiaDairon Cárdenas López & Nicolás Castaño ArboledaCoordenação de Pesquisas em Ecologia, Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas da Amazônia – INPA, Av. André Araújo, 2936, Petrópolis, Manaus, AM, 69067-375, BrazilWilliam E. Magnusson, Alberto Vicentini, Thaise Emilio, Fernanda Antunes Carvalho & Fernanda Coelho de SouzaDepartment of Wetland Ecology, Institute of Geography and Geoecology, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology – KIT, Josefstr.1, 76437, Rastatt, GermanyFlorian Wittmann & John Ethan HouseholderBiogeochemistry, Max Planck Institute for Chemistry, Hahn-Meitner Weg 1, 55128, Mainz, GermanyFlorian WittmannAMAP, IRD, Cirad, CNRS, INRA, Université de Montpellier, 34398, Montpellier, FranceDaniel Sabatier, Jean-François Molino, Julien Engel & Émile FontyCoordenação de Dinâmica Ambiental, Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas da Amazônia – INPA, Av. André Araújo, 2936, Petrópolis, Manaus, AM, 69067-375, BrazilMaria Teresa Fernandez Piedade, Jochen Schöngart, Layon O. Demarchi, Adriano Quaresma, Aline Lopes, Daniel Praia Portela de Aguiar, Bianca Weiss Albuquerque & Maira RochaScience and Education, The Field Museum, 1400 S. Lake Shore Drive, Chicago, IL, 60605-2496, USANigel C. A. Pitman & Corine VriesendorpJardín Botánico de Missouri, Oxapampa, Pasco, PeruAbel Monteagudo Mendoza, Rodolfo Vasquez & Luis Valenzuela GamarraApplied Ecology Research Group, School of Life Sciences, Anglia Ruskin University, East Road, Cambridge, CB1 1PT, UKJoseph E. HawesICNHS, Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso, Av. Alexandre Ferronato, 1200, Sinop, MT, 78557-267, BrazilEverton José Almeida, Luciane Ferreira Barbosa, Larissa Cavalheiro & Márcia Cléia Vilela dos SantosDepartamento de Ecologia, Universidade Estadual Paulista – UNESP – Instituto de Biociências – IB, Av. 24 A, 1515, Bela Vista, Rio Claro, SP, 13506-900, BrazilBruno Garcia LuizeDivisao de Sensoriamento Remoto – DSR, Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas Espaciais – INPE, Av. Dos Astronautas, 1758, Jardim da Granja, São José Dos Campos, SP, 12227-010, BrazilEvlyn Márcia Moraes de Leão NovoHerbario Vargas, Universidad Nacional de San Antonio Abad del Cusco, Avenida de La Cultura, Nro 733, Cusco, Cuzco, PeruPercy Núñez Vargas, Isau Huamantupa-Chuquimaco & William Farfan-RiosBiological and Environmental Sciences, University of Stirling, Stirling, FK9 4LA, UKThiago Sanna Freire SilvaCentro de Biociências, Departamento de Ecologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, Av. Senador Salgado Filho, 3000, Natal, RN, 59072-970, BrazilEduardo Martins VenticinqueDepartamento de Biologia, Universidade Federal de Rondônia, Rodovia BR 364 s/n Km 9, 5 – Sentido Acre, Unir, Porto Velho, RO, 76.824-027, BrazilAngelo Gilberto ManzattoPrograma de Pós- Graduação em Biodiversidade e Biotecnologia PPG- Bionorte, Universidade Federal de Rondônia, Campus Porto Velho Km 9, 5 Bairro Rural, Porto Velho, RO, 76.824-027, BrazilNeidiane Farias Costa Reis, Katia Regina Casula, Susamar Pansini & Adeilza Felipe SampaioDepartment of Biology and Florida Museum of Natural History, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, 32611, USAJohn TerborghCentre for Tropical Environmental and Sustainability Science and College of Science and Engineering, James Cook University, Cairns, QLD, 4870, AustraliaJohn Terborgh, William F. Laurance & Susan G. W. LauranceInstituto de Investigaciones de la Amazonía Peruana (IIAP), Av. A. Quiñones Km 2,5, Iquitos, Loreto, 784, PeruEuridice N. Honorio CoronadoInstituto Boliviano de Investigacion Forestal, Av. 6 de Agosto #28, Km. 14, Doble via La Guardia, 6204, Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, Casilla, BoliviaJuan Carlos Montero & Juan Carlos LiconaPrograma de Pós-Graduação em Ecologia e Conservação, Universidade do Estado de Mato Grosso, Nova Xavantina, MT, BrazilBeatriz S. Marimon & Ben Hur Marimon-JuniorGeography, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Exeter, Rennes Drive, Exeter, EX4 4RJ, UKTed R. Feldpausch & Toby PenningtonDepartamento de Ciencias Forestales, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Calle 64 X Cra 65, 1027, Medellín, Antioquia, ColombiaAlvaro Duque & Ligia Estela Urrego GiraldoInternational Center for Tropical Botany (ICTB) Department of Biological Sciences, Florida International University, 11200 SW 8Th Street, OE 243, Miami, FL, 33199, USAChris Baraloto, Julien Engel & Freddie DraperCirad UMR Ecofog, AgrosParisTech, CNRS, INRA, Univ Guyane, Campus Agronomique, 97379, Kourou Cedex, FrancePascal PetronelliAgteca-Amazonica, Santa Cruz, BoliviaTimothy J. KilleenFacultad de Ciencias Agrícolas, Universidad Autónoma Gabriel René Moreno, Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, BoliviaBonifacio MostacedoNatural History Museum, University of Oslo, Postboks 1172, 0318, Oslo, NorwayRafael L. AssisCentro de Investigaciones Ecológicas de Guayana, Universidad Nacional Experimental de Guayana, Calle Chile, Urbaniz Chilemex, Puerto Ordaz, Bolivar, VenezuelaHernán Castellanos & Lionel HernandezPrédio da Botânica e Ecologia, Embrapa Recursos Genéticos e Biotecnologia, Parque Estação Biológica, Av. W5 Norte, Brasilia, DF, 70770-917, BrazilMarcelo Brilhante de Medeiros & Marcelo Fragomeni SimonProjeto Dinâmica Biológica de Fragmentos Florestais, Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas da Amazônia – INPA, Av. André Araújo 2936, Petrópolis, Manaus, AM, 69067-375, BrazilAna Andrade & José Luís CamargoLaboratório de Ecologia de Doenças Transmissíveis da Amazônia (EDTA), Instituto Leônidas e Maria Deane, Fiocruz, Rua Terezina, 476, Adrianópolis, Manaus, AM, 69060-001, BrazilEmanuelle de Sousa FariasPrograma de Pós-Graduação em Biodiversidade e Saúde, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz – IOC/FIOCRUZ, Pav. Arthur Neiva – Térreo, Av. Brasil, 4365 – Manguinhos, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, 21040-360, BrazilEmanuelle de Sousa FariasInstituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal do Pará, Av. Augusto Corrêa 01, Belém, PA, 66075-110, BrazilMaria Aparecida LopesPrograma de Pós-Graduação em Ecologia, Universidade Federal do Pará, Av. Augusto Corrêa 01, Belém, PA, 66075-110, BrazilJosé Leonardo Lima MagalhãesEmbrapa Amazônia Oriental, Trav. Dr. Enéas Pinheiro S/nº, Belém, PA, 66095-100, BrazilJosé Leonardo Lima Magalhães, Joice Ferreira & Ademir R. RuschelDiretoria Técnico-Científica, Instituto de Desenvolvimento Sustentável Mamirauá, Estrada do Bexiga, 2584, Tefé, AM, 69470-000, BrazilHelder Lima de QueirozPrograma de Ciencias del Agro y el Mar, Herbario Universitario (PORT), UNELLEZ-Guanare, Guanare, Portuguesa, 3350, VenezuelaGerardo A. C. AymardInstituto de Biociências – Department of Botanica, Universidade de Sao Paulo – USP, Rua do Matão 277, Cidade Universitária, São Paulo, SP, 05508-090, BrazilBruno Barçante Ladvocat CintraLaboratorio de Ecología de Bosques Tropicales y Primatología, Universidad de los Andes, Carrera 1 # 18a- 10, 111711, Bogotá, DC, ColombiaPablo R. Stevenson, Angela Cano, Diego F. Correa, Sasha Cárdenas & Luisa Fernanda CasasPrograma de Pós-Graduação Em Biologia (Botânica), Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas da Amazônia – INPA, Av. André Araújo, 2936, Petrópolis, Manaus, AM, 69067-375, BrazilYuri Oliveira FeitosaInstitute of Biodiversity and Ecosystem Dynamics, University of Amsterdam, Sciencepark 904, Amsterdam, 1098 XH, The NetherlandsJoost F. DuivenvoordenEndangered Species Coalition, 8530 Geren Rd., Silver Spring, MD, 20901, USAHugo F. MogollónInventory and Monitoring Program, National Park Service, 120 Chatham Lane, Fredericksburg, VA, 22405, USAJames A. ComiskeyCenter for Conservation and Sustainability, Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute, 1100 Jefferson Dr. SW, Suite 3123, Washington, DC, 20560-0705, USAJames A. Comiskey, Alfonso Alonso, Francisco Dallmeier & Reynaldo Linares-PalominoDepartment of Global Ecology, Carnegie Institution for Science, 260 Panama St., Stanford, CA, 94305, USAFreddie DraperUniversidade Federal do Amapá, Ciências Ambientais, Rod. Juscelino Kubitschek km2, Macapá, AP, 68902-280, BrazilJosé Julio de Toledo & Renato Richard HilárioDepartment of Integrative Biology, University of California, Berkeley, CA, 94720-3140, USAGabriel Damasco, Paul V. A. Fine & Italo MesonesBiologia Vegetal, Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Caixa Postal 6109, Campinas, SP, 13.083-970, BrazilNállarett DávilaDepartment of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Cornell University, Corson Hall, 215 Tower Road, Ithaca, NY, 14850, USARoosevelt García-VillacortaPeruvian Center for Biodiversity and Conservation (PCBC), Iquitos, PeruRoosevelt García-VillacortaDepartment of Ecology, University of Brasilia, Brasilia, DF, 70904-970, BrazilAline LopesICNHS, Federal University of Mato Grosso, Av. Alexandre Ferronato 1200, Setor Industrial, Sinop, MT, 78.557-267, BrazilJanaína Costa Noronha, Flávia Rodrigues Barbosa, Rainiellen de Sá Carpanedo & Domingos de Jesus RodriguesNatural Capital and Plant Health, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Richmond, TW9 3AB, Surrey, UKThaise Emilio & William MillikenPrograma de Pós-Graduação em Ecologia, Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas da Amazônia – INPA, Av. André Araújo, 2936, Petrópolis, Manaus, AM, 69067-375, BrazilCarolina LevisForest Ecology and Forest Management Group, Wageningen University and Research, Droevendaalsesteeg 3, P.O. Box 47, Wageningen, 6700 AA, The NetherlandsCarolina Levis & Lourens PoorterEscola de Negócios Tecnologia e Inovação, Centro Universitário do Pará, Belém, PA, BrazilVitor H. F. GomesUniversidade Federal do Pará, Rua Augusto Corrêa 01, Belém, PA, 66075-110, BrazilVitor H. F. GomesFaculty of Natural Sciences, Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, South Kensington Campus, Silwood ParkLondon, SW7 2AZ, UKJon LloydEcosistemas, Biodiversidad y Conservación de Especies, Universidad Estatal Amazónica, Km. 2 1/2 Vía a Tena (Paso Lateral), Puyo, Pastaza, EcuadorDavid NeillMuseo de Historia Natural Noel Kempff Mercado, Universidad Autónoma Gabriel Rene Moreno, Avenida Irala 565 Casilla Post Al 2489, Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, BoliviaAlejandro Araujo-Murakami, Luzmila Arroyo & Daniel VillarroelDepartamento de Genética, Ecologia e Evolução, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Av. Antônio Carlos, 6627 Pampulha, Belo Horizonte, MG, 31270-901, BrazilFernanda Antunes CarvalhoDepartment of Biology, University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL, 33146, USAKenneth J. FeeleyFairchild Tropical Botanic Garden, Coral Gables, FL, 33156, USAKenneth J. FeeleyInstituto de Biociências – Dept. Ecologia, Universidade de Sao Paulo – USP, Rua do Matão, Trav. 14, No. 321, Cidade Universitária, São Paulo, SP, 05508-090, BrazilMarcelo Petratti Pansonato, Alexandre A. Oliveira & Cláudia BaiderLancaster Environment Centre, Lancaster University, Lancaster, LA1 4YQ, Lancashire, UKJos Barlow & Erika BerenguerEnvironmental Change Institute, University of Oxford, Oxford, OX1 3QY, Oxfordshire, UKErika BerenguerEmpresa Brasileira de Pesquisa Agropecuária, Embrapa Amapá, Rod. Juscelino Kubitschek Km 5, Macapá, Amapá, 68903-419, BrazilMarcelino Carneiro Guedes & Janaina Barbosa Pedrosa CostaGrupo de Ecología y Conservación de Fauna y Flora Silvestre, Instituto Amazónico de Investigaciones Imani, Universidad Nacional de Colombia Sede Amazonia, Leticia, Amazonas, ColombiaEliana M. JimenezUniversidad Regional Amazónica IKIAM, Km 7 Via Muyuna, Tena, Napo, EcuadorMaria Cristina Peñuela MoraSchool of Environmental Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich, NR4 7TJ, UKCarlos A. PeresDireccíon de Evaluación Forestal y de Fauna Silvestre, Av. Javier Praod Oeste 693, Magdalena del Mar, PeruBoris Eduardo Villa ZegarraEscuela de Biología Herbario Alfredo Paredes, Universidad Central, Ap. Postal 17.01.2177, Quito, Pichincha, EcuadorCarlos CerónDepartment of Biological Sciences, Humboldt State University, 1 Harpst Street, Arcata, CA, 95521, USATerry W. HenkelMuseu Universitário / Centro de Ciências Biológicas e da Natureza / Laboratório de Botânica e Ecologia Vegetal, Universidade Federal do Acre, Rio Branco, AC, 69915-559, BrazilMarcos SilveiraInstitute of Biological and Health Sciences, Federal University of Alagoas, Av. Lourival Melo Mota, s/n, Tabuleiro do Martins, Maceio, AL, 57072-970, BrazilJuliana StroppIwokrama International Centre for Rain Forest Conservation and Development, Georgetown, GuyanaRaquel Thomas-CaesarNew York Botanical Garden, 2900 Southern Blvd, Bronx, New York, NY, 10458-5126, USADoug DalySchool of Geosciences, University of Edinburgh, 201 Crew Building, King’s Buildings, Edinburgh, EH9 3JN, UKKyle G. DexterTropical Diversity Section, Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, 20a Inverleith Row, Edinburgh, EH3 5LR, Scotland, UKKyle G. Dexter & Toby PenningtonServicios de Biodiversidad EIRL, Jr. Independencia 405, Iquitos, Loreto, 784, PeruMarcos Ríos Paredes, Hilda Paulette Dávila Doza, George Pepe Gallardo Gonzales & Linder Felipe Mozombite PintoHerbario Nacional de Bolivia, Universitario UMSA, Casilla 10077 Correo Central, La Paz, La Paz, BoliviaAlfredo FuentesCenter for Conservation and Sustainable Development, Missouri Botanical Garden, P.O. Box 299, St. Louis, MO, 63166-0299, USAAlfredo Fuentes, J. Sebastián Tello & William Farfan-RiosUniversidad Nacional de Jaén, Carretera Jaén San Ignacio Km 23, Jaén, Cajamarca, 06801, PeruJosé Luis Marcelo PenaBiology Department and Center for Energy, Environment and Sustainability, Wake Forest University, 1834 Wake Forest Rd, Winston Salem, NC, 27106, USAMiles R. Silman & Karina Garcia-CabreraLaboratoire Evolution et Diversité Biologique, CNRS and Université Paul Sabatier, UMR 5174 EDB, 31000, Toulouse, FranceJerome ChaveAndes to Amazon Biodiversity Program, Madre de Dios, Madre de Dios, PeruFernando Cornejo ValverdeDepartment of Anthropology, University of Texas at Austin, SAC 5.150, 2201 Speedway Stop C3200, Austin, TX, 78712, USAAnthony Di FioreFundación Puerto Rastrojo, Cra 10 No. 24-76 Oficina 1201, Bogotá, DC, ColombiaJuan Fernando PhillipsColegio de Ciencias Biológicas y Ambientales-COCIBA and Galapagos Institute for the Arts and Sciences-GAIAS, Universidad San Francisco de Quito-USFQ, Quito, Pichincha, EcuadorGonzalo Rivas-TorresDepartment of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, University of Florida, 110 Newins-Ziegler Hall, Gainesville, FL, 32611, USAGonzalo Rivas-TorresBiosystematics Group, Wageningen University, Droevendaalsesteeg 1, Wageningen, 6708 PB, The NetherlandsTinde R. van AndelFundación Estación de Biología, Cra 10 No. 24-76 Oficina, 1201, Bogotá, DC, ColombiaPatricio von HildebrandDirection Régionale de la Guyane, ONF, Cayenne, 97300, French GuianaÉmile FontyPROTERRA, Instituto de Investigaciones de la Amazonía Peruana (IIAP), Av. A. Quiñones Km 2,5, Iquitos, Loreto, 784, PeruRicardo Zárate GómezACEER Foundation, Jirón Cusco N° 370, Puerto Maldonado, Madre de Dios, PeruTherany GonzalesDepartement EV, Muséum National d’histoire Naturelle de Paris, 16 Rue Buffon, Paris, 75005, FranceJean-Louis GuillaumetAmazon Conservation Team, Doekhieweg Oost #24, Paramaribo, SurinameBruce HoffmanInstitut de Ciència i Tecnologia Ambientals, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193, Bellaterra, Barcelona, SpainAndré Braga JunqueiraEnvironmental Change Institute, Dyson Perrins Building, Oxford University Centre for the Environment, South Parks Road, Oxford, OX1 3QY, England, UKYadvinder MalhiInstituto de Ciencias Naturales, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, 7945, Apartado, Bogotá, DC, ColombiaAdriana Prieto & Agustín RudasInstituto de Ciência Agrárias, Universidade Federal Rural da Amazônia, Av. Presidente Tancredo Neves 2501, Belém, PA, 66.077-830, BrazilNatalino SilvaEscuela Profesional de Ingeniería Forestal, Universidad Nacional de San Antonio Abad del Cusco, Jirón San Martín 451, Puerto Maldonado, Madre de Dios, PeruCésar I. A. VelaUniversidad Autónoma del Beni José Ballivián, Campus Universitario Final, Av. Ejercito, Riberalta, Beni, BoliviaVincent Antoine VosLaboratory of Human Ecology, Instituto Venezolano de Investigaciones Científicas – IVIC, Ado 20632, Caracas, 1020A, DC, VenezuelaEgleé L. Zent & Stanford ZentCambridge University Botanic Garden, 1 Brookside., Cambridge, CB2 1JE, UKAngela CanoSchool of Agriculture and Food Sciences – ARC Centre of Excellence for Environmental Decisions CEED, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, QLD, 4072, AustraliaDiego F. CorreaPlant Biology Department, Rua Monteiro Lobato, University of Campinas, 255, Cidade Universitária Zeferino Vaz, Barão Geraldo, Campinas, São Paulo, CEP 13083-862, BrazilBernardo Monteiro FloresResource Ecology Group, Wageningen University and Research, Droevendaalsesteeg 3a, Lumen, Building Number 100, Wageningen, Gelderland, 6708 PB, The NetherlandsMilena HolmgrenLaboratório de Ciências Ambientais, Universidade Estadual do Norte Fluminense, Av. Alberto Lamego 2000, Campos dos, Goyatacazes, RJ, 28013-620, BrazilMarcelo Trindade NascimentoInstituto de Investigaciones Para el Desarrollo Forestal (INDEFOR), Universidad de los Andes, Conjunto Forestal, Mérida, Mérida, 5101, VenezuelaHirma Ramirez-Angulo, Emilio Vilanova Torre & Armando Torres-LezamaDepartamento de Biologia, Universidade Federal do Amazonas – UFAM – Instituto de Ciências Biológicas – ICB1, Av General Rodrigo Octavio 6200, Manaus, AM, 69080-900, BrazilVeridiana Vizoni ScudellerGeoIS, el Día 369 y el Telégrafo, 3° Piso, Quito, Pichincha, EcuadorRodrigo Sierra & Milton TiradoDepartment of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USAMaria Natalia UmañaUniversity of Nottingham, University Park, Nottingham, NG7 2RD, UKGeertje van der HeijdenSchool of Environmental and Forest Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, 98195-2100, USAEmilio Vilanova TorreEnvironmental Science and Policy, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, AZ, 86011, USAOphelia WangGeography and the Environment, University of Texas at Austin, 305 E. 23Rd Street, CLA Building, Austin, TX, 78712, USAKenneth R. YoungMedio Ambiente, PLUSPRETOL, Iquitos, Loreto, PeruManuel Augusto Ahuite ReateguiThe Mauritius Herbarium, Agricultural Services, Ministry of Agro-Industry and Food Security, Reduit, 80835, MauritiusCláudia BaiderDepartment of Bioscience, Aarhus University, Building 1540 Ny Munkegade, 8000, Aarhus C, Aarhus, DenmarkHenrik BalslevLiving Earth Collaborative, Washington University in Saint Louis, St. Louis, MO, 63130, USAWilliam Farfan-RiosEscuela de Ciencias Forestales (ESFOR), Universidad Mayor de San Simon (UMSS), Sacta, Cochabamba, BoliviaCasimiro MendozaFOMABO, Manejo Forestal en Las Tierras Tropicales de Bolivia, Sacta, Cochabamba, BoliviaCasimiro MendozaTropenbos International, Lawickse Allee 11, PO Box 232, Wageningen, 6700 AE, The NetherlandsRoderick ZagtSchool of Anthropology and Conservation, University of Kent, Marlowe Building, Canterbury, Kent, CT2 7NR, UKMiguel N. AlexiadesHerbario Nacional del Ecuador, Universidad Técnica del Norte, Quito, Pichincha, EcuadorWalter Palacios CuencaInstituto de Biodiversidade e Floresta, Universidade Federal do Oeste do Pará, Rua Vera Paz, Campus Tapajós, Santarém, PA, 68015-110, BrazilDaniela PaulettoFacultad de Biologia, Universidad Nacional de la Amazonia Peruana, Pevas 5Ta Cdra, Iquitos, Loreto, PeruFreddy Ramirez Arevalo & Elvis H. Valderrama SandovalDepartment of Biology, University of Missouri, St. Louis, MO, 63121, USAElvis H. Valderrama SandovalDepartment of Biogeochemical Integration, Max-Planck-Institute for Biogeochemistry, P.O. Box 10 01 64, 07701, Jena, GermanyGerhard BoenischFunctional Biogeography, Max-Planck-Institute for Biogeochemistry, P.O. Box 10 01 64, 07701, Jena, GermanyJens KattgeDepartment of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, UCLA, 621 Charles E. Young Drive South, Box 951606, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USANathan KraftE.T.P. and H.T.S. designed the study. E.T.P. performed analyses and took the lead in writing the manuscript, H.T.S. supervised the writing and provided regular feedback both for the manuscript and the interpretation of the results. All other authors provided feedback on the manuscript and provided their data from the Amazon Tree Diversity Network or trait data. Authors E.T.P. to L.V.G. provided tree inventory data, authors G.B., J.K., N.K., A.L., K.M., G.P., L.P. provided data on functional traits, C.B., J.L., A.A.O. and H.T.S. provided both tree inventory and functional trait data. More

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Regional contextTo understand the variation in salt marsh geomorphology and mussel coverage across the South Atlantic Bight (SAB), we assessed density and areal coverage of1 tidal creekheads and2 mussel aggregations with a combination of published data and new field surveys across the region. First, to assess creekhead density, we selected 10 sites ranging from Cape Romain (SC) to Amelia Island (FL). Given that all of our experiments were conducted on Sapelo Island and the surrounding marsh islands, we selected three sites on Sapelo Island for comparison with four sites to the north and three to the south61. At each site, we scored the total number of tidal creekheads in a 1 km2 contiguous marsh area using Google Earth. Assuming each tidal creekhead constitutes approximately 0.0025 km2, we calculate the creekhead areal coverage to be:$$Creekhead,Areal,Coverage,(%)=frac{(0.0025k{m}^{2})times {{{{{rm{Creekhead}}}}}},{{{{{rm{Density}}}}}}(#k{m}^{-2})}{{{{{{rm{Marsh}}}}}},{{{{{rm{Creekshed}}}}}},{{{{{rm{Area}}}}}},(1k{m}^{2})}times 100%$$
(1)
Differences across northern, Sapelo Island, and southern sites were assessed with a one-way ANOVA with location as the main factor.To next test the hypothesis that creekhead mussel coverage is similar at sites across the SAB, we conducted surveys of mussel aggregations at 12 sites across the region from Edisto Beach (SC) to Amelia Island (FL). Previous work14 has shown that mussel aggregations decrease in size and density with increasing distance from the tidal creekhead, so we focused our measurements at three distances from one tidal creekhead onto the marsh platform: 0 m, 20 m, and 40 m. We note that at all sites, mussel aggregations extended >40 m from the tidal creekhead. Sites were again distributed across the region, and included 3 sites to the north, 3 sites to the south, and 6 sites on Sapelo and its back barrier marsh islands. At each site, we selected one representative creek 100–175 m in length and ensured that the tidal creekhead did not overlap spatially with a tidal creekhead of an adjacent creek. At each distance from creekhead, we established one 50 m x 1 m transect. Walking the transect line, we scored each mussel aggregation, counting the total number of mussels and measuring the mound dimensions (L x W x H). We then calculated the areal coverage of mussels within each transect (50 m2) and took the mean value across the three distances as the measure for the site. All data was collected between May and August in 2016 and 2017. Differences across northern, Sapelo Island, and southern sites were assessed with a one-way ANOVA with location as the main factor. Finally, we calculated creekshed mussel areal coverage in the three sub-regions, as the product of the percent of creekshed occupied by creekheads (sub-region mean, %) and the proportion of creekhead area occupied by mussels at each site.Landscape assays of sediment deposition over seasons and tidal phasesTo quantify the relative rates of sediment deposition across marsh landscapes, we deployed 9-cm diameter filter papers (Whatman Quantitative Filter Paper, Grade 42 Circles, Ashless, 90 mm; 57) at 13 location types across 3 sites. Locations included: 1) outer marsh levee (‘outer levee’), 2) marsh platform 10 m inland from outer marsh levee (‘outer levee-adjacent’), 3) inner tidal creek levee (‘inner levee’), 4) marsh platform 10 m inland from inner tidal creek levee (‘inner levee-adjacent’), 5) non-mussel marsh platform ( >50 m from mussel creekhead), 6,7) ridge/runnel area at tidal creekhead (‘ridge’ and ‘runnel’), 8,9) mussel aggregations and adjacent non-mussel marsh areas at the tidal creekhead (‘0 m ON mussel mound’ and ‘0 m OFF mound’), 10,11) mussel aggregations and adjacent marsh areas 10 m onto marsh platform from tidal creekhead (‘10 m ON mussel mound’ and ‘10 m OFF mound’), and 12,13) mussel aggregations and adjacent marsh areas 20 m onto marsh platform from tidal creekhead (‘20 m ON mussel mound’ and ‘20 m OFF mound’). At each location type, we used 15 replicate filters, spaced 1–2 m apart. Each pre-weighed and labeled filter paper was deployed attached to a Polystyrene Petri Dish (100 × 15 mm) using 1.5 mm steel wire. After 24 h in the field, all filters were harvested, dried in an oven at 60 °C, and reweighed. Filter papers were deployed at four tides: Summer Spring (August 2017, +2.5 m), Summer Neap (August 2017, +2.1 m), Winter Spring (February 2018, +2.5 m), and Winter Neap (February 2018, +2.0 m).To quantify the total and percent inorganic and organic material that was deposited on the marsh surface over a 24 h period, we deployed 8 replicate 4.7 cm diameter filter papers (Whatman Glass Microfiber Filter Paper, Grade GF/F Circles, 47 mm) across five marsh locations at one site. Locations included: 1) outer marsh levee (‘outer levee’), 2) marsh platform 10 m inland from outer marsh levee (‘outer levee-adjacent’), 3–4) mussel aggregations and adjacent non-mussel marsh areas at the tidal creekhead (‘0 m ON mussel mound’ and ‘0 m OFF mound’), and 5) non-mussel marsh platform. Prior to deployment, filter papers were combusted in a 450 °C furnace for 4 h and stored in aluminum foil packets. Packeted filter papers were then labeled and pre-weighed. Once in the field, filter papers were removed from their packet with forceps, placed on a petri dish inserted into the marsh sediment during a Summer Spring low tide (+2.5 m), and secured with 1.5 mm steel wire.After 24 h, the filter papers were collected with forceps and inserted back in their corresponding packet. Upon transport back to the lab, the packeted filter papers were dried in a 60 °C oven until constant mass was obtained and re-weighed. The change in weight between pre- and post-deployment was used to calculate total dry weight. Packeted filter papers were combusted again in a 450 °C furnace for 4 h and re-weighed. The total dry weight and the weight lost from the second combustion were then used to calculate total inorganic and organic dry weight and percent organic material for each filter paper.To calculate the organic and inorganic material in persistent in marsh sediment layers, 5-cm cores were collected from the sediment layer using a 60 mL syringe with a 2.5 cm diameter. Cores were taken at same five location types: levee crest, levee-adjacent, on-mound, mound-adjacent, and non-mussel marsh platforms. Eight cores, 1–2 m apart, were collected from each location and placed into pre-weighed foil packets. Cores were dried at 60 °C in an oven until constant mass was obtained, weighed, and combusted in a 450 °C furnace for 4 h. The cores were then reweighed, and the weight loss after combustion was used to calculate the percent organic (and inorganic) material.The mass of both organic and inorganic material deposited on each mussel aggregation filter was far greater (0.11 g and 0.50 g, organic and inorganic sediment, respectively, here and below) than that deposited on levee crests (0.02 g and 0.06 g), levee-adjacent (0.04 g and 0.15 g), and non-mussel marsh platforms (0.04 g and 0.19 g; F4,38 = 9.5; p  0.20), with all locations exhibiting 13–14% organic content (Fig. S3).Field experiment 1: fate of mussel biodepositsTo assess the distribution of sediment supplemented by mussels via local biodeposition and, in turn, their contribution to sediment supply across the broader marsh landscape, we measured the transport of previously settled biodeposits as well as those actively deposited over one tidal cycle. For each process, we selected 6 mussel mounds in two marsh zones where mussels commonly aggregate: 1) the creekhead and 2) 20 meters away from the creekhead on the marsh platform. All focal mounds were at least 5 meters apart to avoid mixing of biodeposits. We addressed the transport of previously settled biodeposits by first removing 2 cm of each mound’s biodeposit layer, homogenizing it with fluorescent chalk (Irwin Straight-Line Fluorescent Orange Marking Chalk) at a 2:1 ratio (biodepost:chalk), and evenly distributing the mixture back on the mounds. We then revisited the mounds at night after one tide had flooded over the mounds (max tidal height +2.2 m) and traced the distribution of fluorescent material through black light detection. We measured the maximum distance fluorescent material traveled in each direction to quantify transport of previously settled biodeposits across the marsh landscape.To account for the distribution of biodeposits ejected by actively filter-feeding mussels, we collected 10 mussels from each mound, transported them back to University of Georgia Marine Institute’s wet lab, depurated them in saltwater (Instant Ocean, 28 ppt) for 24 h, and allowed them to feed on a mixture of seawater and fluorescent chalk for 2 h. We then rinsed the mussels to remove any loose fluorescent material from their shells before transplanting them back into the focal mounds at low tide. We then revisited the mounds at night after one tide had flooded over the mounds and traced the distribution of fluorescent material through black light detection. We measured the maximum distance fluorescent material traveled in each direction to quantify transport of actively ejected biodeposits across the marsh landscape.Field experiment 2: local scale depositional effects of mussels and cordgrassThe second experimental study was conducted at Airport Marsh on Sapelo Island, Georgia, USA. At this site, the experiment was deployed at two zones: the marsh platform >85 m from the nearest tidal creek (31°25’25.3“N 81°17’29.8“W) and the creekhead, where the tidal creek enters onto the marsh platform and tidal water first floods the marsh (31°25’28.1“N 81°17’30.2“W). Within each zone, we deployed seven experimental treatments (n = 5 replicates per treatment per zone) in which we varied mussel (M) presence and density, as well as cordgrass (C) presence. The full set of seven treatments included: 1) no-mussel, no-cordgrass controls (0 M, 0 C); 2) cordgrass-only controls (0 M, C + ); 3) 1-mussel (1 M, 0 C) blocks; 4) small mussel aggregations (20 M, 0 C); 5) intermediate size mussel aggregations (50 M, 0 C); 6) intermediate size mussel aggregations plus cordgrass (50 M, C + ); and 7) large mussel aggregations (80 M, 0 C; Fig. S5).In July 2017, we harvested 70 blocks of marsh peat (50 cm x 50 cm x 20 cm) from the experimental site using flat-edge shovels. We selected 30 blocks of standardized cordgrass density (48.9 ± 9.0 g dry biomass per block; mean ± SD) from non-mussel areas, 10 blocks containing small mussel aggregations (~20 mussels), 20 blocks of intermediate-size mussel aggregations (~50 mussels), and 10 blocks of large mussel aggregations (~80 mussels). All marsh blocks were transported back to the lab where they were washed completely clean of all surface sediment. With the exception of 10 non-mussel blocks and 10 intermediate-size mussel aggregation blocks, all cordgrass was clipped to the marsh surface. For the 1-mussel treatments, we harvested 10 mussels (6–8 cm in length) from the experimental site and individually inserted them in the center of the marsh block so that they were 40–50% below the marsh surface.After cleaning and cordgrass removal, all blocks were cut to new dimensions (36 cm x 36 cm x 16 cm) and placed within plastic-encased bins of the same dimensions. Bins containing marsh blocks were then centrally placed and fitted within an additional larger bin (61 cm x 61 cm x 8 cm), with the top of each box flush to the same height. The outside bin was filled with 64, 5 cm diameter PVC poles and 32, 2.5 cm diameter PVC poles (both 8 cm in height) so that all bin edges were held upright and PVC was rigidly filling all space within the outer box (Fig. S4). PVC poles were oriented in this way to capture all deposited sediment and minimize resuspension by substantially decreasing the fetch within the catchment bins. These sediment catchment units were then transported back to the experimental site where recipient holes were dug to the exact dimensions, so that the top of the marsh block (along with the top of each PVC pole) was exactly flush with the marsh surface sediment. We stapled 1-cm hardware cloth mesh (66 cm x 66 cm, with central 36 cm x 36 cm cutout) above PVC and flush to the marsh surface to allow invertebrate access to and from mussel aggregations and to limit the amount of disturbance to and resuspension of the settled material. Finally, to minimize mussel mortality in the absence of cordgrass, we built shades using 2 layers of 5-cm Aquamesh, attached these shades to four bamboo stakes, and inserted them above each plot at a height of ~1 m. The experiment ran for one month, from July 18 to August 18, 2017.After one month in the field, all experimental units and their contents were returned to the lab, rinsed into recipient aluminum tins, dried, and weighed. The contents of the central bins and sediment on plant tissue were dislodged and collected using spatulas, scraper tools, and a Waterpik Flosser device. After all sediment was collected, each mussel was removed from the aggregation, measured for length, and weighed for biomass. Finally, from treatments containing vegetation, all aboveground cordgrass biomass was harvested, dried, and weighed (Fig. S6).Delft3D ModelTo evaluate the contribution of mussel mounds to marsh accretion, we performed numerical simulations using the Delft3D-FLOW model63,64. We first modified the source code by adding a bivalve module (Delft3D-BIVALVES) to simulate sediment filtration and deposition processes that lead to mussel mound formations. In building this module, we assumed that mussels remove sediments from the water column because of filtration, and expel them as very cohesive pseudofeces, which are attached to the mounds, increasing their elevation. These processes are simulated by adding, in the computational cells containing the mussel mounds, a depositional term due to mussel filtration that reads:$${triangle z}_{{FILT}}={rho }_{{MM}}cdot {f}_{{MM}}cdot {C}_{{sed}}cdot {dt}cdot {{rho }_{{sed},{dry}}}^{-1},$$
(2)
where ({rho }_{{MM}}) is the density of mussels in the mounds [mussel m−2], set equal to 177 mussel m−214, and ({f}_{{MM}}) is the volume of water filtered by each mussel per unit of time [m3 s−1 mussel−1], set equal to 0.115 m3 s−1 mussel−1. ({C}_{{sed}}) is the sediment concentration in the water column above each mussel mound [kg m−3], ({dt}) is the simulation time step [s], set equal to 0.6 s, and ({rho }_{{sed},{dry}}) is the dry density of the sediments [kg m−3], set equal to 800 kg m−373. The volume of sediments correspondent to the mussel filtration depositional term obtained from Eq 2. is removed from the lower computational layer of the water column above the mussel aggregation by adding the following sink term in the advection-diffusion equation:$${SINK}={rho }_{{MM}}cdot {f}_{{MM}}cdot {C}_{{sed}}cdot {A}_{{cell}},$$
(3)
where ({A}_{{cell}}) is the area of the computational cell [m2]. Numerically, the term is implemented implicitly to prevent the appearance of negative concentrations. For settling velocity, we used a value of 0.1 mm s−1. This value provides the best fit of the Total Suspended Sediment (TSS) concentration we surveyed in a creek, on the adjacent Little Sapelo Island, with an error of 0.022 ± 0.025 kg m−3 (Fig. S8, MAE + RMSE). The fit was obtained by using the exponential decay formulation that reads:$${C}_{s}={C}_{s0}{e}^{-{tcdot w}_{s}/h},$$
(4)
where ({w}_{s}) is the settling velocity in [m s−1], (h) is the slow depth in [m], ({C}_{s0}) is the initial sediment concentration in [kg m−3], and (t) is the time in [s]. We set ({C}_{s0}) equal to 0.10 g m−3, which approximates the average value measured during flood tide, at the same location and tidal cycle. In addition, we set h equal to 0.30 m, which is the local mean annual high tide, calculated for 2018. To assess the sensitivity of the results to settling velocity, we ran a simulation in which we increased settling velocity by 50% (i.e., settling velocity equal to 0.15 mm s−1), and extra deposition due to mussel mounds varied by only approximately 6.5% of the original value.We next established a rectangular model domain to describe our study area in a simplified fashion (Fig. 5a). Within the model domain, the marsh platform is connected to the main channel by a tidal creek. The domain extends for 50 m and 207 m in the long-shore and landward directions, respectively. It is discretized using a rectangular grid constituted of 50 cm × 50 cm cells at the creek head and 50 cm × 100 cm cells elsewhere. In our model domain, mussel aggregations occupy only the creekhead, which is the 50 m × 50 m area between the creek and the upper part of the domain. We assign that each mussel mound has an area of 0.25 m2, corresponding to a mound diameter of ~0.5 m. At our resolution, a mound occupies a single cell. A sensitivity analysis using cells of 0.25 m and 0.125 m showed negligible changes in the results. The main channel occupies the lower 20 m of the domain, and its depth goes from 0 m AMSL at the marsh edge to −6 m at the seaward boundary. The tidal creek is located in the middle of the marsh platform and stops 50 m from the landward boundary of the domain. It is 2 m wide, and its depth goes from 0.79 m AMSL at the creek head to −1 m where it connects to the main channel. The marsh system consists of four subareas: (i) the levees (0.94 m AMSL), which are 5 m wide cordons separating the marsh platform from the channel and the creek (except at the creek head) and are vegetated by tall-form cordgrass; (ii) the levee adjacent areas (0.79 m AMSL), which are 10 m wide and vegetated by intermediate size cordgrass, (iii) mussel aggregations, which occupy a set proportion of the creek head (0, 10, or 20%), are vegetated by short-form cordgrass, and form a regular array (0.79 m AMSL, a newly formed mound); and (iv) the marsh platform, all remaining area consisting of short-form cordgrass and located at a uniform elevation of 0.79 m AMSL (Table S2).We used the Delft3D “trachytopes” functionality to impose vegetation resistance on flow propagating through the model domain. At every time step, a Chézy friction coefficient ((C)) is calculated for the vegetation, using a formulation developed by83. The formula is based on the unvegetated bed roughness (({C}_{b})), the drag coefficient (({C}_{D})), the vegetation height (({h}_{v})), and the vegetation density ((n)), expressed as the number of stems per square meter ((m)) times the stem diameter (({D}_{S})). In our model, only cells with an elevation higher than 0 m above MSL are vegetated. We considered four vegetation zones, as described above (Table S2; see details for collection of cordgrass and mussel parameters below). For each vegetation type, we used the same ({C}_{b}) and ({C}_{D}), equal to 45 m1/2s−1 and 1.65, respectively84. The vegetation properties, for each class, are based on local surveys and are reported in Table S1. For each of the three mussel scenarios analyzed, we considered two vegetation distributions. The first one sticks with the description of the vegetation zones we report above. In the second scenario, the vegetation is absent from the entire domain.To compute the sediment deposition in our numerical model, we simulated deposition from October 6th to October 22nd, 2018. This period contains the most representative spring and neap tides of the year and was obtained using the following procedure. First, we reconstructed the astronomic signal for 2018 using the tidal components of the NOAA station “Daymark #156, Head of Mud River, GA” # 8674975”, which is the closest to our study area. We then calculated the tidal ranges in 2018 using consecutive low and high tide levels extrapolated from the astronomic tidal signal. Next, we classified the tidal ranges using the 25th and 75th quantiles of their distribution (i.e., Q25 and Q75): ranges lower than the 25th quartile were neap tides and ranges greater than the 75th were spring tides. The 2018 astronomic tide was then divided into periods containing a spring and a consecutive neap tide. For each period, we identified the tidal ranges associated with spring and neap tides by using Q25 and Q75. Finally, for each period, we calculated the average tidal range for neap and spring tide, the difference between these average values and the yearly average, and the sum of these two differences. The period with the lowest value of this sum contains the most representative spring and neap tides of 2018. For this date range, we then ran our model under six scenarios: mussel cover at 0, 10, and 20%, but with and without vegetation present. We report both sediment deposition and annual accretion in the five location types (i.e., levee crest, levee-adjacent, mussel aggregation, aggregation-adjacent, and non-mussel marsh platform) at local (1 m2), creekhead (2500 m2) and entire domain scales (10,350-m2).Field experiment 3: creekshed mussel manipulationTo assess the effects of mussel presence and population size on marsh accretion at the creekshed scale, we first selected a marsh creekshed with three adjacent tidal creeks of similar length, structure, associated mussel populations, and marsh platform characteristics (i.e., size, elevation, and cordgrass characteristics). For each of the three tidal creeks, we first delineated a 50 m by 50 m creekhead area, oriented perpendicular to the direction of the tidal creek entry into the marsh, and located with midpoint of the front edge positioned at the point of tidal creek entry into the marsh. We then delineated a larger creekshed area associated with each creek of ≥10,000 m2 within which we would deploy our experimental treatments. To quantify initial mussel and cordgrass cover, we set up three 50 m2 transects (50 m long, 1 m wide) within the creekhead area, located at 0 m, 20 m, and 40 m distance from the tidal creek point of entry (and oriented perpendicular to the direction of flow). Within each transect, we counted each mussel aggregation, scoring each individual mussel as well as the length, width, and height from marsh platform of each mussel aggregation structure.For a subset of 20 mussel aggregations randomly selected within each transect (3 transects per creek, 180 aggregations total), we scored the total number of cordgrass tillers on each aggregation. For a subset of 5 randomly selected tillers on each aggregation, we measured both length and width. To assess the differences in cordgrass characteristics between mussel aggregations and aggregation-adjacent areas, we also measured cordgrass stem density, height, and diameter in non-aggregation areas (1 m2) located 1m away from each mussel aggregation.After all initial data was collected, we removed and transplanted approximately 200,000 mussels from one tidal creekhead to another. To do so, we initially flagged approximately 4000 mussel aggregations within the creekshed area of the “Removal” creek, encompassing both the 2500 m2 creekhead area as well as the surrounding ≥10,000 m2 creekshed extent. Mussel individuals were removed by hand over the course of 16 weeks, with all field personnel taking care to leave all pseudofeces in place and cordgrass intact. Field crews were split between the mussel removal and mussel addition creek, such that mussels were re-transplanted within 24 h of removal to minimize mortality. Due to logistical and permitting constraints, it was not feasible to replicate the treatments across multiple sites; instead, the three plots occupied a single contiguous creekshed (Fig. 6a, b).To assess changes in marsh elevation, we first quantified initial creekhead elevation (mean m AMSL in 2500-ft2 area perpendicular to point of entry) using two metrics: 1) Real Time Kinematic (RTK) elevation datapoints (Trimble R6 GNSS System) distributed across the creekshed; and 2) measurements of mussel mound heights throughout each transect at set distances from the point of water entry. For the RTK datapoints, we collected 86 total points across the creekshed in June 2017. Elevation datapoints were randomly selected in each 2500 m2 creekhead zone (minimum of 20 points per creekhead; Fig. S7). However, given the low number of RTK points across a large area, we additionally utilized mussel mound height calculations to provide a second estimate of initial elevation across the creekshed. Mussel aggregations and other bivalves, such as oysters, exhibit a height ceiling of growth, above which survivorship and growth are hypothesized to decrease. Previous work on Sapelo Island marshes reported the height ceiling to be +0.84 ± 0.004 m AMSL (mean ± SE). Therefore, assuming mature mussel aggregations (i.e., with tops at the aforementioned height ceiling), then mussel aggregation height (i.e., the distance between the marsh platform and the topmost point of the mussel aggregation mounded structure) will inform our knowledge of the marsh platform elevation by the following equation: Marsh Elevation (m AMSL) = Mussel Height Ceiling (+0.84 m AMSL) – Mussel Aggregation Height (m AMSL). For each distance from creekhead from which we conducted a 50 m2 transect (0, 20, and 40 m), we estimated mean platform elevation using each of the measured mussel aggregation heights. We then took the mean value of marsh elevation across the three distances (0 m, 20 m, and 40 m) as a measure of creekhead elevation in 2017 for each of our experimental creeks ( >60 mounds per creekhead; 250 total).To assess elevation three years after treatment deployment, we compared creekhead elevation using a 2020 Digital Elevation Model (DEM) of the creekshed. To build the DEM, we flew a DJI Matrice 600 Pro drone carrying a custom build Lidar payload in August 2020. The payload consisted of a Velodyne Puck Lite VLP16, paired with a Novatel Stim300 Inertial Measurement Unit. The point clouds from the drone were orthorectified from GPS data continuously measured on the drone (see the procedure described in 85,86). To remove the vegetation and any other surface perturbations (i.e., from digital surface model to digital elevation model), we used the CloudCompare software (https://github.com/cloudcompare/cloudcompare). The cloth Simulation Filter (CSF; 87) was applied twice to the dataset, which successfully removed the vegetation data. The point cloud of the marsh surface was then exported to ArcGIS 10.7 where the DEM was generated by raster interpolation. Once completed, the mean elevation within each 2500 m2 creekhead location was calculated using the Zonal Statistics tool in ArcGIS 10.7.Statistical analysesTo quantify the effects of season, tidal phase, and location type on short-term deposition, we first square root transformed short-term sediment deposition (i.e., filter paper results) to meet the assumptions of parametric statistics. We then conducted a three-way fully factorial ANOVA, with main effects season, tidal phase, and location type. Post-hoc analyses were conducted with Tukey HSD test, with Bonferroni-corrected p-values (STATA v 15.1). We further analyzed the effects of site, season, tide, and marsh location on short-term sediment deposition using regression tree analysis (rpart, R version 3.1.0). Over-fitted trees were pruned using k fold cross-validation. To next assess the effects of marsh location type on total organic material deposited over 24 h (surface) and percent organic material (surface and to 5 cm depth), we ran three separate one-way ANOVAs. Post-hoc analyses were again conducted with Tukey HSD tests, with Bonferroni-corrected p-values (STATA v 15.1). For Experiment 1, we assessed the fate of mussel biodeposits, both previously settled and newly ejected, with a one-way ANOVA with location (creekhead versus platform) as the main effect. Finally, for Experiment 2, to assess whether cordgrass and mussel aggregations significantly affected sediment deposition over the one-month experimental deployment, we used multiple regression analysis with cordgrass biomass and mussel biomass as predictor variables for sediment biomass collected in each zone (STATA v 15.1; Table S1).Reporting summaryFurther information on research design is available in the Nature Portfolio Reporting Summary linked to this article. More