Erosion of cohesive bottom sediments: The influence of benthos

Abstract
The effect of benthic organisms (Oligochaeta and Chironomidae) on the erosion of cohesive sediments was studied in a laboratory flume. The critical erosive velocities were shown to be 2-3 times smaller than that of the control sediments. The effect depends strongly on the population density of benthos and temperature of sediments. It was also shown that micro-organisms (bacteria and protozoa), attached to small particles have a great impact on the transportation of suspended sediments due to the decrease in the settling velocity and the critical tractive force.

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