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Bioerosion describes the breakdown of hard ocean substrates – and less often terrestrial substrates – by living organisms. Marine bioerosion can be caused by mollusks, polychaete worms, phoronids, sponges, crustaceans, echinoids, and fish; it can occur on coastlines, on coral reefs, and on ships; its mechanisms include biotic boring, drilling, rasping, and scraping.
Bioerosion is the weathering and removal of abiotic material via organic processes. [10] This can either be passive or active. Moreover, bioerosion is the chemical and or the mechanical weathering of landforms due to organic means. [ 3 ]
bioerosion The erosion of hard ocean substrates by living organisms through various biological mechanisms. biogenic Of biological origin – Produced by the present or past activity of living organisms, or by a biological process. bioherm Landform of organic sedimentary rock enclosed or surrounded by rock of different origin. biostratigraphy
There are three main processes related to biogeomorphology: bioerosion, bioprotection, and bioconstruction. [1] Bioerosion is the erosion of ocean substrates by living organisms. Bioprotection refers to the protection of substrate from various forms erosion by the presence of organisms, and the structures they create (i.e. coral reefs).
It appears first in the Lower Cambrian, [3] was very prominent in the Ordovician Bioerosion Revolution, [4] and is still commonly formed today. Trypanites is almost always found in calcareous substrates, most likely because the excavating organism used an acid or other chemical agent to dissolve the calcium carbonate. [5]
Another significant source of erosion, particularly on carbonate coastlines, is boring, scraping and grinding of organisms, a process termed bioerosion. [29] Sediment is transported along the coast in the direction of the prevailing current (longshore drift).
In the course of tearing up the mat the urchin also abrades the underlying surface, causing bioerosion. Its activities help control the algae which otherwise might overwhelm the corals. [2] Certain small fish such as cardinal fish, flatworms and shrimps sometimes seek protection from predators among the long spines.
This process, known as bioerosion, reduces the number of algae while generating fresh surfaces for developing corals to cling to and grow on. [2] Research on parrotfish has shown that they occasionally eat other tiny species, including bacteria, detritus, and invertebrates (sessile and benthic species, as well as zooplankton).