An in situ experiment was conducted in the French Mediterranean littoral (Gulf of Fos) from July 1993 to January 1994 using controls without macrofauna or natural sediments. After 1 . 4 and 6 mo, sediment reworhng and denitnfication activities (natural and potential rates) were studied. The bacterial processes were stimulated by the bioturbating activity of the autochthonous infauna The natural and potential denitrification rates were 160 and 280% higher, respectively, than in the controls. The increase of denitrification, occurring at different depths in the sediment with respect to time, was directly dependent on the macrofaunal activity.
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Gilbert et al. (1998) studied this question.