Small-scale fluctuations in acoustic and physical properties in surficial carbonate sediments and their relationship to bioturbation

Measurements of physical and acoustic properties within the top 40 cm of sediment indicate that there are three classes of parameter variability relevant to acoustic bottom scattering at the Marquesas Keys and Dry Tortugas sites. The three classes of variability, spatially and temporally different in terms of scale, are generated by biological and physical processes acting on sediments. Interplay of bioturbation, trawling and storm events create fine laminations of sand-silt-clay and high gravel-size mollusk shell content at the Marquesas Keys site; the predominance of biological processes creates strong surficial gradients and lateral variability in sediment properties at the Dry Tortugas site.