海南高隆湾海草床修复成效及影响因素

为缓解海南岛东海岸海草床的持续退化,在高隆湾光滩区采用单株定距移植法移植泰来草(Thalassia hemprichii)及海菖蒲(Enhalus acoroides)进行海草床修复研究,修复面积约为1000 m2.结果表明,采用铁架加网的修复方式,泰来草1 a后平均成活率为56.39％,其成活率在移植7个月后下降比较...     

Acetylene reducing activity at a tropical seagrass bed in Papua New Guinea

Acetylene reduction activity at a tropical seagrass bed in Papua New Guinea was studied. Blades of every species of seagrass studied (Enhalus acoroides, Thalassia hemprichii, Halodule uninervis, Syringodium isoetifolium) at the bed showed active acetylene reduction in the rage of 0.025–0.050 mol cm^–2d^–1. It is suggested that epiphytic blue-green algae would be responsible for active acetylene reduction. Acetylene reducing activity was observed also at rhizosphere of seagrasses, microbial communities on the detritus and periphyton on snail shells. It is estimated that total nitrogen fixed at the seagrass bed will be equivalent to 6.7% of that required for the growth of seagrasses.     

Sources and distributions of terrigenous organic matter in a mangrove fringed small tropical estuary in South China

The sources and distributions of terrigenous organic matter (OM) were investigated in a small tropical estuary in the Hainan Island, South China. Plants, suspended particulate matter (SPM), and surface sediments samples in the estuary and coast were collected. Bulk properties [organic carbon (OC%), total nitrogen (TN%), stable carbon isotope (δ13C) and grain size] and lignin phenol concentrations were measured. OC% of mangrove plants was (43.4 ± 2.1)%, which is similar to the values reported for mangrove plants in other regions. OC% of sediment samples ranged from 0.07% to 1.42%, and they were related to the sediment texture. Lignin phenols in the sediment ranged from 5.16 mg/100 mg OC in the uppermost station to 0.51mg/100mg OC in the coast. The molar ratio of organic carbon to total nitrogen (C/N) (～7) and δ 13 C (～-31.1×10-3 ) of riverine SPM revealed that the major OM sources of riverine SPM were aquatic OM (phytoplankton and/or bacteria). Moreover, the lower lignin concentration (Λ8) and higher (Ad/Al)v of lignin phenols suggest that terrestrial OM in riverine SPM were mainly from soil. Furthermore, C/N ratio, δ13C and lignin phenols reveal that mangrove plants were the predominant OM sources of mangrove surface sediment. Based on the δ13C and lignin phenols, it can be concluded that the major OM sources in estuarine and coastal surface sediments were marine phytoplankton, riverine SPM and mangrove surface sediment. In addition, the higher (Ad/Al)v of lignin phenols in those coastal sediments indicate that seagrass might be a potential OM source in coastal sediments, however, the lower (Ad/Al)v in the estuarine sediments in turn suggests that seagrass could not be transported to the mangrove fringed region. A three-end-member model which is based on lignin concentrations and δ13C was applied to evaluate the contribution of mangroves to the organic matter preserved in the surface sediments. Around the mangrove fringed region, mangrove could contribute more than 50% to the sedimentary OM, and this value is much higher than riverine OM. Nevertheless, mangrove OM could not be efficiently transported to the coastal region. Our study suggests that mangrove forest is an important OM source in this small estuary.     

海南岛南部海草资源分布现状调查分析

结合2008年和2014年的调查数据,对海南岛南部海草分布现状进行分析探讨。结果显示,海南岛南部海草种类有2科3亚科5属5种,即海神草Cymodocea rotunda、泰莱藻Thalassia hemprichii、海菖蒲Enhalus acoroides、喜盐草Halophila ovalis以及二药藻Enhalus acoroides,泰莱藻广泛分布;海草分布面积从2008年的1.64km2减少到2014年0.50km2,减少幅度较大区域为铁炉港和小东海;平均盖度从2008年35.67%下降到2014年26.40%;受人为活动及无人管理因素影响程度不同,海南岛南部不同海域海草平均密度及平均生物量各有不同,后海湾与鹿回头海草平均密度和平均生物量呈增长趋势,铁炉港、西瑁洲岛及小东海海草平均密度和平均生物量呈下降趋势。鉴于海南岛南部海草资源已出现退化,希望社会各界重视海草的保护,在海草资源丰富区域设海草保护区,在海草破坏严重区域加大政府科研扶持力度,对海草进行保护与修复。     

海南岛新村湾营养负荷对海菖蒲的影响研究

对海南岛新村湾海草床的优势种——海菖蒲(Enhalus acoroides)的茎枝特征、茎枝密度、生物量和不同组织营养素含量进行了研究,并探讨了海水和沉积物间隙水营养负荷对其的影响。结果表明,(1)海菖蒲的茎枝特征(叶长、宽和枝重)、茎枝密度和地上生物量存在显著的空间差异,这些因子与海水和沉积物间隙水DIN含量呈负相关;(2)海菖蒲TN、TP质量分数随着样区的变化而产生显著差异,海菖蒲TN质量分数与其所在样区海水和沉积物间隙水DIN浓度呈显著正相关;(3)随着水体N负荷的增加,海菖蒲叶单位面积附着藻类生物量显著增加。本次研究的结果表明,网箱养殖引起的营养负荷是导致海草衰亡的潜在原因之一,引起了新村湾网箱养殖区海草床的退化。     

Trophic resource use by macrozoobenthic primary consumers within a semi-enclosed coastal ecosystem: Stable isotope and fatty acid assessment

The diet of different macrozoobenthic trophic groups was investigated in the Arcachon Bay—a semi-enclosed macrotidal ecosystem that shelters the largest Zostera noltei seagrass meadow in Europe—in early spring and late summer 2009, using stable isotopes and fatty acids. Fatty acid profiles and literature information about the biology and physiology of benthic consumers were combined to identify the main organic matter sources for the benthic primary consumers. An isotope mixing model was then run to evaluate the contribution of each organic matter source to each identified trophic group (suspension feeders, sub-surface deposit feeders, micro-and macrograzers, suspension-oriented interface feeders and deposit-oriented interface feeders). Variations in organism' diets with respect to both habitats (intertidal seagrass meadows, intertidal bare sediments and subtidal bare sediments) and study periods were also investigated. At the scale of this study, it appeared that the diet of macrozoobenthos primary consumers was based exclusively on autochthonous material (no use of terrestrial organic matter): mainly microphytobenthos, seagrasses and their epiphytes, and phytoplankton. In addition, the different trophic groups relied on different organic matter pools: for instance, suspension feeders mainly fed on microphytobenthos and phytoplankton, whereas subsurface deposit feeders fed on microphytobenthos, decayed seagrasses and bacteria, and grazers mainly fed on microphytobenthos, and seagrasses and their epiphytes. The same pattern was observed in both early spring and late summer, indicating a stability of the benthic system at a six-month time scale. Finally our results showed that, in Arcachon Bay, the seagrass meadow directly or indirectly (through detritus) plays a significant role in the diet of most benthic consumers.     

Functional changes due to invasive species: Food web shifts at shallow Posidonia oceanica seagrass beds colonized by the alien macroalga Caulerpa racemosa

Multiple stable isotope analyses were used to examine the trophic shifts at faunal assemblages within the invading macroalga Caulerpa racemosa in comparison to established communities of Posidonia oceanica seagrass meadows. Sampling of macrobenthic invertebrates and their potential food sources of algal mats and seagrass meadows in Mallorca (NW Mediterranean) showed differences in species composition of faunal and primary producers among seagrass and C. racemosa. Accordingly, changes in food web structure and trophic guilds were observed, not only at species level but also at community level. The carbon and nitrogen isotope signatures of herbivores, detritivores and deposit feeders confirmed that the seagrass provided a small contribution to the macrofaunal organisms. δ¹³C at the P. oceanica seagrass and at the C. racemosa assemblages differed, ranging from −6.19 to −21.20‰ and −2.67 to −31.41‰, respectively. δ¹⁵N at the Caulerpa mats was lower (ranging from 2.64 to 10.45‰) than that at the seagrass meadows (3.51–12. 94‰). Significant differences in isotopic signatures and trophic level among trophic guilds at P. oceanica and C. racemosa were found. N fractionation at trophic guild level considerable differed between seagrass and macroalgae mats, especially for detritivores, deposit feeders, and herbivores. Filter feeders slightly differed with a relatively lower N signal at the seagrass and CR values at community level and at trophic guild level were higher in the C. racemosa invaded habitats indicating an increase in diversity of basal resource pools. C. racemosa did seem to broaden the niche diversity of the P. oceanica meadows it colonised at the base of the food web, may be due to the establishment of a new basal resource. The extent of the effects of invasive species on ecosystem functioning is a fundamental issue in conservation ecology. The observed changes in invertebrate and macrophytic composition, stable isotope signatures of concomitant species and consequent trophic guild and niche breadth shifts at invaded Caulerpa beds increase our understanding of the seagrass systems.     

Deep-sea macrourid fishes scavenge on plant material: Evidence from in situ observations

Deep-sea benthic communities primarily rely on an allochthonous food source. This may be in the form of phytodetritus or as food falls e.g. sinking carcasses of nekton or debris of marine macrophyte algae. Deep-sea macrourids are the most abundant demersal fish in the deep ocean. Macrourids are generally considered to be the apex predators/scavengers in deep-sea communities. Baited camera experiments and stable isotope analyses have demonstrated that animal carrion derived from the surface waters is an important component in the diets of macrourids; some macrourid stomachs also contained vegetable/plant material e.g. onion peels, oranges, algae. The latter observations led us to the question: is plant material an attractive food source for deep-sea scavenging fish? We simulated a plant food fall using in situ benthic lander systems equipped with a baited time-lapse camera. Abyssal macrourids and cusk-eels were attracted to the bait, both feeding vigorously on the bait, and the majority of the bait was consumed in <30 h. These observations indicate (1) plant material can produce an odour plume similar to that of animal carrion and attracts deep-sea fish, and (2) deep-sea fish readily eat plant material. This represents to our knowledge the first in situ documentation of deep-sea fish ingesting plant material and highlights the variability in the scavenging nature of deep-sea fishes. This may have implications for food webs in areas where macrophyte/seagrass detritus is abundant at the seafloor e.g. canyon systems and continental shelves close to seagrass meadows (Bahamas and Mediterranean).     

The decomposition rate of the organic carbon content of suspended particulate matter in the tropical seagrass meadows

In terms of downward transport, suspended particulate matter(SPM) from marine or terrigenous sources is an essential contributor to the carbon cycle. Within mesoscale environments such as seagrass ecosystems, SPM flux is an essential part of the total carbon budget that is transported within the ecosystem. By assessing the total SPM transport from water column to sediment, potential carbon burial can be estimated. However, SPM may decompose or reforming aggregate during transport, so estimating the vertical flux without knowing the decomposition rate will lead to over-or underestimation of the total carbon budget. Here this paper presents the potential decomposition rate of the SPM in seagrass ecosystems in an attempt to elucidate the carbon dynamics of SPM. SPM was collected from the seagrass ecosystems located at Sikka and Sorong in Indonesia. In situ experiments using SPM traps were conducted to assess the vertical downward flux and decomposition rate of SPM. The isotopic profile of SPM was measured together with organic carbon and total nitrogen content. The results show that SPM was transported to the bottom of the seagrass ecosystem at a rate of up to(129.45±53.79)mg/(m~2·h)(according to carbon). Considering the whole period of inundation of seagrass meadows, SPM downward flux reached a maximum of 3 096 mg/(m~2·d)(according to carbon). The decomposition rate was estimated at from 5.9 μg/(mg·d)(according to carbon) to 26.6 μg/(mg·d)(according to carbon). Considering the total downward flux of SPM in the study site, the maximum decomposed SPM was estimated 39.9 mg/(m~2·d)(according to carbon) and 82.6 mg/(m~2·d)(according to carbon) for study site at Sorong and Sikka, respectively.The decomposed SPM can be 0.6%–2.7% of the total SPM flux, indicating that it is a small proportion of the total flux. The seagrass ecosystems of Sorong and Sikka SPM show an autochthonous tendency with the primary composition of marine-end materials.     

A Stable Carbon Isotope Study of the Food-web in a Freshwater-deprived South African Estuary, with Particular Emphasis on the Ichthyofauna

The importance of macrophytes as food sources for estuarine nekton is unclear. Previous carbon isotope investigations in the macrophyte-dominated, freshwater-deprived Kariega Estuary showed that the bivalveSolen cylindraceusdid not utilize the dominant estuarine macrophytes found within the estuary as a primary food source. This finding prompted questions as to what the nekton of this estuary utilize as primary energy sources. δ¹³C analyses of the principal autochthonous and allochthonous primary carbon sources, as well as the dominant invertebrate and fish species, indicate that there are two main carbon pathways within the Kariega Estuary. The littoral community, which incorporates the majority of crustaceans, gobies, mullet and a sparid, utilizes δ¹³C enriched primary food sources namelySpartina maritima,Zosteracapensis and epiphytes. The channel fauna, which includes the zooplankton, zooplanktivorous and piscivorous fish, utilizes a primary food source depleted in δ¹³C, which is most likely a mixture of phytoplankton, terrestrial plant debris and C₄macrophyte detritus. The C₃saltmarsh macrophytesSarcocornia perennisandChenolea diffusa, as well as benthic microalgae, appear to be less important as primary food sources to the nekton of the Kariega Estuary.     

无人机航测技术在海草床调查中的试点应用

通过无人机飞行参数、飞行高度、潮汐条件和调查范围等试验,采用无人机对东郊椰林近岸海域海草进行航拍,利用PIX4D软件处理得到了高分辨率海草分布影像图,利用ArcGIS软件对海草分布区进行了矢量化提取,选择有代表性的区块结合实地调查进行验证,得出了试验区的海草分布特征和海草种类。结果表明：海草分布在离岸300 m范围内的珊瑚礁砰上,呈斑块状、间隔式分布特征,在试验区中海草分布面积为2 449.6 m2,占比为24.5%。实地调查到海草种类有圆叶丝粉草（Cymodocea rotundata）、单脉二药草（Halodule uninervis）、海菖蒲（Enhalus acoroides）、泰来草（Thalassia hemprichii）和卵叶喜盐草（Halophila ovalis）等5种海草,泰来草为优势种,单脉二药草和卵叶喜盐草分布在潮间带有淤泥的低潮区;圆叶丝粉草分布在低潮带至潮下带的上部,海底堆积和冲刷区的交界处;泰来草在不同水深处均有分布,分布面积最大。     

The role of current velocity in structuring eelgrass (Zostera marina L.) meadows

Measurements of velocity profiles, bathymetry, and surface sediment characteristics across eelgrass (Zostera marina L.) meadows yielded information on community development processes and functional attributes of this ecosystem. Height/length ratios of the meadows were positively correlated with tidal current velocity. Low, medium, and high current regimes were separated by surface current velocities of approximately 50 and 90 cm s^?1. Z. marina can tolerate approximately 120–150 cm/sec current velocities in the areas studied. Per cent silt-clay and organic matter content of the surface sediments are negatively associated with shear velocity, suggesting that meadows in high current areas are sources while meadows in low current areas are sinks of autochthonous detritus. Current velocity maintains seagrass meadows at different equilibrium levels (relative climaxes). We theorize these different equilibrium levels provide unequal habitat utilization potentials for the associated faunal community.     

海草场的生态功能

海草场作为特殊的海洋生态系统之一,尽管其面积占海洋总面积的比例很小,但其具有极高的初级生产力,在地球系统碳循环中起着不可忽视的作用。海草本身还可以作为其他附着生物的附着基,进一步提高了海草场的初级生产力,并为许多海洋动物提供了适宜的食物。海草场的存在,改变了海草场内的流体动力过程,加速了悬浮颗粒的沉降,对稳定海底底质和净化水质有着积极的作用,因此被称为"生态系统工程师"。海草本身可以作为一些海洋动物的食物,同时其复杂的地下和地上结构还为一些海洋动物提供了庇护和栖息场所。而海草植物体的大部分,将最终被微生物分解利用,所产生的营养盐可以满足其它初级生产者生长所需。本文通过总结世界范围内海草场生态学研究成果,旨在阐述海草场生态系统的特征及功能,以提高人们对海草场生态功能的认识,唤起人们对海草场的重视与保护意识。     

Dominant amphipods of Posidonia oceanica seagrass meadows display considerable trophic diversity

Gut content examination and trophic markers (fatty acids, stable isotopes of C and N) were combined to delineate the diet of the dominant species of amphipods from Mediterranean Posidonia oceanica seagrass meadows and to highlight trophic diversity among this community. Our results indicate that, although all dominant species heavily relied on macroalgal epiphytes, considerable interspecific dietary differences existed. Carbon stable isotope ratios notably showed that some of the amphipod species favored grazing on epiphytes from leaves or litter fragments (Apherusa chiereghinii, Aora spinicornis, Gammarus aequicauda), while others such as Dexamine spiniventris preferred epiphytes from rhizomes. The remaining amphipods (Caprella acanthifera, Ampithoe helleri and Gammarella fucicola) readily consumed both groups. In addition, SIAR modeling suggested that most species had a mixed diet, and relied on several food items. Fatty acid analysis and gut contents revealed that contributions of microepiphytic diatoms and of benthic and suspended particulate organic matter to the diet of amphipods were anecdotal. None of the examined species seemed to graze on their seagrass host [low 18:2(n‐6) and 18:3(n‐3) fatty acids contents], but Gammarus aequicauda partly relied on seagrass leaf detritus, as demonstrated by the lesser ¹³C‐depletion of their tissues. Overall, our findings suggest that amphipods, because of their importance in the transfer of organic matter from primary producers and detritus to higher rank consumers, are key items in P. oceanica‐associated food webs.     

荣成马山里海域海草床分布现状及其生态特征

海草床是滨海三大典型生态系统之一,具有极其重要的环境改善、资源养护和减灾防灾等生态功能,亦是全球重要的碳库。2016年8月,通过对荣成马山里海域的现场调查,发现了面积为58.26 hm2的海草床,其海草的种类为红纤维虾形草（Phyllospadix iwatensis）和丛生鳗草（Zostera caespitosa）。红纤维虾形草分布面积为54.50 hm2,占该海域海草床总面积的93.5%,分为北部和南部2个带状区域,平均茎枝密度为（368.0±18.2）shoots/m2,平均生物量（干重,下同）为（297.0±41.5）g/m2。丛生鳗草分布面积为3.76 hm2,占海草床总面积的6.5%,呈现斑块状分布,与红纤维虾形草交错而生,平均茎枝密度为（691.2±17.1）shoots/m2,平均生物量为（534.0±70.7）g/m2。马山里海域海草床主要分布在平均水深为（2.8±0.3） m的以岩礁为主的底质上。海草的生长状况存在显著的空间差异,与水温呈现显著的正相关,与水深和陆源污染物存在显著的负相关。结合历史资料,发现该海域海草床退化现象较严重,其主要威胁因素是人为干扰,主要包括渔业生产、养殖活动和陆源污染输入。建议合理规划周边海域的养殖规模和密度、加强陆源污染物管控和开展海草床生态修复工程,以期为温带海草床的有效保护和科学管理提供参考。     

Redefining the trophic importance of seagrasses for fauna in tropical Indo-Pacific meadows

Fauna species living in seagrass meadows depend on different food sources, with seagrasses often being marginally important for higher trophic levels. To determine the food web of a mixed-species tropical seagrass meadow in Sulawesi, Indonesia, we analyzed the stable isotope (δ¹³C and δ¹⁵N) signatures of primary producers, particulate organic matter (POM) and fauna species. In addition invertebrates, both infauna and macrobenthic, and fish densities were examined to identify the important species in the meadow. The aims of this study were to identify the main food sources of fauna species by comparing isotopic signatures of different primary producers and fauna, and to estimate qualitatively the importance of seagrass material in the food web. Phytoplankton and water column POM were the most depleted primary food sources for δ¹³C (range −23.1 to −19.6‰), but no fauna species depended only on these sources for carbon. Epiphytes and Sargassum sp. had intermediate δ¹³C values (−14.2 to −11.9‰). Sea urchins, gastropods and certain fish species were the main species assimilating this material. Seagrasses and sedimentary POM had the least depleted values (−11.5 to −5.7‰). Between the five seagrass species significant differences in δ¹³C were measured. The small species Halophila ovalis and Halodule uninervis were most depleted, the largest species Enhalus acoroides was least depleted, while Thalassia hemprichii and Cymodocea rotundata had intermediate values. Fourteen fauna species, accounting for 10% of the total fauna density, were shown to assimilate predominantly (>50%) seagrass material, either directly or indirectly by feeding on seagrass consumers. These species ranged from amphipods up to the benthic top predator Taeniura lymma. Besides these species, about half of the 55 fauna species analyzed had δ¹³C values higher than the least depleted non-seagrass source, indicating they depended at least partly for their food on seagrass material. This study shows that seagrass material is consumed by a large number of fauna species and is important for a large portion of the food web in tropical seagrass meadows.     

The relationship between seagrass (Posidonia oceanica) decline and sulfide porewater concentration in carbonate sediments

In this study we test the hypothesized negative relationship between seagrass status and porewater hydrogen sulfide (H₂S) levels, through a comparative analysis within a range of seven Posidonia oceanica meadows growing over carbonate sediments in the NW Mediterranean Sea around Mallorca Island. The studied meadows range from meadows growing on sediments with very low sulfide porewater concentrations (4.6 μM) to those growing over higher sulfide conditions (33.5 μM). Organic matter content, sulfate reduction rates and sulfide porewater concentrations in the sediments were determined concurrently with the assessment of demographic plant dynamics (specific mortality and net population growth rates). Sulfide porewater concentration increased with increasing organic matter content in the sediment, while net population growth decreased significantly with low increases of sulfide concentrations. Our results confirm the previously suspected vulnerability of seagrass meadows growing on carbonate sediments to increased sulfide levels. An excess of 10 μmols H₂S L⁻¹ porewater is identified to already conduce P. oceanica meadows to decline, which this study identifies, particularly, as strongly sensitive to sulfides. The results reported here suggest that even moderate increases in organic carbon inputs may lead to enhancement of dissolved sulfides and may be an important factor for seagrass status in these iron-depleted carbonate sediments from the Mediterranean Sea.     

Sediment deposition and production in SE-Asia seagrass meadows

Seagrass meadows play an important role in the trapping and binding of particles in coastal sediments. Yet seagrass may also contribute to sediment production directly, through the deposition of detritus and also the deposition of the associated mineral particles. This study aims at estimating the contribution of different seagrass species growing across an extensive range of deposition to inorganic (carbonate and non-carbonate) and organic sediment production. Total daily deposition measured with sediment traps varied from 18.8 (±2.0) g DW m⁻² d⁻¹ in Silaqui (Philippines) to 681.1 (±102) g DW m⁻² d⁻¹ in Bay Tien (Vietnam). These measurements correspond to a single sampling event and represent sedimentation conditions during the dry season in SE-Asia coastal areas. Enhalus acoroides was the most common species in the seagrass meadows visited and, together with Thalassia hemprichii, was present at sites from low to very high deposition. Halodule uninervis and Cymodocea species were present in sites from low to medium deposition. The mineral load in seagrass leaves increased with age, and was high in E. acoroides because it had the largest and long-lived leaves (up to 417 mg calcium carbonate per leaf and 507 mg non-carbonate minerals per leaf) and low in H. uninervis with short-lived leaves (4 mg calcium carbonate per leaf and 2 mg non-carbonate minerals per leaf). In SE-Asia seagrass meadows non-carbonate minerals accumulate at slower rates than the production of calcium carbonate by the epiphytic community, consequently the final loads supported by fully grown leaves were, as average, lower than calcium carbonate loads. Our results show that organic and inorganic production of the seagrasses in SE-Asia represents a small contribution (maximum of 15%) of the materials sedimented on a daily base by the water column during the sampling period. The contribution of the carbonate fraction can be locally significant (i.e. 34% in Silaqui) in areas where the depositional flux is low, but is minor (<1%) in sites were siltation is significant (i.e. Umalagan and all the visited sites in Vietnam).     

菲律宾海北部四国海盆全新世沉积物源分析

对IODP333航次四国海盆北部地区C0011站位表层样品进行粒度和Sr-Nd同位素分析,并与前人发表的邻近海域同位素数据进行比较。经分离自生碳酸盐组分,四国海盆全新世沉积物呈现较好的陆源、火山源二端元组分特征。从地理位置看,四国海盆北部主要物质来源包括伊豆-小笠原海脊火山物质、日本列岛西南部的混合型沉积物以及由西向风或河流入海洋流输送而来的亚洲陆地沉积物,且日本列岛西南部对于该区域物质贡献最大。对四国海盆北部而言,与海盆中部沉积及日本海沉积相比,源自亚洲大陆的碎屑沉积物具有更多的贡献。沉积物中87Sr/86Sr与εNd、平均粒径的负相关关系反映了沉积物中陆源物质的相对贡献按时间顺序呈现增加、减小、增加、减少的多周期变化趋势。     

Distribution of sterol and fatty alcohol biomarkers in particulate matter from the frontal structure of the Alboran Sea (S.W. Mediterranean Sea)

Sterol and fatty alcohol biomarkers were analyzed in suspended and sinking particles from the water column (20–300 m) of the Almeria–Oran frontal zone to characterize the biogenic sources and biogeochemical processes. Diatom- and haptophyte-related sterols were predominant at all sites and vertical distributions of sterol, and fatty alcohol biomarkers in sinking particles were markedly different from suspended particles. In contrast to the relatively fresh sinking particles with elevated concentrations of phyto- and zooplanktonic sterols, suspended particles were extensively degraded with increasing depth and exhibited a more terrestrial and zooplanktonic signature with depth.Sterol and alcohol biomarkers distributions and δ¹³C values from the jet core and the associated gyre of Atlantic waters showed a decoupling between the sinking particles of 100- and 300-m depth, demonstrating the influence of lateral advection in the frontal zone. In contrast, vertical transport of the particulate organic matter in Mediterranean waters was interpreted from the similar isotopic and molecular composition at both depths. The high abundance of phytosterols and phytol below the euphotic zone at 100 m signified that downwelling of biomass occurred on the downstream side of the gyre. The high concentrations of phytosterols and POC, in combination with the high phytosterols/phytol ratio, indicated the accumulation of detrital plant material in the oligotrophic Mediterranean waters near the frontal zone.A higher contribution of phytol in the sinking particles collected during the night at the surface of the jet and at the upstream side of the gyre provided evidence of diel vertical zooplankton migration and important grazing by herbivorous zooplankton.Carbon isotope ratios of sterols confirmed that the 24-ethylcholest-5-en-3β-ol, commonly associated with terrestrial sources, was a substantial constituent of the phytoplankton in this area. However, the more δ¹³C depleted values obtained for this compound in suspended particles suggested that there was some terrestrial contribution that only becomes evident after degradation of the more labile marine organic matter.