Biomineralization of organic matter in cobalt-rich crusts from the Marcus–Wake Seamounts of the western Pacific Ocean

Organic matter in cobalt-rich crust(CRC) from the Marcus–Wake Seamounts of the western Pacific Ocean, Sample CM1D03, has been analyzed to understand the source, geochemistry and mineralization of organic matter, and the mineralization environment. Biomarkers, including n-alkanes, isoprenoids, terpanes and sterols, have been detected in various layers of the CRC sample, using gas chromatography(GC) and gas chromatography–mass spectrometry(GC–MS). The content of organic carbon(OC) and its stable isotope(δ13C), and the combined features of the biomarkers show that the mineralized organic matter in CM1D03 CRC was mainly derived from microorganisms and lower plankton(e.g., bacteria and algae, respectively) from marine surface water, with some terrestrial higher plant components. The ratio of chloroform bitumen "A": OC was high in the CRC, between 10.51 and 20.66, showing significant migration characteristics of n-alkanes. Four mineralization categories of organic matter were recognized based on GC chromatograms of n-alkane molecules:(1) primitive type(bacteria and algae), which is characterized by moderately mature of n-alkanes preserving the original characteristics of the organic matter from microorganisms and lower plankton;(2) microbial degradation type, which is characterized by low contents of n-alkanes and rising baseline in the chromatogram, with the "bulge" being the products of organic matter by biodegradation;(3) organic matter migration type, which is characterized by low carbon number of n-alkanes with n C18 as the main peak carbon, without odd even predominance, and low concentrations of isoprenoids and hydrocarbons with high carbon number; and(4) organic matter hydrothermal type, which is characterized by relatively low concentration of small molecular weight n-alkanes, pristane, and phytane, accompanied by higher concentration of n-alkanes with carbon number greater than n C18. This study shows that biomarkers can record controlling factors of mineralization and their variation.     

Signatures of ocean storms on seismic records in South China Sea and East China Sea

Ocean storms on seismic records reveal coupling mechanisms between Earth’s spheres. We analyzed temporal and spatial signatures of ocean storms on seismic records in the South China and East China Seas. The main points are: (1) the landing of ocean storms directly influences spectrum amplitudes of microseisms, showing an “increase-peak-decrease” pattern, whereas they exert no direct influence on Earth’s hum and the high-frequency noise; (2) for microseisms, spectrum amplitudes of short-period double-frequency microseisms are increased greatly during ocean storms’ landing, implying that storms preferably excite short-period ocean swells; (3) while the “increase-peak-decrease” pattern of spectrum amplitudes is observed for both short-period double-frequency microseisms and long-period double-frequency microseisms in South China Sea, the peak arrived and disappeared much earlier for long-period double-frequency microseisms, which can be explained by their causal mechanisms; (4) in East China Sea, only the spectrum amplitudes of short-period double-frequency microseisms show an “increase-peak-decrease” pattern and extraordinary spectrum pulses are observed reflecting thick sediments there; (5) spatial features of microseisms revealed from predominant polarization directions indicate that local coastlines play very important roles in deciding where ocean waves impact; (6) high-frequency noise is caused by local offshore wind-generated ocean waves instead of ocean storms; (7) the influence of ocean storm landing processes on microseisms can propagate through continents and is observed at inland stations; (8) seismic motions are excited more efficiently in horizontal directions when ocean waves impact seafloors. Our work clearly exhibits how effectively local ocean events are coupled with the Earth’s lithosphere in Chinese seas.     

A Study in Ultra-Ecology: Microorganisms on the Seagrass Posidonia oceanica (L.) DELILE

Abstract. Microbial colonization on the leaves of a shoot of the mediterranean seagrass Posidonia oceanica (L.) DELILE was studied using Scanning Electron Microscopy. Methods of field ecology such as transect, random plot and stratified sampling survey were applied to the microbial niveau to gain both qualitative and quantitative information on the microbial assemblage. While macro-epiphytic growth was significantly greater on the outer leaf sides, microbial colonization density was significantly higher on the inner leaf sides, both on leaf surface and epiphyte surface. Diatoms colonized the surface of incrusting algae and epiphytic animals in significantly lower numbers than the Posidonia leaf surface and were absent on erect epiphytic algae. Bacterial densities on epiphyte surfaces even exceeded values of the corresponding leaf surfaces on algal thalli near the leaf tips and on old leaves. Diatoms reach highest mean density on mature leaves and close to the leaf tips, while bacteria reach their greatest density on the oldest leaf and closer to the leaf base. Diatom density in general increases with exposure time of plant surface, while greatest bacterial density was observed at 7–10 weeks exposure. Basal leaf parts on younger leaves were dominated by rod-shaped bacteria, while distal leaf parts and old leaves were dominated by small coccoid bacteria. Surfaces of epiphytic algae were always distinctly dominated by small coccoid bacteria, and edges of thalli attracted high microbial densities. Microbial biomass (calculated from cell volumes using standard conversion factors) amounts to 2.3 g dry weight m-² in the Posidonia stand where the shoot was sampled. The observed patterns of epiphytic colonization are interpreted as the result of a complex, dynamically changing system of interactions both within the epiphytic community and between the epiphytic community, the host plant, and it's environment. A model of the organization of the epiphytic community on Posidonia leaves is presented. “Ultra-ecology” is a term introduced to denote a type of SEM research in the micro-environment which is analogous to in situ investigation in “macroscopic” ecological work.     

Notes on the ecology and paleoecology of neothyrls,an endemic New Zealand brachiopod

Neothyris lecticularis (Deshayes, 1839) live mainly south o'f 44°S in waters 90–180 m (extremes 18–384 m) deep where bottom temperatures are always >7°c. Fossil N. “avails” (Hutton, 1886) in the early Pleistocene limestone at Castlepoint (41 °S) are associated with an assemblage of animals generioally the same as the living N. lenticularis assemblage of Foveaux Strait. The granular substrate occupied by the living animals is similar to the matrix of the Castlepoint limestone. Thus the early Pleistocene marine climate in 90–180 m at 43°S may have been about 5°c cooler than it is today; the possible use is mentioned of the presence of the fossil assemblage in studies of palaeoelimates.

Population analysis of living and fossil stocks show a constant bias toward the older age‐groups; this finding is discussed. Various ecological observations are recorded.     

Could the conventionally known Abu Roash “G” reservoir (upper Cenomanian) be a promising active hydrocarbon source in the extreme northwestern part of Egypt? Palynofacies,palaeoenvironmental, and organic geochemical answers

In different areas of the Western Desert of Egypt, the Abu Roash “G” Member exhibits either a reservoir or source affinity. Thus, thirteen cutting samples covering the Abu Roash “G” Member were selected from the Nest-1A well at Matruh Basin to investigate its hydrocarbon source potential. Palynological age dating of the section that is calibrated with foraminifera and ostracodes enabled a proper identification of the “G” Member. Detailed analysis of the vertical distribution of particulate organic matter of this member shows two palynofacies types. PF-1 reflects an outer middle shelf depositional environment of prevailed reducing (suboxic-anoxic) conditions for the organic-rich shales of the lower “G” Member (samples 1–8). While, PF-2 reflects a minor regression that resulted in deposition of another organic-rich shales of the upper “G” Member (samples 9–13) in an inner middle shelf setting under the same prevailing reducing (suboxic-anoxic) conditions.Organic geochemical analysis reveals good to very good potential of the “G” Member as a hydrocarbon source rock (1.8–2.41, avg. 2.15 total organic content wt %). It also shows good to very good petroleum potential (PP: 4.8–11 , avg. 8 mg HC/g rock). Pyrolsis and palynofacies analyses show kerogen type II for the lower “G” Member (samples 1–8), which is characterized by high Hydrogen index (HI: 396 and 329 mg HC/g TOC at depths 1500 and 1560 m) and very high dominance of oil-prone material (amorphous organic matter “AOM”, marine palynomorphs, and sporomorphs) and very rare occurrence of gas-prone material (brown phytoclasts). The upper “G” Member (samples 9–13) shows kerogen type II-III, which is characterized by a lower HI value of 213 mg HC/g TOC at depth 1340 m and it contains fewer amounts of gas-prone material and relatively lower AOM and marine palynomorphs in comparison to the upper “G” Member. Maturation parameters T_max (430–433 °C), production index (PI: 0.1 mg HC/g rock), and thermal alteration index (TAI: 2+) indicate the lower “G” Member has already entered the early oil-window kitchen, and it is expected to produce oil. The upper “G” Member is expected to produce only oil with no gas shows, because it is marginally mature (T_max 426 °C, PI 0.2, TAI 2). The source potential index (SPI: 5.3 t HC/m²) of the “G” Member shows it as currently generating moderate quantities of oil in the area of Nest-1A well.Consequently, the organic-rich shales of the “G” Member are suggested here as a promising, active oil source rock in that extreme northwestern part of the Western Desert of Egypt. However, for commercial oil recovery from the Abu Roash “G” Member, it is highly recommended to explore the depocentre of Matruh Basin at about 150 km east the Nest-1A well.     

Effects of overcrowding on floating behaviour in the mud whelk cominella glandiformis (Mollusca: Gastropoda)

The mud whelk Cominella glandiformis (Reeve, 1874) was observed on a tidal flat “floating” upside down beneath the water surface. Study in the laboratory showed that, when C. glandiformis is “floating”, the foot is distended with blood to approximately twice its normal surface area. In the laboratory C. glandiformis “floated” only during daylight hours, and the incidence of “floating” increased markedly as specimens became more overcrowded. Possibly “floating” is a rapid dispersal mechanism in response to overcrowding; it may also assist respiration in the event of overcrowding producing anaerobic conditions. Its occurrence only during daylight hours suggests that a reaction to light may also be involved.     

Colonisers of the dark: biostalactite‐associated metazoans from “lu Lampiùne” submarine cave (Apulia,Mediterranean Sea)

Metazoan/microbial bioconstructions, or biostalactites (BSTs), discovered in submarine caves of Apulia c. 20 years ago—and later found in several shallow‐water Mediterranean caves—are receiving increasing attention in the last years. Examination of a single BST from the “lu Lampiùne” cave (Apulia), at the limit between the Adriatic and the Ionian seas, has been addressed for the first time in this paper. The BST started growing at c. 6,000 years ago with a rapid accretion of large‐sized serpulids (Protula), slowing down since about 3,000–4,000 years ago with a shift in main bioconstructors, probably caused by environmental changes. The present‐day community on the outer BST surface is dominated by skeletonised epibionts, mostly small‐sized serpulids, bryozoans and foraminifers, which contribute carbonate to the BST growth, by encrusting sponges, and by a few endobionts, including boring bivalves and insinuating sponges. New data remarkably increase biodiversity known for the “lu Lampiùne” cave and the cave habitat in the region. Thirty‐five taxa (16 bryozoans, 10 serpulids, 3 brachiopods, 2 foraminifers, 2 sponges, 1 bivalve and 1 cirriped) are recorded for the first time from Apulian marine caves, highlighting the need for further research in the area. In addition, the BST‐associated community seems to differ from those of individual BSTs from other Mediterranean caves, revealing the individuality of these communities.     

Water column distribution of phospholipid-derived fatty acids of marine microorganisms in the Humboldt Current system off northern Chile

Suspended particulate matter samples from the oxygenated surface zone, the oxygen minimum zone, and the oxygenated deeper zone were collected from the upwelling area off Antofagasta in northern Chile during austral autumn (April 2001) to study the composition of microbial phospholipid-derived fatty acid methyl esters, using capillary gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Whereas phytoplanktonic carbon dominated living organic matter near the coast, bacterial carbon was most abundant offshore. The biomarker distribution showed some differences between the depth levels sampled, such as the highest microbial abundance in the epipelagic zone represented by phytoplankton, especially diatoms, and a homogeneous distribution of bacterial biomarkers, with no indication of vertical segregation of functional groups as previously thought.     

The rôle of the complete Coriolis force in cross-equatorial flow of abyssal ocean currents

Ocean currents flowing close to or across the equator are strongly constrained by the change in sign of f, the locally vertical component of the Earth’s rotation vector, across the equator. We investigate these currents using a shallow water model that includes both the locally vertical and locally horizontal components of the Earth’s rotation vector, thus accounting for the complete Coriolis force. We therefore avoid making the so-called “traditional approximation” that retains only the part of the Coriolis force associated with the locally vertical component of the rotation vector. Including the complete Coriolis force contributes an additional term to the fluid’s potential vorticity, which may partially balance the change in sign of f as fluid crosses the equator over suitably shaped bathymetry.We focus on the Antarctic Bottom Water, which crosses the equator northwards in the western Atlantic ocean where the local bathymetry forms an almost-zonal channel. We show that this bathymetry facilitates the current’s equatorial crossing via the action of the “non-traditional” component of the Coriolis force. We illustrate this process using both analytical and numerical solutions for flow of an abyssal current over idealised equatorial topography. We also consider the one-dimensional geostrophic adjustment of a body of fluid across the equator, and show that the “non-traditional” contribution to the fluid’s angular momentum permits a larger cross-equatorial transport. These results underline the importance of including the complete Coriolis force in studies of the equatorial ocean, particularly in the weakly-stratified abyssal ocean where the non-traditional component is most pronounced.     

近20年渤海叶绿素a浓度时空变化

浮游植物作为食物链的基础，对海洋生态系统具有重要作用。渤海作为我国最大的内海和重要渔业生物的产卵场、育幼场和索饵场，该区浮游植物研究具有重要意义。叶绿素a浓度是反映浮游植物生物量的重要指标。利用Google Earth Engine平台，对1997–2010年的宽视场海洋观测传感器(SeaWiFS)叶绿素a浓度数据和2002–2018年的水色卫星中分辨率成像光谱仪传感器(MODIS Aqua)叶绿素a浓度数据进行合并，并研究其时空变化特征。研究表明，近20年来，渤海全年叶绿素a浓度增加了14.1%，且增加显著。叶绿素a浓度在所有季节都呈现增加趋势；除11月外，其他各月都呈现稳定或增加趋势。从滦河入河口沿岸至渤海海峡的渤海中部，叶绿素a浓度增加较明显。同时也分析了海洋表面温度、风速和降水量数据。夏季渤海周边区域降水量和风速增加以及秋季海表温度的降低都有助于同季叶绿素a浓度的升高。渤海浮游植物可能受陆源营养物质输入影响较大。     

Quantitative provenance of silt and clay within sandy deposits of the Lithuanian coastal zone (Baltic Sea)

A quantitative provenance approach is developed and in this study applied for the silt and clay fractions of sandy, coastal deposits. Mineralogical composition of 37 surface samples was determined by X-ray diffraction (XRD). Grain-size distributions were obtained by standard dry sieving and pipette techniques. The characterization of mineralogical provenance is based upon known compositional information of possible sources, logical models for mineral combinations related to regional geological provinces and processes, and geographical features of the documented mineral distribution in the area of investigation. These interpretations are further supported by results of correlation and principal component analyses of mineral varieties, grain-size parameters and bathymetric features of the area. Partitioning of source contributions specific for each site of deposition is derived by solving simultaneous equations. Then, the quantified mineral composition at the initial source is reconstructed in the SE Baltic Sea along the Lithuanian coast, exemplifying this new methodology for quantification of sediment sources. The main sources supplying sediment to the area are: 1) Sambian Peninsula to the south (erosion of Pleistocene till and “Blue Earth” Paleogene sediments), supplying 33% of fine-grained sediment on average, 2) Nemunas River, the discharge of which passes through Curonian Lagoon and supplies an average 17% of the coastal fine sediments, and 3) Pleistocene till, eroded on the sea floor in the north and at the Olando Kepur? shore cliff and contributing an average of 50% of the sediment. Although we use the mineralogy within the environmentally important fine-grained fraction, this mathematically simple approach could be used with any other parameters characterizing the identified sources. A quantification of the separate source contributions to each individual site of accumulation studied, using the stable, mineralogical components of the “sediment archive”, offers a time-integrated, net-effect reflection of the combined processes of an entire environmental system.     

Benthic responses to organic matter variation in a subtropical coastal area off SE Brazil

Organic matter quality, expressed as the proportion of chlorophyll a (Chl a) to degraded organic material (i.e. phaeopigments), is known to influence the structure of benthic associations and plays an important role in the functioning of the ecosystem. This study investigates the vertical distribution of microbial biomass, meiofauna and macrofauna with respect to organic matter variation in Ubatuba, Brazil, a southeastern, subtropical coastal area. On three occasions, samples were collected in exposed and sheltered stations, at high and low hydrodynamic conditions. We hypothesize that benthic assemblages will have high meio‐ and macrofaunal densities and high microbial biomass at the sediment surface at the sheltered site, and lower and vertically homogeneous microbial biomass and densities of meio‐ and macrofauna are expected at the exposed site. The accumulation of fresh organic matter at the sediment surface was observed at both stations over the three sampling dates, which contributed to the higher densities of meiofauna in the first layers of the sediment column. Macrofauna followed the same trend only at the exposed station, but changes in the number of species, biodiversity and feeding groups were registered for both stations. Microbial biomass increased at the sheltered station over the three sampling dates, whereas at the exposed station, microbial biomass was nearly constant. Physical exposure did not influence organic matter loading at the sites and therefore did not affect overall structure of benthic assemblages, which negates our original hypothesis. Most of the benthic system components reacted to organic matter quality and quantity, but relationships between different‐sized organisms (i.e. competition and/or predation) may explain the unchanged microbial profiles at the exposed site and homogeneous vertical distribution of macrofauna at the sheltered site. In conclusion, the high quality of organic matter was a crucial factor in sustaining and regulating the benthic system, but coupled results showed that interactions between micro‐, meio‐ and macrofauna can be highly complex.     

Microbialite development patterns in the last deglacial reefs from Tahiti (French Polynesia; IODP Expedition #310): Implications on reef framework architecture

The widespread occurrence of microbialites in the last deglacial reef frameworks (16–6 Ka BP) implies that the accurate study of their development patterns is of prime importance to unravel the evolution of reef architecture through time and to reconstruct the reef response to sea-level variations and environmental changes.The present study is based on the sedimentological and chronological analysis (¹⁴C AMS dating) of drill cores obtained during the IODP Expedition #310 “Tahiti Sea Level” on the successive terraces which typify the modern reef slopes from Tahiti. It provides a comprehensive data base to investigate the microbialite growth patterns (i.e. growth rates and habitats), to analyze their roles in reef frameworks and to reconstruct the evolution of the reef framework architecture during sea-level rise.The last deglacial reefs from Tahiti are composed of two distinctive biological communities: (1) the coralgal communities including seven assemblages characterized by various growth forms (branching, robust branching, massive, tabular and encrusting) that form the initial frameworks and (2) the microbial communities developed in the primary cavities of those frameworks, a few meters (1.5 to 6 m) below the living coral reef surface, where they heavily encrusted the coralgal assemblages to form microbialite crusts. The dating results demonstrate the occurrence of two distinctive generations of microbialites: the “reefal microbialites” which developed a few hundred years after coralgal communities in shallow-water environments, whereas the “slope microbialites” grew a few thousands of years later in significantly deeper water conditions after the demise of coralgal communities.The development of microbialites was controlled by the volume and the shape of the primary cavities of the initial reef frameworks determined by the morphology and the packing of coral colonies. The most widespread microbialite development occurred in frameworks dominated by branching, thin encrusting, tabular and robust branching coral colonies which built loose and open frameworks typified by a high porosity (> 50%). In contrast, their growth was minimal in compact coral frameworks formed by massive and thick encrusting corals where primary cavities yielded a low porosity (~ 30%) and could not host a significant microbialite expansion.     

南海西部深水区崖城组煤系烃源岩的识别方法

琼东南盆地古近系崖城组海陆过渡相煤系烃源岩已被证实是该盆地的主要气源岩,但由于崖城组煤层具有层数多、单层薄、横向变化快的特点,而难以被识别和预测,尤其是勘探程度较低的深水区.本文利用综合种地质与地球物理法对煤系烃源岩进行更加准确的预测.首先,煤层可通过“三高,三低,一扩”的测井响应特征识别,而炭质泥岩可通过“四高,一低”的特征识别.基于该测井逻辑判断,煤系地层可通过测井曲线的聚类分析进行垂向的自动识别.在井震标的的约束下,煤层组可通过地震数据的“负相位,高吸收因子,低波阻抗和低频”等综合特征进行横向识别.然而,地球物理方法识别的煤系烃源岩分布范围不一定符合成煤的地质规律,因此本文从构造、层序和沉积的角度研究了煤系发育的主控因素约束其分布范围:①古地形及构造沉降控制了海陆过渡相煤系烃源岩在凹陷中的平面发育部位;②相对海平面变化通过控制可容空间变化以及海岸线迁移,从而控制烃源岩的发育规模以及垂向分布——具体的说,可容纳空间的增长速率和泥炭堆积速率的关系是控制煤层形成的最根本因素,在其平衡位置,煤层发育最厚、延伸最大;③原地碎屑的供应和沉积场所与古物源的距离,是制约高丰度烃源岩发育的关键因素,即距离古隆起海岸较近的沉积环境中陆源有机质较为丰富,便可形成高丰度煤系烃源岩.通过上述地质与地球物理联合识别方法,提高了煤系烃源岩发育的预测精度和可信度,为南海西部深水区的早期勘探提供了重要的参考依据.     

Benthic foraminifera from the deep-water Niger delta (Gulf of Guinea): Assessing present-day and past activity of hydrate pockmarks

We present ecological and isotopic (δ¹⁸O and δ¹³C) data on benthic foraminifera sampled from 4 deep-sea stations in a pockmark field from the deep-water Niger delta (Gulf of Guinea, Equatorial Atlantic Ocean). In addition, a series of sedimentological and (bio)geochemical data are shown to back up foraminiferal observations. All stations are located within 1.2 km of each other, so prevailing oceanographic conditions can be assumed to be similar at each site. Two of the sites (GMMC-01 and GMMC-02) are located in a pockmark (named “pockmark A”) where current methane seepages were recorded by ROV observations. A third station (GMMC-03) is located in the topographic depression interpreted as a collapsed pockmark (named “pockmark B”). The fourth site (GMMC-04) is a reference station, without evidence of past or present seepages. Our observations show that degraded organic matter with low bio-availability is present at all stations with a preferential burial of organic compounds in topographic depressions (GMMC-03 station). Authigenic aragonite is abundant in surface sediments at stations GMMC-01 and -02. Its precipitation is likely related to high rates of methane oxidation during past seep events in episodically active pockmark A. In contrast, the absence of anaerobic methanotrophic Archaea (ANME) during the sampling period (November 2011) suggests that only moderate sulphide and methane oxidation take place close to the sediment–water interface. Compared to the reference site GMMC-04, living foraminifera at the collapsed and episodically active pockmarks show minor changes in terms of diversity, standing stocks and faunal composition. However, the δ¹³C signal of living and dead (but well-preserved) foraminiferal species (Ceratobulimina contraria, Melonis barleeanus, Uvigerina peregrina) is depleted in the episodically active pockmark A compared to the other stations. Overgrowth of authigenic carbonate on altered foraminifera generates an important shift to lower δ¹³C values. Dead faunas carry a complex time-averaged message, integrating taphonomic gains and losses related to the temporal variability of gas emission. They reveal major faunal differences that may be useful to detect gas hydrate seepages in different pockmark stages.     

The need for a better characterization of a sediment commonly called “mud”

Of all known sediments “mud” is probably the one attracting the most attention today. It is certainly the only type of sediment being studied by investigators of a wide variety of scientific and technological disciplines. The experts in the latter category deal with it very actively because of the great number of problems that have emerged during the past decades as a consequences of the expansion of many harbors and of an increasing pollution of surface waters. Besides th geologist, for whom “mud” is the basic material for clay, shale, and slate, the sidementologist, hydraulic engineer, harbor-manager, soil scientist, biologist, the ecologist, and many other professionals are very much interested in this particular sediment. Indeed, its importance does not only lie in its geological meaning nor in the fact that it is a substratum for living organisms and vegetation, but as a result of its high adsorption and cation exchange capacity making it one of the most active carriers of many adsorbed pollutants, causing a troublesome, fast accumulating cohesive spoil in waterways accessing to major harbors.     

Occurrence and use of Compsopogon coeruleus (Rhodophyta: Compsopogonaceae) in Fiji,South Pacific

The rhodophyte Compsopogon coeruleus (Balbis ex C. Agardh) Montagne is newly recorded from Fiji, South Pacific. Plants occur in dense masses in the Wainivesi River in the province of Tailevu. Local villagers collect the plants and use them to cook a “pudding” with tinned fish, very similar to “puddings” prepared by coastal Fijians using marine species such as Gracilaria and Hypnea. This is the first documented account of the use of Compsopogon as a gelling agent in the preparation of human food.     

Lipid and 13C signatures of submicron and suspended particulate organic matter in the Eastern Tropical North Pacific: Implications for the contribution of Bacteria

The contribution of bacterial biomass to total particulate organic matter (POM) in the ocean, including exported material, is poorly constrained. To examine potential signatures for the presence and export of bacterioplankton and their detrital remains, here we provide a detailed compound-specific ¹³C characterization of fatty acids from membrane polar lipids obtained from a water column profile in the Eastern Tropical North Pacific. POM of submicron size (0.2–0.7 μm; “X-POM”) was sampled and analyzed separately from the size class typically collected as “suspended” POM (0.7–53 μm; “L-POM”). The distributions of polar head group classes, specific fatty acid side chains, and natural ¹³C contents all vary, both between particle size classes and with depth in the water column. In general, the polar lipids in submicron material – and by inference, lipids of bacterial origin – have higher ¹³C content than polar lipids from larger POM and are equally abundant. Lipid signatures from the photic zone appear to be partially conserved in the suspended pool during transit down the water column. However, bacterial heterotrophy and possibly chemoautotrophy partially overprint these surface signatures. In addition, active metabolisms in the oxygen minimum zone (OMZ) appear to mediate the disaggregation of POM transported from the surface, thus adding complexity to the pathways of mid-water carbon flux and providing additional organic substrates to the OMZ and below. This “substrate injection” may provide important fuel for the denitrification and anammox reactions. Finally, examination of ¹³C content in polar lipids provides a basis for new interpretation of depth-related variations in δ¹³C values of bulk suspended POM.     

Seasonal dynamics in colored dissolved organic matter in the Mediterranean Sea: Patterns and drivers

Two autonomous profiling “Bio-Argo” floats were deployed in the northwestern and eastern sub-basins of the Mediterranean Sea in 2008. They recorded at high vertical (1 m) and temporal (5 day) resolution, the vertical distribution and seasonal variation of colored dissolved organic matter (CDOM), as well as of chlorophyll-a concentration and hydrological variables. The CDOM standing stock presented a clear seasonal dynamics with the progressive summer formation and winter destruction of subsurface CDOM maxima (YSM, for Yellow Substance Maximum). It was argued that subsurface CDOM is a by-product of phytoplankton, based on two main characteristics, (1) the YSM was located at the same depth than the deep chlorophyll maximum (DCM) and (2) the CDOM increased in summer parallels the decline in chlorophyll-a. These observations suggested an indirect but tight coupling between subsurface CDOM and phytoplankton via microbial activity or planktonic foodweb interactions. Moreover, the surface CDOM variations observed both by floats and MODIS displayed different seasonal dynamics from what recorded at subsurface one. This implies that CDOM standing stock can be hardly detected by satellite. It is worthnoting that surface CDOM was found to be more related to the sea surface temperature (SST) than chlorophyll-a concentration, suggesting its physical origin, in contrast to the biological origin of YSM and subsurface standing stocks.     

Variability of suspended organic matter in the surface layer of the Black Sea (deep-sea areas)

The peculiarities of the distribution of the components of the suspended organic matter (SOM) and their interannual and seasonal variability have been analysed in the surface water layer and photic water layer of the Black Sea (the deep-sea areas) for the period of 1978–1995. The statistical assessment of the seasonal and monthly dynamics of the SOM components and their ratios was performed. The seasonal dynamics of the concentration of particulate organic carbon have been calculated based on the data on the Chlorophyll “a” (Chl “a”) concentration in the surface water layer based on the regression relationship between these two parameters measured in situ simultaneously. Taking these relationships into account, the interannual dynamics of the Chl “a” concentration have been analysed for the period of 1978–2010. It was found that the concentrations of the SOM components increased significantly in the 1980’s and early 1990’s with the maximum reached in the summer of 1992. It was also found that the seasonal interannual dynamics of the components of the SOM were mainly preconditioned by the interannual dynamics of the phytoplankton biomass, which, in turn, depended on the climatic conditions.