Organic matter in deepwater sediments of the Northern Gulf of Mexico and its relationship to the distribution of benthic organisms

Sediment samples were selected from 28 sites across the deep (212–3527 m) northern Gulf of Mexico (GOM) as part of the Deep Gulf of Mexico Benthos (DGoMB) program, and analyzed for geochemical parameters related to organic carbon (OC) distribution and characteristics. The results of this study indicate that the OC content of sediments in the deep northern GOM is controlled by several factors; including water depth, overlying water productivity, sediment carbonate content, sediment oxygen exposure time, OC sources, and regional influences. The best correlation between sediment OC content, on a CaCO₃-free basis, and other parameters examined was an inverse correlation of OC with water depth. The OC/SA ratio had a wide range of values and, along with variable sources of sedimentary OC, indicated that the organism-available concentration of metabolizable organic matter may not be simply related to sedimentary OC content. This was perhaps reflected in the observation that benthic macrofaunal and meiofaunal biomass abundances were well correlated with sedimentary OC, but the abundance of bacteria in sediments was not.     

台湾海峡西部沉积物中碳的来源及埋藏

根据2005年夏季航次观测的沉积物中总有机碳(TOC)、无机碳(CaCO3)、总氮(TN)、悬浮体颗粒有机碳(POC)、沉积物粒度数据得出,台湾海峡西部表层沉积物TOC质量分数的范围为0.01～1.79,平均值为0.37±0.24,略高于20多年前台湾海峡南部海区,而低于台湾海峡中、北部海区;TOC的质量分数湾内比湾外...     

桑沟湾及附近海域表层沉积物碳氮同位素分析及有机质来源

Naturally existing stable carbon and nitrogen isotopes are important in the study of sedimentary organic matter sources. To identify the sources of sedimentary organic matter in Sanggou Bay and its adjacent areas, which is characterized by high-density shellfish and seaweed aquaculture, the grain size, organic carbon(OC), total nitrogen(TN), carbon and nitrogen isotopic composition(δ13C and δ15N) of organic matter in the surface sediment were determined. The results showed that, in August, sedimentary OC and TN ranged from 0.17% to 0.76% and 0.04% to 0.14%, respectively. In November, OC and TN ranged from 0.23% to 0.87% and 0.05% to 0.14%, respectively. There was a significant positive correlation between OC and TN(R=0.98, P0.0001), indicating that OC and TN were homologous. In August, the δ13C and δ15N of organic matter varied from-23.06‰ to-21.59‰ and 5.10‰ to 6.31‰, respectively. In November, δ13C and δ15N ranged from-22.87‰ to-21.34‰ and 5.13‰ to 7.31‰, respectively. This study found that the major sources of sedimentary organic matter were marine shellfish biodeposition, seaweed farming, and soil organic matter. Using a three-end-member mixed model, we estimated that the dominant source of sedimentary organic matter was shellfish biodeposition, with an average contribution rate of 65.53% in August and 43.00% in November. Thus, shellfish farming had a significant influence on the coastal carbon cycle.     

三沙湾盐田港养殖海域沉积物中的有机碳、氮和磷

于2012年8月(夏季)、11月(秋季)和2013年2月(冬季)、5月(春季)共4个航次对三沙湾盐田港养殖海域表层沉积物组成成分及其变化趋势进行调查分析,并采用单因子污染指数(Pi)对沉积物质量进行评价。结果表明不同功能区沉积物中有机氮(TN)、总磷(TP)和有机碳(OC)含量差异显著(P0.05),TN和TP含量4季变化范围分别是0.15~1.39 g/kg和0.11~1.08 g/kg,平均值分别为(0.89±0.36)g/kg和(0.56±0.26)g/kg。OC含量在1.00~14.71 g/kg之间,平均值为(8.26±3.78)g/kg。各站位沉积物中TN污染指数4季变化范围为0.25~2.53,4季超标率分别为67%、81%、80%和90%;各站位TP污染指数4季变化范围为0.18~2.63,4个季节超标率分别为35%、80%、40%和51%;各季节OC含量均未超标;OC/N原子比全年变化范围在8.4~10.3之间,平均值为8.9±0.6。较弱的水流交换条件和海水养殖,特别是海水网箱养殖,是造成沉积物污染的主要原因,开展多营养层次的综合养殖模式是促进盐田港海水养殖可持续发展的有效途径。     

哑铃湾网箱养殖对表层沉积物的污染

分养殖区与非养殖区、养殖网箱及周围海域沉积物,比较研究了哑铃湾网箱养殖对表层沉积物的影响。结果表明,养殖网箱下及养殖区内的沉积物C、N、P和硫化物含量均高于非养殖区,并且养殖年限越长含量越高,沉积物污染越严重,养殖区C、N、P和硫化物平均含量分别比非养殖区高1.23—2.12、1.33—2.79、3.71—9.99、3.02—11.84倍。对沉积物质量的评价结果显示,养殖网箱下沉积物各项指标均超标,养殖年限越长超标越严重,养殖区内的两站点超标也较严重,S6站点C、N、P和硫化物超标分别高达1.83、6.99、8.66、4.63倍,而对照点和非养殖区的两站点除总氮外,其它指标均未超标。     

环雷州半岛近海表层沉积物有机碳分布及其控制因素分析

对环雷州半岛近海43个海底表层沉积物的总有机碳(TOC)、总氮(TN)、沉积介质条件(包括沉积物粒度)进行了分析,探讨了沉积物TOC、TN的区域分布特征以及影响有机碳分布的主要因素。结果表明,环雷州半岛近海海域海底表层沉积物有机碳含量在0~0.79%之间,平均值为0.26%。与中国其它近海海域相比,环雷州半岛大部分近海区域海底表层沉积物有机碳含量明显偏低,为有机质贫乏区,仅雷州半岛西南部流沙湾近海海域为TOC相对高值区。总氮含量也不高,在0.011%到0.100%之间,TOC与TN存在较强的正相关性,且平面上TOC与TN分布高度重合,显示氮元素主要以有机化合物形式存在。TOC/TN比值在5.1~14.3之间,表明沉积有机质具有陆源输入和海洋自生来源的混合特征,但以雷州半岛西侧北部及东侧中部海域受陆源有机质输入影响更大。大多数站位海底沉积物粒度构成以粉砂为主、粘土次之,少数站位以砂质沉积为主。沉积物有机碳含量与粘土及粉砂含量呈弱正相关性,与沉积物pH值、Eh值及砂含量呈弱负相关性,这表明海底沉积物有机质丰度受有机质来源输入、海底氧化还原状态和沉积水动力条件(沉积物粒度)等因素综合控制。     

长江口及邻近海域夏季表层沉积物中重金属等的分布、来源与沉积物环境质量

通过现场调查研究报道了长江口及邻近海域表层沉积物中重金属、有机碳、石油类、硫化物以及氮磷的分布、来源以及沉积物环境质量.结果显示,长江口及邻近海域表层沉积物中重金属、有机碳、石油类、硫化物以及氮磷的分布很不均匀,除硫化物外,重金属、有机碳、石油类以及氮磷基本呈现长江口和杭州湾东北近岸的上海外海出现高值,其他区域浓度较低...     

Environmental impact factors and mercury speciation in the sediment along Fujian and eastern Guangdong coasts

Concentrations of total mercury (THg) and methyl mercury (MeHg) were determined for 32 surface sediments collected along the coastal line of Fujian Province and eastern Guangdong Province. The spatial distributions of THg and MeHg and their environmental impact factors were investigated. The average concentrations of THg and MeHg in the sediments were 31.5 ng/g and 0.096 ng/g, respectively. Both sediment THg and MeHg concentrations showed relatively high value in the Minjiang Estuary and the coastal areas of Quanzhou and Putian. The concentrations overall decreased as the distance to the shoreline increased. The correlations among environmental impact factors and THg, MeHg were analyzed. The sediment THg concentration was highly correlated to the concentrations of organic matter, copper, total nitrogen (TN) and total phosphorus (TP), and significantly correlated to pH value of the bottom seawater and concentration of sediment sulfide. The sediment MeHg concentration was highly correlated to the concentrations of organic matter and copper, and significant correlated to the concentrations of sulfide, TN, TP and pH value of the bottom seawater.     

南极普里兹湾沉积物中有机碳和总氮的含量与分布

利用中国多次南极科学考察获得的沉积物样品,对普里兹湾沉积物中有机碳(OC)、总氮(TN)的含量和分布以及OC/TN进行了分析。结果表明:普里兹湾表层沉积物中OC和TN的含量变化范围分别为0.14%~1.20%和0.02%~0.20%,平均值分别为0.63%和0.11%。OC/TN的变化范围为5.5~8.2,平均值为6.8。OC和TN含量呈现明显的正相关性,表明有机质来源相同,比值接近6.6,说明有机质主要为海洋生源沉积。两者平面分布趋势非常一致,且与沉积物中泥质含量呈显著正相关,湾内73°E以西区域OC和TN含量较低,而以东区域含量较高,这是上层水体生产过程和冰川携带陆源砂等因素共同作用的结果。垂直分布上,OC和TN含量总体上表层高于深层,OC含量随深度增加逐渐降低,达到一定深度后趋于稳定。较高的沉积速率加速OC的埋藏,5根柱样中OC的埋藏率为39%~91%,平均为66%,表明普里兹湾是重要的碳汇区。     

Seasonal and Spatial Variations of Total Mass Flux around Coral Reefs in the Southern Ryukyus,Japan

Total mass flux, size distribution of sediment particles and some chemical components such as total carbon (TC), total nitrogen (TN) and calcium carbonate (CaCO₃) were monitored monthly using a multi-cup sediment traps at seven coral reef sites (6 reef flat and 1 reef slope) of the Marine Protected Areas around Ishigaki, Kohama, Kuroshima and Iriomote Islands in the southern Ryukyus, Japan from September 2000 to September 2001. The size distribution of trapped sediments revealed mostly uni-modal fine sand to mud in the reef flat and gravelly to coarse sand in the reef slope. The total mass flux ranged between 0.54 to 872 gm⁻²d⁻¹, and showed a pronounced seasonality (high in summer-autumn and low in spring) at each site, which was consistent with the rainfall and typhoon regime. Exceptionally high values were observed on the reef slope (Iriomote) in February–March 2001 (1533 gm⁻²d⁻¹) owing to a large amount of bottom sediment re-suspension. On the reef flat (Todoroki South and North; Ishigaki), values obtained in July–August 2001 (872 gm⁻²d⁻¹) and August–September 2001 (800 gm^{− 2}d⁻¹) indicate the high terrestrial discharge from Todoroki River. Trapped sediment particles consist of CaCO₃ (1.2–27.1%) and a non-carbonate fraction (98.8–72.9%), which contains total carbon (4.9–26%), carbonate carbon (CO₂-C) (0.2–3.1%) and non-carbonate carbon (NC-C) (7.9–25.6%). Total nitrogen content was in the range 0.02–0.48%. TN is contained mainly in the carbonate fraction and NC-C may be contained in the non-carbonate fraction. The low TN/OC ratio of the trapped sediments suggests that they were mostly of terrestrial origin and that both fractions migrated. The high total mass flux derived from Todoroki River exceeded the threshold at which a lethal effect on coral community is caused. The results stress the importance of conducting seasonal studies of sedimentation over more than one year and at more than one location in south Japan coral reef ecosystems to gain an understanding of the processes controlling the total mass fluxes and their nutrients content, also to develop an awareness of how to prevent the damage of coral reef ecosystems and, if it does occur, to allow mitigation measures to be undertaken.     

Distribution and sources of organic carbon, nitrogen and their isotopes in sediments of the subtropical Pearl River estuary and adjacent shelf, Southern China

The isotopic composition (δ¹³C and δ¹⁵N) and organic carbon (OC) and total nitrogen (TN, organic plus inorganic) content of 37 carbonate-free surficial sediments of the subtropical Pearl River estuary and the adjacent shelf of South China Sea (SCS) was determined. The δ¹³C values indicate that the sediment organic material is a mixture from two sources, terrestrial and marine. Several of the sediments have extremely low (< 4) OC / TN ratios, which could be due to low OC contents and/or to a significant fraction of the TN present as inorganic nitrogen adsorbed on clays. In general, the spatial patterns of OC, TN, δ¹³C and δ¹⁵N are similar. Values are low at the river mouth and on the western coast, suggesting proportionally greater accumulation of terrestrial particulate organic matter relative to marine phytodetritus, which is limited by low productivity in the turbid plume of the Pearl River. Algal-derived organic carbon (al-OC) content is estimated to be low (≤ 0.06%) at the river mouth and higher (up to 0.57%) on the adjacent inner shelf based on a mixing model of end members.     

Organic biomarkers to describe the major carbon inputs and cycling of organic matter in the central Great Barrier Reef region

Controversy surrounds the sources and transport of land derived pollutants in the Great Barrier Reef ecosystem because there is insufficient knowledge of the mechanism of movement of organic contaminants and the cycling of organic matter in this dynamic system. Thus a sediment and sediment trap study was used to describe the composition of resuspended and surface sediments in the south central Great Barrier Reef and its lagoon. This region is characterised by strong tides (6–8 m at Mackay) and trade winds regularly about 15–20 knots. A series of organic biomarkers detailed the cyclical processes of sediment resuspension, recolonising with marine algae and bacteria, packaging into zooplankton faecal pellets and resettlement to sediments where the organics undergo further diagenesis. With each cycle the inshore sediments are diluted with CaCO₃ reef sediments and moved further offshore with the strong ebb tide currents. This results in transport of land derived materials offshore and little storage of organic materials in the lagoon or reef sediments. These processes were detailed by inorganic measurements such as %CaCO₃ and Al/Ca ratios, and by the compositions of hydrocarbon, sterol, alcohol, and fatty acid lipid fractions. Persistent contaminants such as coal dust from a coastal loading facility can be detected in high concentration inshore and decreasing out to the shelf break at 180 m approximately 40 nautical miles offshore. The normal processes would likely be amplified during cyclonic and other storms. The lipids show the sources of carbon to include diatoms and other phytoplankton, creanaerchaeota, sulfate reducing and other bacteria, land plants including mangrove leaves, plus coal dust and other petroleum contaminants.     

沉积环境对雅浦海沟沉积颗粒物组成和分布的影响

通过对西太平洋雅浦海沟不同水深沉积物中总有机碳（TOC）、总氮（TN）、碳稳定同位素（δ13C）、粒度组成和比表面积（SSA）等参数的分析，探讨了雅浦海沟不同水深沉积颗粒物来源、分布及其影响因素的异同。结果表明，雅浦海沟沉积物TOC含量和δ13C平均值分别为（0.34%±0.14%）和（-20.8‰±0.7‰），其中海洋浮游植物、陆源土壤和维管植物来源有机碳（OC）的贡献分别为（70%±3%）、（22%±3%）和（8%±2%），且不同水深差异不大，海沟内沉积物的横向输运可能是深部沉积OC的重要输入途径。由于水深更深站位沉积颗粒物中具有更强的微生物活动和在水柱中更长的保留时间，导致其TOC和TN含量较低，但δ13C无明显差异。水深较浅站位TN含量、SSA、粒径组成和中值粒径等参数垂向变化波动较更深站位更为显著，表明海沟沟壁水深较浅处物源输入和沉积环境的不稳定。同时，由于低OC含量、低SSA以及高密度的海底火山喷出岩在海沟水深较浅的沟壁坡折处的广泛分布，导致该区域粒径组成与TOC含量无显著相关性，而较深站位中TOC含量与粉砂呈正相关，与砂和黏土含量呈负相关。整体而言，雅浦海沟沉积物中粉砂粒级颗粒物是OC的主要载体，而SSA是影响海沟沉积OC剖面分布的最重要因素。     

Benthic remineralization at the land–ocean interface: A case study of the Rhône River (NW Mediterranean Sea)

Biogeochemical processes in sediments under the influence of the Rhône River plume were studied using both in situ microelectrodes and ex situ sediment core incubations. Organic carbon (OC) and total nitrogen (TN) content as well as stable carbon isotopic composition of OC (δ¹³C_OC) were analysed in 19 surface sediments to determine the distribution and sources of organic matter in the Rhône delta system. Large spatial variations were observed in both the total O₂ uptake (5.2 to 29.3 mmol m⁻² d⁻¹) and NH₄⁺ release (−0.1 to −3.5 mmol m⁻² d⁻¹) rates at the sediment–water interface. The highest fluxes were measured near the Rhône River mouth where sedimentary OC and TN contents reached 1.81% and 0.23% respectively. Values of δ¹³C_OC ranged from −26.83‰ to −23.88‰ with a significant seawards enrichment tracing the dispersal of terrestrial organic matter on the continental shelf. The amount of terrestrial-derived OC reaches 85% in sediments close to the Rhône mouth decreasing down to 25% in continental shelf sediments. On the prodelta, high terrestrial OC accumulation rates support high oxygen uptake rates and thus indicating that a significant fraction of terrestrial OC is remineralized. A particulate organic carbon (POC) mass balance indicates that only 3% of the deposited POC is remineralized in prodelta sediments while 96% is recycled on the continental shelf. It was calculated that a large proportion of the Rhône POC input is either buried (52%) or remineralized (8%), mostly on the prodelta area. The remaining fraction (40%) is either mineralized in the water or exported outside the Rhône delta system in dissolved or particulate forms.     

渤海表层沉积物中有机碳的分布和来源

大河影响下的陆架边缘海沉积有机碳的分布和来源是全球碳循环研究的重要内容。本研究于2012年5月采集了渤海海域的29个表层沉积物样品,分析了粒度组成、总有机碳(TOC)、总氮(TN)、木质素含量和稳定碳同位素丰度(δ13C)等参数,结合基于蒙特卡洛模拟的三端元混合模型,定量研究了沉积物中有机碳的分布和来源情况,并讨论了其影响因素。结果表明,研究区域表层沉积物中TOC含量为0.19%~0.81%,渤海中部泥质区站位(大于0.65%)明显高于其周围砂质区域站位(小于0.40%);TOC与黏土含量也有显著的正相关性,说明细颗粒沉积物容易富集有机碳。沉积有机碳的δ13C范围为-23.7‰~-21.8‰,显示沉积有机碳是海源和陆源有机碳的混合输入。木质素参数,如C/V、S/V和LPVI的数值范围显示研究区域表层沉积物中木质素主要来源于被子植物草本组织与木本组织的混合,同时有少量裸子植物的贡献。基于蒙特卡洛模拟的三端元混合模型显示研究区域沉积物中有机碳主要来源于海洋浮游植物,平均为64%,陆源有机碳中来自土壤的贡献最高(平均为27%),C₃维管植物的贡献较少(平均为9%)。海洋浮游植物有机碳主要分布在渤海中部泥质区及离岸较远的区域,而土壤有机碳和C₃维管植物有机碳则主要沉积在河口附近及近岸区,并可以离岸输运到较远的地方。     

Spatial distribution of sedimentary P pools in a Mediterranean coastal lagoon ‘Albufera d’es Grau’ (Minorca Island,Spain)

The method for the sequential extraction of P proposed by Jensen et al. [Mcglathery, K.J., Marino, R., Howarth, R.W. (1998) Limnol. Oceanogr. 43, 799–810] was used to study the spatial distribution of sedimentary P in superficial sediments of a mesohaline coastal lagoon located in a watershed formed by carboniferous sandstone in the Western Mediterranean (Minorca Island, Spain). Dissolved inorganic phosphate (IP), dissolved organic phosphate (OP), Fe, Ca, Al, and F were analyzed in the extractions to assess adequacy of this method to clay sediments. The elemental composition of the solid phase (Al, Fe, K, Ti, Si, Mg and Ca) was also analyzed to relate concentrations of P pools to the mineral composition. Samples from marine carbonated sediments, rock and some materials of biological origin (tubes of polychaete Ficopomatus enigmaticus, bivalve shell debris) were analyzed for comparative purposes. The sequential procedure allowed to extract almost all sedimentary P from carbonate sediments and biogenic debris, but only 70% of total phosphorus (TP) from clay sediments and rock. Main IP pools in the lagoon were Fe-bound P (16.6% of TP), CaCO₃-bound P mainly from Ficopomatus tubes (12.0% of TP), and detrital carbonate fluorapatite (7.8% of TP). The most abundant P pool was refractory P (20.3% of TP), which appeared associated to the (Fe,K)Al-silicate fraction and to humic P. This indicated that clay–humic–organic P complexes were the main P reservoir in the lagoon. Spatial distribution of P pools reflected differential sedimentation of allochthonous materials, authigenic precipitation of Fe-oxides, and Fe-bound P as well as the differential distribution of organisms such as Ficopomatus.     

2015年春季长江口表层沉积物生源要素分布和来源

根据2015年5月对长江口及其邻近海域的生态环境调查资料, 探讨长江口春季表层沉积物总有机碳(TOC)、总氮(TN)、总磷(TP)和生源硅(BSi)4类生源要素的空间分布和来源。结果表明: 2015年春季长江口表层沉积物TOC、TN、TP和BSi平均含量分别为0.315%、0.041%、0.066%和0.450%, 其中, 沉积物中TOC、TN受到陆源输入和海洋自生输入双重影响, 且海洋自生组分的贡献较大, 二者空间分布均呈现南部分布最高并沿西北方向递减趋势; TP分布主要受陆源输入影响, 并呈西北向东南递减趋势; BSi来源于生物沉积, 总体呈现南部高、北部低的分布趋势。与2007年相比, 长江口表层沉积物有机碳、氮含量降低, 东南外海区域替代浑浊区域成为表层沉积物生源要素含量最高区域, 且陆源输入对长江口表层沉积物生源要素的贡献趋于减弱。     

基于水淘选分级的长江口及其邻近海域表层沉积物中有机碳的来源、分布和保存

从分级的角度认识大河三角洲前缘河口沉积有机碳的来源、分布和保存对深刻理解全球碳循环具有重要意义。于2012年6月采集了长江口和浙闽沿岸共6个站位的表层沉积物样品,采用水淘选的方法按照颗粒物水动力直径大小对其进行分级分离,分析了这些分级样品的有机碳含量、稳定同位素、比表面积以及木质素等参数,并且结合蒙特卡洛模拟的三端元混合模型,讨论了此区域不同粒级沉积有机碳的来源、分布和保存特点。结果表明,长江口表层沉积物的有机碳在小粒级中含量较高,如8~16μm粒级有机碳含量的均值为1.30%,而32~63μm粒级的均值为0.90%,但是大粒级有机碳对沉积物有机碳的贡献最高(81.3%),这是因为大粒级的质量贡献占绝对优势(72.0%)。三端元混合模型的计算结果表明,长江口表层沉积物中沉积有机碳的贡献以海洋来源为主(平均为73%),土壤和维管植物也有一定贡献(平均值分别为21%和6%)。在小粒级(8~16μm)中,土壤对于沉积有机碳的贡献显著高于其他粒级,这是由于土壤有机质比较容易富集在细颗粒上。木质素的参数,如C/V(0.04~0.32)和S/V(0.33~1.23),显示长江口表层沉积物主要来源于草本和木本被子植物的混合,随着粒级的增大,草本被子植物的来源逐渐增多。浙闽沿岸分级沉积物的OC/SSA0.4mg/m2,而长江口的站位中OC/SSA0.4mg/m2,表明长江口沉积有机碳的保存效率比浙闽沿岸的高。木质素降解参数,如(Ad/Al)v、3,5-Bd/V和P/(S+V)随着粒级的增大逐渐降低,表明小粒级降解程度较高,而大粒级中降解程度较低。     

Bulk organic δC and C/N as indicators for sediment sources in the Pearl River delta and estuary,southern China

Preservation of organic matter in estuarine and coastal areas is an important process in the global carbon cycle. This paper presents bulk δ¹³C and C/N of organic matter from source to sink in the Pearl River catchment, delta and estuary, and discusses the applicability of δ¹³C and C/N as indicators for sources of organic matter in deltaic and estuarine sediments. In addition to the 91 surface sediment samples, other materials collected in this study cover the main sources of organic material to estuarine sediment. These are: terrestrial organic matter (TOM), including plants and soil samples from the catchment; estuarine and marine suspended particulate organic carbon (POC) from both summer and winter. Results show that the average δ¹³C of estuarine surface sediment increases from −25.0 ± 1.3‰ in the freshwater environment to −21.0 ± 0.2‰ in the marine environment, with C/N decreasing from 15.2 ± 3.3 to 6.8 ± 0.2. In the source areas, C₃ plants have lower δ¹³C than C₄ plants (−29.0 ± 1.8‰ and −13.1 ± 0.5‰ respectively). δ¹³C increases from −28.3 ± 0.8‰ in the forest soil to around −24.1‰ in both riverbank soil and mangrove soil due to increasing proportion of C₄ grasses. The δ¹³C_POC increases from −27.6 ± 0.8‰ in the freshwater areas to −22.4 ± 0.5‰ in the marine-brackish-water areas in winter, and ranges between −24.0‰ in freshwater areas and −25.4‰ in brackish-water areas in summer. Comparison of the δ¹³C and C/N between the sources and sink indicates a weakening TOM and freshwater POC input in the surface sedimentary organic matter seawards, and a strengthening contribution from the marine organic matter. Thus we suggest that bulk organic δ¹³C and C/N analysis can be used to indicate sources of sedimentary organic matter in estuarine environments. Organic carbon in surface sediments derived from anthropogenic sources such as human waste and organic pollutants from industrial and agricultural activities accounts for less than 10% of the total organic carbon (TOC). Although results also indicate elevated δ¹³C of sedimentary organic matter due to some agricultural products such as sugarcane, C₃ plants are still the dominant vegetation type in this area, and the bulk organic δ¹³C and C/N is still an effective indicator for sources of organic matter in estuarine sediments.     

酸化过程对不同碳酸钙含量的海洋沉积物中总氮及其同位素分析的影响

为节约成本和样品，一些学者同时分析海洋沉积物中的碳、氮及其同位素（TOC、TN、δ¹³C和δ¹⁵N）。分析沉积物中的δ¹³C，需要对样品进行酸化去除无机碳，但是这一酸化过程会使TN和δ¹⁵N的分析结果产生偏差，且偏差范围与沉积物中无机碳含量（CaCO₃）有关。本研究选取了低CaCO₃含量（1-16%）和高CaCO₃含量（20-40%）的海洋沉积物样品，比较了酸化过程对TN和δ¹⁵N的影响。研究结果表明，酸化过程对海洋沉积物中TN和δ¹⁵N的分析结果产生了显著影响。对于低CaCO₃含量的样品，酸化导致样品中TN流失了约0-40%，δ¹⁵N偏移了约0-2‰；而对于高CaCO₃含量的样品，酸化导致样品中TN流失了约10-60%，δ¹⁵N偏移了约1-14‰。表明酸化对TN和δ¹⁵N的影响已经超过了仪器的误差范围0.002%（TN）和0.08‰（δ¹⁵N），将影响TN和δ¹⁵N的环境指示意义。因此，即使海洋沉积物样品中CaCO₃含量很低，也必须用原样分析TN和δ¹⁵N以避免酸化过程的影响。