Triterpenols in mangrove sediments as a proxy for organic matter derived from the red mangrove (Rhizophora mangle)

Mangroves are the dominant type of vegetation along many tropical coasts. Organic matter (OM) derived from mangrove leaf litter and root material is stored in sediments and is a major contributor to the amount and chemical composition of sedimentary OM. A set of organic biomarkers in sediments was applied as a palaeo-indicator for the Holocene dynamics of a mangrove Estuary (Rio Caeté, Pará, Brazil). Six sediment cores were collected perpendicular to the present coast line and analysed for triterpenols and sitosterol. The influence of microbial biomarker degradation was implemented from a previous study. Biomarker profiles were validated with pollen data and multivariate statistics to test whether these compounds were suitable indicators for the palaeo-vegetation. Sediments deposited up to 2 Ma BP showed biomarker assemblages similar to those of recent surface sediment. In two cores, the biomarker composition revealed a transition from marsh to mangrove vegetation. Taraxerol, germanicol and β-amyrin provided the most significant chemotaxonomical information and, especially in combination, served as reliable proxies for OM from Rhizophora mangle in northern Brazil. The maximum age of the mangrove system ranged between 1000 and 5100 yr depending on the topographic elevation of the drilling location.     

华南红树林海岸生物地貌过程研究

红树林生物地貌过程是全球变化海岸带陆海相互作用研究重点内容之一。本文以海南东寨港林市村,广东廉江高桥镇凤地村和车板镇那腮村以及广东深圳福田和锦绣中华3个半定位试验区有关红树林群落结构、潮汐动力、沉积特征和地貌特征的调查资料为基础,探讨红树林生物地貌过程的生物学基础,沉积地貌表现,红树林生态系对人类活动和海平面上升的响应。     

Depositional environment of mudflats and mangroves and bioavailability of selected metals within mudflats in a tropical estuary

Four sediment cores representing adjacent mudflat and mangrove sub-environments of middle estuary (Shastri) were analyzed for sand, silt, clay, and organic carbon. Total metal concentration of iron (Fe), manganese (Mn), nickel (Ni), zinc (Zn), chromium (Cr), copper (Cu), cobalt (Co), and lead (Pb) and chemical speciation of Fe, Mn, and Co on selected samples was also carried out on mudflat cores. The sediments in the upper middle estuary were found to be deposited under highly varying hydrodynamic energy conditions; whereas lower middle estuary experienced relatively stable hydrodynamic energy conditions with time. The tributary joining the river near the upper middle estuary is found to be responsible for the addition of enhanced organic carbon and metal concentrations. Speciation study indicated Fe and Co are from natural lithogenic origin while Mn is derived from anthropogenic sources. Higher Mn and Co than apparent effects threshold can pose a high risk of toxicity to organisms associated with these sediments.     

泉州湾洛阳江河口桐花树和秋茄红树植物中重金属元素的分布与富集特征

通过测定泉州湾洛阳江河口红树林区表层沉积物中酸提重金属元素含量及桐花树、秋茄两种红树植物各部位中重金属元素含量,分析了重金属元素在两红树植物不同部位的分布特征及其富集和迁移能力,并初步探讨了两种红树植物体内各重金属元素的主要来源。红树林区各采样点表层沉积物中重金属元素酸提量顺序为:FeMnZnPbCuCrN iCo,Cu和Pb的平均酸提量超过第一类海洋沉积物质量标准限值。同种元素在两种红树植物不同部位中的含量顺序一致:Cu为根枝叶;N i为叶根枝;Fe、Mn、Cr、Zn、Pb、Co为根叶枝。两种红树植物对N i、Cr、Cu、Zn、Fe、Mn的富集能力高于Co和Pb。秋茄对Cu、N i、Mn、Fe、Co的富集能力比桐花树略强些,而对Zn、Cr、Pb的富集能力则相对弱些;但两种植物对各元素的富集能力都达不到超富集植物的要求。两种植物对N i元素的富集能力都大于其他元素,且都集中在叶部,其他元素则主要集中在根部。除N i外,其余元素在两植物体内的迁移系数均小于1。桐花树中的Cr和秋茄中的Cu、Zn、Mn主要来源于林地沉积物,其他元素在两植物各部位均有不同的来源。     

Bulk organic matter characteristics in the Pichavaram mangrove – estuarine complex,south-eastern India

The Pichavaram mangrove ecosystem is located between the Vellar and Coleroon Estuaries in south-eastern India. To document the spatial-depth-based variabilities in organic matter (OM) input and cycling, five sediment cores were collected. A comparative study was carried out of grain-size composition, pore water salinity, dissolved organic C (DOC), loss-on-ignition (LOI), elemental ratios (C/N and H/C), pigments (Chl a, Chl b, and total carotenoids), and humification indices. Sand is the major fraction in these cores ranging from 60% to 99% followed by silt and clay; cores from the estuarine margin have high sand content. In mangrove forests, pore-water DOC concentrations are high (32 ± 14 mg L⁻¹), whereas salinity levels are low (50 ± 5.5‰). Likewise, LOI, organic C and N, and pigment concentrations are high in mangroves. OM is mainly derived from upstream terrestrial matter and/or mangrove litter, and marine OM. The humification indices do not vary significantly with depth because of rapid OM turnover. The bulk parameters indicate that the Vellar and Coleroon Estuaries are more affected by anthropogenic processes than mangrove forests. Finally, greater variability and sometimes lack of specific trends in bulk parameters implies that the 2004 tsunami caused extensive mixing in sediments.     

Distributions of total,inorganic and organic phosphorus in surface and recent sediments of the sub-tropical and semi-pristine Guaratuba Bay estuary,SE Brazil

This study addresses the distribution of total phosphorus (TP) and its inorganic (IP) and organic (OP) fractions, grain-size and organic matter of surface and recent sediments, coupled to the behavior of total and dissolved inorganic phosphorus (TP and DIP) of the water column, of the semi-pristine Guaratuba Bay estuary, SE Brazil. Surface sediment samples were taken at 43 sites spread along the estuarine gradient and recent sediments from 3 short (35 cm long) cores from the upper, central and lower portions of the estuary, respectively. Highest TP and IP concentrations of surface sediments were detected within the upper sector and the transition zone between the upper and central sectors, all characterized by fine sediments, low salinities and water depths. In contrast, the lower sector and its narrow and deep tidal channel, subject to more intense tidal forcing, exhibited a higher fraction of sandy sediments with lower TP, IP and OP contents. In spite of the spatial variability in sediment grain size, IP corresponded to the major fraction of TP in all estuarine sectors and both TP and IP correlated significantly with the fine sedimentary (silt + clay) grain-size fraction. The fine surface sediments acted as a trap for IP at the fresh water–low salinity interface, which also corresponded to the region of a DIP sink in surface waters. In general, the short sediment cores showed that TP and IP contents increased from 15 cm depths to the top layer. Published sedimentation rates from additional cores taken at the sites of the short cores of this study, implied that depositional alterations of TP and IP increased during the early 1970s, which corresponded to the onset of anthropogenic disturbances from crop plantations in the lowland plains of the river end-member and urbanization at the estuary’s mouth and along the adjacent coast.     

Changing depositional environment revealed from sediment components,west of “Swatch of No Ground”, northern Bay of Bengal

The sediment cores of 20 cm length collected from 31 to 83 m range of water depth from the inner shelf of Bay of Bengal west of “Swatch of No Ground” were analyzed for grain size, organic carbon, total nitrogen, calcium carbonate and clay mineralogy. Grain size analysis revealed that the sediment size decreases from west to east within the study area indicating a possible direction of transport towards east parallel to the coast. The grain size also decreases with increasing water depth, i.e. north to south, indicating sediment contribution to the area of study from Hooghly and other local rivers. In the cores studied, illite was the dominant clay mineral which seems to be a product of glacial weathering under arid conditions with its source being the Himalayan region. The organic carbon content was low in the sediments and was attributed to low plankton production or intense oxidation processes. Low calcium carbonate percentage also supports the view of a low productivity in this region. Organic carbon increases gradually from west to east indicating its association with finer sediments and also indicates transport due to currents which drift the organic carbon away before it settles down within the sediments. Higher values relatively closer to the coast in the eastern side indicate additional contribution from Sunderban mangroves. The C/N ratio obtained indicates mixed source of terrestrial and marine for the organic matter in the sediments. Sedimentation rates available for deltaic plains and shelves off Bangladesh when adopted for the present area revealed that a 20 cm long sediment column was deposited in around 10 years. In most of the cores studied, a change in the trend of sediment components and organic carbon was observed at around 10 cm where grain size increases and organic carbon decreases towards the surface inferring that during the last 5 years, possible floods during NE monsoon or due to melting of ice in Himalaya are responsible for releasing additional water and material which brought a change in hydrodynamic conditions. The surface depletion of organic carbon indicates its dilution by the addition of coarser materials.     

Sediment and Nutrient Deposition Associated with Hurricane Wilma in Mangroves of the Florida Coastal Everglades

The distribution of mangrove biomass and forest structure along Shark River estuary in the Florida Coastal Everglades (FCE) has been correlated with elevated total phosphorus concentration in soils thought to be associated with storm events. The passage of Hurricane Wilma across Shark River estuary in 2005 allowed us to quantify sediment deposition and nutrient inputs in FCE mangrove forests associated with this storm event and to evaluate whether these pulsing events are sufficient to regulate nutrient biogeochemistry in mangrove forests of south Florida. We sampled the spatial pattern of sediment deposits and their chemical properties in mangrove forests along FCE sites in December 2005 and October 2006. The thickness (0.5 to 4.5 cm) of hurricane sediment deposits decreased with distance inland at each site. Bulk density, organic matter content, total nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) concentrations, and inorganic and organic P pools of hurricane sediment deposits differed from surface (0–10 cm) mangrove soils at each site. Vertical accretion resulting from this hurricane event was eight to 17 times greater than the annual accretion rate (0.30 ± 0.03 cm year⁻¹) averaged over the last 50 years. Total P inputs from storm-derived sediments were equivalent to twice the average surface soil nutrient P density (0.19 mg cm⁻³). In contrast, total N inputs contributed 0.8 times the average soil nutrient N density (2.8 mg cm⁻³). Allochthonous mineral inputs from Hurricane Wilma represent a significant source of sediment to soil vertical accretion rates and nutrient resources in mangroves of southwestern Everglades. The gradient in total P deposition to mangrove soils from west to east direction across the FCE associated with this storm event is particularly significant to forest development due to the P-limited condition of this carbonate ecosystem. This source of P may be an important adaptation of mangrove forests in the Caribbean region to projected impacts of sea-level rise.     

Spatial and temporal variations of meiofaunal communities from the Western Sector of the Gulf of Batabanó, Cuba. I. Mangrove systems

The spatial and temporal variations of meiofaunal communities in mangrove systems were examined. Replicated cores were taken in mudflats between prop roots ofRhizophora mangle at five locations within the Gulf of Batabanó, Cuba, during 3 mo. There was a clear seasonality in the water column, but measured abiotic variables did not show obvious relations with meiofaunal patterns. The magnitude of change in salinity for each location appears to influence the meiofauna more than absolute values per se. The meiofauna from southern Pinar del Rio showed a higher variation in community structure, suggesting higher levels of stress in comparison with locations in eastern Isla, possibly due to the presence of human settlements, runoff from land, and apparent deterioration of mangroves. The considerable variation in the density and community structure estimates on global (geographical regions) and local (locations in the Gulf of Batabanó) scales could be caused by the high spatial variability in the mangrove microenvironment, coupled with associated methodological differences in the sampling. There was a low density of meiofauna (mean: 101 animals 10 cm⁻²) compared to other shallow tropical habitats. Mangroves from subtropical and temperate regions showed consistently higher meiofaunal densities than tropical mangroves, but causes of this putatively latitudinal pattern require further study. Future strategies for meiofaunal studies in mangrove systems should increase the temporal and spatial replication, include designed field experiments to test ecological hypotheses, and apply a species level approach with regards to nematode assemblages.     

The application of δ13C and C/N ratios as indicators of organic carbon sources and paleoenvironmental change of the mangrove ecosystem from Ba Lat Estuary, Red River, Vietnam

In this study, two sediment cores (~70 cm) were collected from separate mangrove forests straddling the Ba Lat Estuary, Red River of northern Vietnam, to examine the origins of sedimentary organic carbon (SOC) and reconstruct the paleoenvironment. In addition, mangrove leaves and particulate organic matter were collected and measured for δ¹³C to trace the origins of SOC. The cores were analyzed by high-resolution sections for δ¹³C, TOC, C/N ratios, sediment grain size, water content, and porosity, with values of δ¹³C, TOC, and C/N ratios ranging from −28.19 to −22.5‰, 2.14–30.94 mg/g, and 10.29–18.32, respectively. The δ¹³C and TOC relationship indicated that there were some small residual effects of diagenetic processes on TOC and δ¹³C values in mangrove sediments. However, the shifts of δ¹³C and C/N ratios from the bottom to the surface sediment of the cores explained the change in organic matter sources, with values of C/N > 12 and δ¹³C < −25‰, and C/N < 12 and δ¹³C > −25‰ indicated terrestrial (e.g., mangrove litter) and marine phytoplankton sources, respectively. The covarying δ¹³C, C/N ratios, and sediment grain sizes during the past 100 years in sediment cores showed that the paleoenvironment may be reconstructed into three environments (subtidal, tidal flat, and intertidal mangrove). General trends in δ¹³C and C/N followed a gradual increase in the C/N ratio and a concomitant decrease in δ¹³C from the subtidal, through to tidal flat, and to the intertidal mangrove. δ¹³C and C/N ratios are therefore effective in measuring the continuum of environmental change in mangrove ecosystem.     

Sources and Exchange of Particulate Organic Matter in an Estuarine Mangrove Ecosystem of Xuan Thuy National Park, Vietnam

The spatio-temporal variations in stable isotope signatures (??¹³C and ??¹⁵N) and C/N ratios of particulate organic matter (POM), and physicochemical parameters in a creek water column were examined in an estuarine mangrove ecosystem of Xuan Thuy National Park, Vietnam. The objective was to examine the factors influencing creek water properties, and the sources and exchange of POM in this important mangrove ecosystem. The diel and seasonal variations in water temperature, flow velocity, pH, dissolved oxygen, and salinity demonstrated that tidal level, season, and biological factors affected the creek water properties. Mangroves had relatively low ??¹⁵N and very low ??¹³C values, with respective average values of 1.5?±?0.9?? and ?28.1?±?1.4??. The low mangrove leaf ??¹⁵N indicated minor anthropogenic nitrogen loading to the mangrove forests. A significant positive correlation between POM?C??¹³C and salinity along the axis of Ba Lat Estuary, Red River, indicated that marine phytoplankton (??¹³C value, ?21.4?±?0.5??) was the predominant source of POM at the estuary mouth. Based on the co-variation of ??¹³C and C/N ratios, marine phytoplankton and mangrove detritus were predominant in POM of major creeks and small creeks, respectively. During the diurnal tidal cycle, the dynamics of POM were affected by sources of organic matter, tidal energy, and seasonal factors. The contribution of mangrove detritus to POM reached a maximum at the low tide and was enhanced during the rainy season, whereas marine phytoplankton contribution was highest at high tide.     

An interpretation of carbon and sulfur relationships in Black Sea sediments as indicators of environments of deposition

Syngenetic iron sulfides in sediments are formed from dissolved sulfide resulting from sulfate reduction and catabolism of organic matter by anaerobic bacteria. It has been shown that in recent marine sediments deposited below oxygenated waters there is a constant relationship between reduced sulfur and organic carbon which is generally independent of the environment of deposition. Reexamination of data from recent sediments from euxinic marine environments (e.g., the Black Sea) also shows a linear relationship between carbon and sulfur, but the slope is variable and the line intercepts the S axis at a value between 1 and 2 percent S. It is proposed that the positive S intercept is due to watercolumn microbial reduction of sulfate using metabolizable small organic molecules and the sulfide formed is precipitated and accumulates at the sediment-water interface. The variation in slope and intercept of the C to S plots for several cores and for different stratigraphic zones for the Black Sea can be interpreted in relation to thickness of the aqueous sulfide layer or thinness of the oxygen containing layer and to deposition rate, but also may be influenced by availability of iron, and perhaps the type of organic matter (Leventhal, 1979).     

Spatial and temporal variations in terrestrially-derived organic matter from sediments of the Delaware estuary

Terrestrially-derived organic matter in sediments of the Delaware Estuary originates from riverine transport of soils and fresh litter, sewage and industrial wastes, and marsh export of organic matter. The quantity, composition, and spatial distribution of terrigenous organic matter in sediments was determined by elemental (C and N), lignin, and stable carbon isotope analyses. Sediments in the upper Delaware Estuary had low organic carbon content and high lignin content. In contrast, sediments in the lower Delaware Estuary had high organic carbon content and low lignin content. There was a slight decrease in the proportion of syringyl and cinnamyl phenols relative to vanillyl phenols between the upper estuary and lower estuary. Differences in lignin and stable carbon isotope compositions between sediments of the Delaware Estuary and sediments of the Broadkill River estuary (an adjoining salt-marsh estuary) supported previous observations that marshes do not export substantial quantities of organic matter to estuaries. Additional results suggested that lignin-rich sediments were concentrated in the upper estuary, most likely in the zone of high turbidity. Furthermore, algal material diluted lignin-rich sediments, particularly in the lower estuary. The weaker algal signal in bottom sediments compared to that in suspended particulate matter suggested algal material was decomposed either in the water column or at the sediment-water interface. Physical sorting of sediments prior to deposition was also indicated by observations of compositional differences between the upper and lower estuary bottom sediments. Finally, seasonal variations in primary productivity strongly influenced the relative abundance of terrestrial organic matter. In fall, however, the proportion of lignin was greatest because of a combination of greater inputs of terrestrially-derived organic matter, lower river discharge, and a decrease in algal biomass.     

Genetic Diversity of Benthic Microbial Eukaryotes in Response to Spatial Heterogeneity of Sediment Geochemistry in a Mangrove Ecosystem

Little is known about the diversity, community composition, or distribution of benthic microbial eukaryotes in organic carbon (OC)-rich mangrove sediments. We hypothesized that the distribution of microeukaryotes was related to the spatial heterogeneity of mangrove sediment geochemistry due to tidal zonation and the rhizosphere effect. A range of geochemical properties of surface sediments were characterized, and alpha and beta diversities of microeukaryotes in a mangrove ecosystem were investigated using MiSeq sequencing of 18S rRNA genes. We found that the sequence proportions of Chlorophyta and Bacillariophyta were notably high in the datasets. Both operational taxonomic unit (OTU) richness and microeukaryotic community structure (MCS) were significantly different between the OC-rich upper tidal zone and the sulfate- and ammonium-rich lower tidal zone, indicating a strong response of microeukaryotic diversity to tidal zonation. The zonewise community differences were characterized by distinct shifts in the proportions and OTUs of chlorophytes, diatoms, and fungi. However, neither OTU richness nor MCS was significantly different between near-root and bulk sediments, though several geochemical parameters varied. Similarly, the assemblages of fungi showed a pattern of tidal zonation. Overall, variations in MCS in mangrove sediments were mainly driven by the quantity and quality of organic matter, grain size, and concentration of sulfate.     

长江河口水下三角洲210Pb分布特征及其沉积速率

通过对长江水下三角洲采集的十个沉积物柱状样中的放射性核素210Pb分析得知,长江水下三角洲表层210Pb放射性比度在2.15~4.22 dpm·g-1之间,210Pb沉降通量在1.50~11.21 dpm·cm-2 yr-1之间,过剩210Pb总量在>48.29~>361.68 dpm·cm-2之间;210Pb沉降通量以及过剩210Pb总量均高于理论值,这表明在沉积物中存在210Pb的净输入和聚集。由210Pb放射性比度剖面所反映的沉积速率可知长江水下三角洲泥质沉积区沉积速率介于1.36~4.11 cm·yr-1之间;总体上呈现近岸沉积速率较低,沿31°N纬线向20 m等深线沉积速率升高的趋势,从122°15′E到122°30′E范围为长江水下三角洲的泥质沉积物堆积中心,其平均沉积速率为3.51 cm·yr-1。     

Source of sediments and metal fractionation in two Chinese estuarine marshes

The Changjiang and the Jiulong Estuaries, located in eastern and southeastern China, respectively, have different geomorphologic and tidal processes as well as anthropogenic development in their associated watersheds. Sediments in the Changjiang estuary mostly consist of SiO₂, CaO and MgO (mean percentages of 63.9, 4.34 and 2.35%), whereas sediments from the Jiulong estuary mostly consist of Al₂O₃, Fe₂O₃ and organic matter (mean percentages 19.2, 6.82 and 4.14%). The Jiulong estuarine sediments contain more than twice the concentrations of Pb, Zn, Cu, than those from the Changjiang estuary. In the Jiulong estuary, these heavy metals are associated with carbonates and organic matter, whereas in the Changjiang estuary, they are associated with residual fractions or clay. Sediments from the Changjiang estuary, mostly sediments with little organic matter, do not efficiently sequester anthropogenic-derived trace metals. In contrast, sediments from the Jiulong estuary consist of a mixture of fluvial and marine matter which can sequester heavy metals contributed by larger landscapes with industrial and municipal wastewater.     

Morphological evolution of a macrotidal back-barrier environment: The Amazon Coast

Coastal barriers provide sheltered, low-energy settings for fine-grained sediment deposition and retention, although the process of back-barrier infilling and how tidal-channel connectivity impacts this process is not well-understood. Understanding how back-barrier environments infill and evolve is necessary to predict how they will respond to future changes in sea-level and sediment supply. With this motivation, in situ observations and sedimentary signatures from an Amazonian tidal-channel system are interpreted to create a conceptual model of morphological evolution in a macrotidal back-barrier environment that is rich in fine-grained sediment, vegetated by mangroves and incised by tidal channels with multiple outlets. Results indicate that within a high-connectivity back-barrier channel, tidal processes dominate sedimentation and morphological development. Sediment cores (<60 cm) exhibited millimetre-scale tidalites composed of sand and mud. High-connectivity channels allow tidal propagation from multiple inlets, and in this case, the converging flood waves promote delivery of sediment fluxing through the system to the mangrove flats in the convergence zone. Sediment preferentially deposits in regions with adequate accommodation space and dense vegetation, and in these zones, sediment grain size is slightly finer than that transiting through the system. The greatest sediment-accumulation rates (3 to 4 cm yr⁻¹), calculated from steady-state ²¹⁰Pb profiles, were found in the convergence zone near the mangrove-channel edge. As tidal flats aggrade vertically and prograde into the channels, accommodation space diminishes. In effect, the channel’s narrowest stretch is expected to migrate along the path of net-sediment flux towards regions with more accommodation space until it reaches the tidal-convergence zone. The location of recent preferential infilling is evidenced by relatively rapid sediment-accumulation rates, finer sediment and significant clustering of small secondary tidal channels. These findings shed light on how sediment transported through vegetated back-barrier environments is ultimately preserved and how evidence preserved in surface morphology and the geological record can be interpreted.     

基于风暴潮记录研究红树林淤积速率时间变化

以广西北海市的金海湾红树林作为研究对象,研究了红树林沉积物的粒度和过剩210Pb比活度特征,并结合当地风暴潮历史记录,识别红树林沉积中风暴沉积层并判定了其形成时间。结果表明:自1965年以来广西沿岸的5次强风暴潮在该红树林中留下了沉积记录;以这些风暴沉积层作为时间标志,可知1986—2008年,红树林前缘区的沉积速率为5.7 mm/a,内侧为7.3 mm/a;2008年以后,前缘区沉积速率降至2 mm/a,而内测沉积速率则增加至14~20 mm/a。2008年之后当地风暴潮频率增加可能是造成这一现象的主要原因。红树林前缘区风暴沉积粒度特征的分析表明,在强风暴潮期间,植株高大、树冠封闭度高的红树林对于波流能量的耗散程度要显著高于年龄较小、植株低矮的红树林。     

A recent history of metal accumulation in the sediments of the Thames Estuary, United Kingdom

Sediment cores were collected from the Tilbury Tidal Basin in the Thames Estuary to determine the depositional history of metals in the estuary. Profiles of metals in sediments deposited in the lower Thames Estuary show a 30–50% decrease in concentration for Ag, Cd, Cu, Pb, and Zn, and a 70% decrease for Hg in recent decades. Historic depth soundings data showed the decreases in metal concentrations occurred between 1944 and 1966. The decline in sediment metal concentrations has been attributed to reduced inputs to the estuary, following updating of the major sewage treatment works in 1959 and 1963. This is indicated by the through-core distribution of Mn which implies that prior to 1960 the sediments were deposited in anoxic conditions, which subsequently improved. An increase in Mn concentrations observed in one of the cores has been attributed to increases in the dissolved oxygen of the estuarine waters resulting from the increased efficiency of the sewage treatment works.     

滨海红树林泥炭沉积物中硫的赋存特点及其控制因素

海南和厦门两地滨海红树林沉积物和埋藏泥炭中硫的成分分析表明,滨海红树林沉积物和泥炭中的硫以硫化铁硫为主,有机硫次之,硫酸盐硫含量最低。泥炭沉积物中硫的赋存形式和特点与沉积环境密切相关。海南福田地区红树林泥炭沉积物主要形成于红树林潮上坪和泥炭坪,硫含量较高,平均为2.60%,且有机硫含量与有机碳含量呈正相关,而硫化铁硫含量与有机碳含量没有明显的相关性;厦门海沧镇红树林泥炭沉积物形成于红树林潮间坪以及潮道环境,硫含量较低,平均值仅为0.43%,形态硫和有机质的相关性与海南红树林泥炭地沉积物相反。红树林泥炭沉积物中铁的硫化物主要以黄铁矿形式产出,且以莓球状形态为主。研究表明,黄铁矿与次生有机硫的生成与微生物活动密切相关,造成红树林泥炭中硫含量差异最主要的原因不是硫源,而是有机质的供给与沉积微环境的影响。现代滨海红树林泥炭沼泽中硫的赋存特征将对煤中硫成因的研究提供重要的科学依据。