Leaching and microbial degradation of dissolved organic matter from salt marsh plants and seagrasses

Dissolved organic matter (DOM) is outwelled from highly productive salt marshes, but its sources and fates are unclear. To examine common salt marsh plants as sources of coastal DOM, two dominant salt marsh vascular plants Spartina alterniflora and Juncus roemarianus, and two major coastal seagrasses Syringodium filiforme and Halodule wrightii, were collected from a Florida salt marsh and studied using laboratory incubation experiments. We investigated the leaching dynamics of dissolved organic carbon (DOC), total dissolved nitrogen (TDN), and chromophoric dissolved organic matter (CDOM) from these plants, in conjunction with our field investigations of the sources and outwelling of DOM from Florida salt marshes. The leaching of DOM and CDOM from the plants was a rapid process, and leaching rates were 65–288 µM/g dry weight/day for DOC and 3.8–16 µM/g dry weight/day for TDN from different plants in the bacteria-inhibited incubations. DOC was proportional to TDN in the leachates, but the quantity of C and N leached was dependent on the species and growth stage of the plants. At the end of the 25-day experiments, 5.4–23 % and 10–45 % of solid phase C and N were released into DOC and TDN pools, respectively. Bacteria played an important role during the leaching process. The majority of DOC and TDN leached from marsh plants and seagrasses was labile and highly biodegradable with 56–90 % of the leached DOC and 44–72 % of the leached TDN being decomposed at the end of the experiments. The fluorescence measurements of CDOM indicate that organic matter leached from marsh plants and seagrasses contained mainly protein-like DOM which was degraded rapidly by bacteria. Our study suggests that leaching of DOM from salt marsh plants and seagrasses provide not only major sources of DOC, TDN, and CDOM that affect many biogeochemical processes, but also as important food sources to microbial communities in the marsh and adjacent coastal waters.     

Distributions and characteristics of dissolved organic matter in temperate coastal waters (Southern North Sea)

The spatial and temporal distributions of chromophoric dissolved organic matter (CDOM) and dissolved organic carbon (DOC) was studied in the East-Frisian Wadden Sea (Southern North Sea) during several cruises between 2002 and 2005. The spatial distribution of CDOM in the German Bight shows a strong gradient towards the coast. Tidal and seasonal variations of dissolved organic matter (DOM) identify freshwater discharge via flood-gates at the coastline and pore water efflux from tidal flat sediments as the most important CDOM sources within the backbarrier area of the Island of Spiekeroog. However, the amount and pattern of CDOM and DOC is strongly affected by various parameters, e.g. changes in the amount of terrestrial run-off, precipitation, evaporation, biological activity and photooxidation. A decoupling of CDOM and DOC, especially during periods of pronounced biological activity (algae blooms and microbial activity), is observed in spring and especially in summer. Mixing of the endmembers freshwater, pore water, and open sea water results in the formation of a coastal transition zone. Whilst an almost conservative behaviour during mixing is observed in winter, summer data point towards non-conservative mixing.     

Processing of humic-rich riverine dissolved organic matter by estuarine bacteria: effects of predegradation and inorganic nutrients

The bioavailability of predegraded dissolved organic matter (DOM) from a humic-rich, boreal river to estuarine bacteria from the Baltic Sea was studied in 39-day bioassays. The river waters had been exposed to various degrees of bacterial degradation by storing them between 0 and 465 days in dark prior to the bioassay. The resulting predegraded DOM was inoculated with estuarine bacteria and the subsequent changes in DOM quantity and quality measured. During the incubations, dissolved organic carbon (DOC) and oxygen concentrations decreased, indicating heterotrophic activity. Coloured DOM was degraded less than DOC, indicating a selective utilization of DOM, and humic-like fluorescence components increased during the incubations. The amount of DOC degraded was not affected by the length of DOM predegradation. The percentage of bioavailable DOC (%BDOC) was higher in experiment units with added inorganic nitrogen and phosphorus than without addition (on average 13.5 % and 9.0, respectively), but had no effect on the degradation of fresh, non-predegraded, DOC (%BDOC 12.0 %). Bacterial growth efficiency (BGE) was highest (65 ± 2 %) in the units with fresh DOM, and lowest in units with predegraded DOM and no added inorganic nutrients (11 ± 4 %). The addition of inorganic nutrients increased the BGE of predegraded DOM units by an average of 28 ± 4 %. There was no significant effect on BGE by length of predegradation after the initial drop (<3 months). This study suggests that both the length of predegradation and the inorganic nutrient status in the receiving estuary has consequences to carbon cycling and will determine the amount of terrestrial-derived DOC being ultimately assimilated into marine food webs.     

Determination of dissolved organic matter in streamwater using visible spectrophotometry

Absorbance at 360 nm was measured on 44 filtered streamwater samples of different dissolved organic matter (DOM) contents. A regression equation of DOM on absorbance predicted DOM with a standard error of estimate of 1.26 mgl^?1, Use of a published equation relating dissolved organic carbon (DOC) to absorbance gave DOC values for the samples which were consistent with measured DOM. The method offers considerable potential for rapid quantification of dissolved organic matter concentrations in streamwater.     

Variation in the photochemical lability of dissolved organic matter in a large boreal watershed

Boreal watersheds contain a vast quantity of terrestrially derived dissolved organic matter (DOM) originating from wetland and forest soils, yet variation in the potential for photochemical transformation of boreal aquatic DOM sources remains poorly understood. Laboratory solar radiation exposure experiments were conducted on DOM samples collected in three seasons, across nine sites, representing contrasting catchment composition and watershed position to assess variation in the photochemical lability of boreal DOM source and stable carbon isotopic signature (δ¹³C) of photomineralized DOM. Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) loss rates during laboratory exposure were lowest in summer, suggesting that DOM may have been more photo-degraded during summer. DOM from upstream portions of forested stream sites and wetland-influenced sites was more photolabile relative to downstream portions and the river DOM, suggesting potential losses in photolabile DOM downstream and in the lower reaches of the watershed. Increased a₂₅₄:a₃₅₀ and spectral slope following sample exposure suggest photoproduction of low molecular weight (LMW) CDOM and/or a higher photoreactivity of high molecular weight versus LMW compounds. Photomineralization of nitrogen was regulated by organic nitrogen concentration and resulted in NH₄ ⁺-photoproduction rates between 0.01 and 0.3?μM N?h^?1 and ecologically significant increases in NH₄ ⁺ for these waters. The δ¹³C of the photomineralized DOM was positively correlated to initial DOC concentration and generally lower when initial DOC concentrations were lower, suggesting variation in photomineralized DOM δ¹³C may be a result of kinetic isotope fractionation. Results from this study demonstrate significant variation in the photochemical lability of boreal watershed sources of DOM. Such variation suggests landscape and environmental change has the potential to alter the biogeochemical role photochemical transformations play in downstream portions of boreal watersheds.     

Dynamics and sources of dissolved organic carbon during phytoplankton bloom in hypereutrophic Lake Taihu (China)

To establish the influence of phytoplankton blooms on the dynamics and sources of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) in Lake Taihu, the concentrations and stable carbon isotope values (δ¹³C) of DOC and particulate organic carbon (POC) were analyzed, along with environmental factors, including water temperature, chlorophyll a (Chl a) concentration, phytoplankton community and total bacterial abundance, from March to August 2013 at five sites in Lake Taihu. Significant differences were observed in the DOC concentrations and δ¹³C_DOC values at the sampling sites. On average, the proportion of DOC in the total organic carbon (TOC) pool ranged from 30% ± 10% to 81% ± 7%. POC was positively associated with both Chl a concentration and cyanobacteria biomass, suggesting that cyanobacteria blooms contribute to the POC pool in Lake Taihu. Depleted ¹³C in DOC relative to POC was observed in August, indicating that DOC was partially derived from POC in August. However, Chl a explained only 40% of the variation in DOC in the entirety of Lake Taihu, and at two sites far from the estuary, the contribution of allochthonous carbon was less than 50% in August. These results suggested a greater influence of allochthonous sources on the DOC pool. Moreover, the biodegradability of DOC was further determined by the total dissolved carbohydrates to DOC ratio (TCHO/DOC), specific UV absorbance (SUVA₂₅₄), and the concentrations of bioavailable DOC (BDOC). On average, 17% of the variation in DOC was attributable to the BDOC pool, and the BDOC concentration correlated positively with Chl a, cyanobacteria biomass, and total bacterial abundance, suggesting that cyanobacteria–derived DOC is biodegradable and is preferentially utilized by bacteria.     

Photochemical degradation of dissolved organic matter from streams in the western Lake Superior watershed

The input and fate of dissolved organic matter (DOM) can have important consequences for coastal zone productivity in large lakes and oceans. Chromophoric DOM (CDOM) is often delivered to coastal zones from rivers and streams and affects light penetration in a water column. CDOM can protect biota from damaging ultraviolet (UV) light by acting as sunscreen, resulting in increased ecosystem productivity. Alternatively, CDOM can decrease ecosystem productivity by absorbing light needed for photosynthesis and forming photoreaction products that are harmful to coastal zone biota. Increased urbanization of watersheds and seasonal differences in weather patterns change the delivery pathways, reactivity, input, and energy flow of DOM (and its CDOM component) into aquatic systems. This study investigated the effects of watershed and season on the concentrations and potential photodegradation of stream-derived DOM in Lake Superior tributaries, chosen to be geographically and geologically similar but differing in land use. Organic carbon analysis, UV–Visible spectrophotometry, and terrestrial (land use) analysis were used to investigate differences among samples and sample treatments. The major differences in DOM concentration and photochemical response appeared seasonal rather than site specific, with snow-melt samples showing stronger and more consistent changes in UV–Visible parameters while base-flow samples showed stronger and more consistent losses in DOC.     

基于CDOM吸收特性的东北地区水库DOC浓度遥感估算

有色溶解性有机物(CDOM)广泛存在于水体中,占溶解有机碳(DOC)10%～90%,其浓度影响水环境碳循环过程、污染物质迁移以及水生生物群落的结构和功能。为分析东北地区水库DOC碳循环情况,本文于2015—2020年对第二松花江流域典型水库白山水库和丰满水库进行5次现场观测和室内实验,在分析CDOM吸收特性的基础上,基于Landsat系列卫星利用波段比值法建立CDOM浓度反演模型(R²=0.82),根据实测值CDOM与DOC的强相关性(R²=0.78),进而估算水库DOC浓度。结果表明：(1)利用野外实测数据和Landsat系列卫星能够对东北内陆水库CDOM浓度进行良好反演,(2)2000—2020年白山水库和丰满水库年际CDOM和DOC浓度变化不大,在2010年之后表现出轻微上升趋势,CDOM浓度从支流和干流的汇入到主库区呈现逐渐减少趋势,(3)白山水库和丰满水库M值(CDOM在250和365 nm处吸收系数比值)和S_275～295(CDOM在275～295 nm波段处的吸收光谱的斜率)较小、SUVA_254<...     

Effect of organic matter source and salinity on dissolved organic matter isolation via ultrafiltration and solid phase extraction

In this study, samples were taken from three contrasting freshwater sources and amended with salt in order to determine the influence of salinity and dissolved organic matter (DOM) composition on DOM recovery via ultrafiltration and solid phase extraction (SPE) with C₁₈ disks. Salt addition caused variable recovery of DOM when using C₁₈ SPE, and ultraviolet–visible spectroscopic characterization of the extracted material showed spectral responses that varied among sample sources. In contrast, increasing sample salinity from 0 to 30 ppt consistently caused a 15–25% reduction in the amount of high molecular weight DOM isolated by ultrafiltration for both dissolved organic carbon (DOC) and chromophoric DOM (CDOM), regardless of DOM composition. We hypothesize that a change in conformation (such as coiling or disaggregation) of DOM molecules occurs in the presence of salt, allowing them to pass through the ultrafiltration membrane and thereby decreasing the DOM retained by ultrafiltration. These results are important because they demonstrate that changes in salinity can influence DOM recovery in estuaries. Interpretation of DOM characteristics along estuarine gradients needs to account for potential artifacts introduced by sample isolation techniques.     

太湖有色可溶性有机物(CDOM)对COD及BOD5的指示意义

化学需氧量(COD)、五日生化需氧量(BOD_5)及溶解性有机碳(DOC)是指示湖泊水质的重要指标,然而上述指标测定通常耗费大量时间、试剂及人力物力且排放大量有害废液.有色可溶性有机物(CDOM)是溶解性有机物(DOM)中可以强烈吸收光谱中的紫外光和可见光的部分,数据测定耗时短、方便快捷,且样品处理过程环境友好,能在很大程度上反映湖泊水质.本研究基于2016年2、5和8月在太湖均匀布设的32个采样点进行样品采集,运用光谱吸收与三维荧光-平行因子分析(EEMs-PARAFAC)探究太湖CDOM的光谱吸收和荧光组分,探讨CDOM光谱指标对湖泊BOD_5、COD及DOC浓度等湖泊环境质量指标的可替代性.结果表明:(1)运用EEMs-PARAFAC方法解析出3种荧光组分:类腐殖酸C1、类酪氨酸C2和类色氨酸C3.(2) COD和BOD_5和DOC在空间上呈现出相似的分布趋势,不同水期的最高值均出现在竺山湾和梅梁湾,由西北湖区至中部敞水区、东南湖湾递减.(3)在不同水期,COD、BOD_5、DOC浓度和C1组分均表现为丰水期极显著大于枯水期和平水期,a_(254)在丰、平、枯水期间无显著性差异,最大值出现在丰水期;C2与C3组分均在枯水期和平水期极显著大于丰水期.(4)在不同水文时期,COD、BOD_5和DOC浓度均与a_(254)、类腐殖酸C1呈显著正相关,丰水期太湖COD、BOD_5和DOC浓度与CDOM光谱指标的线性相关性要优于枯水期和平水期.(5) CDOM光谱指标在不同水文时期均能很好地替代COD、BOD_5和DOC等作为反映太湖水体中有机物污染程度及湖泊水质的指标.     

Assessing the spatial and temporal variability of dissolved organic matter in Liverpool Bay using excitation–emission matrix fluorescence and parallel factor analysis

The spatial and diurnal tidal variability of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) concentrations and the composition of dissolved organic matter (DOM), as evaluated by high-temperature catalytic oxidation and excitation–emission matrix combined with parallel factor analysis (EEM–PARAFAC), respectively, were determined in Liverpool Bay. EEM–PARAFAC modeling resulted in six fluorescent components characterized as terrestrial humic-like (two), microbial humic-like (two), and protein-like (two). The spatial distributions of DOC and the four humic-like components were negatively correlated with salinity in the high-salinity waters observed in this study (30.41–33.75), suggesting that terrestrial DOM was conservatively distributed. The spatial patterns of protein-like components were largely different from those of DOC, humic-like components, and chlorophyll a, suggesting that these distributions were the combined result of production and degradation in the bay in addition to river inputs. These findings suggest that the DOM dynamics in Liverpool Bay are strongly controlled by river-dominated allochthonous DOM inputs with some less significant contributions of autochthonous DOM within the bay. In addition, the temporal variations of DOM associated with the diurnal tidal cycles were determined at one inshore (31.34–32.24 salinity) and one offshore (33.64–33.75 salinity) station in the bay. Negative linear relationships between salinity and DOM characteristics, i.e., DOC, humic-like, and protein-like components, were observed at the inshore station. In contrast, no relationship was observed at the offshore station, suggesting that the export of DOM through rivers and possibly tidal flats have a noticeable influence on DOM concentration and composition up to a relatively elevated salinity of around 33 in Liverpool Bay.     

Diurnal variability in riverine dissolved organic matter composition determined by in situ optical measurement in the San Joaquin River (California,USA)

Dissolved organic matter (DOM) concentration and composition in riverine and stream systems are known to vary with hydrological and productivity cycles over the annual and interannual time scales. Rivers are commonly perceived as homogeneous with respect to DOM concentration and composition, particularly under steady flow conditions over short time periods. However, few studies have evaluated the impact of short term variability (<1 day) on DOM dynamics. This study examined whether diurnal processes measurably altered DOM concentration and composition in the hypereutrophic San Joaquin River (California) during a relatively quiescent period. We evaluated the efficacy of using optical in situ measurements to reveal changes in DOM which may not be evident from bulk dissolved organic carbon (DOC) measurement alone. The in situ optical measurements described in this study clearly showed for the first time diurnal variations in DOM measurements, which have previously been related to both composition and concentration, even though diurnal changes were not well reflected in bulk DOC concentrations. An apparent asynchronous trend of DOM absorbance and chlorophyll‐a in comparison to chromophoric dissolved organic matter (CDOM) fluorescence and spectral slope S_290–350 suggests that no one specific CDOM spectrophotometric measurement explains absolutely DOM diurnal variation in this system; the measurement of multiple optical parameters is therefore recommended. The observed diurnal changes in DOM composition, measured by in situ optical instrumentation likely reflect both photochemical and biologically‐mediated processes. The results of this study highlight that short‐term variability in DOM composition may complicate trends for studies aiming to distinguish different DOM sources in riverine systems and emphasizes the importance of sampling specific study sites to be compared at the same time of day. The utilization of in situ optical technology allows short‐term variability in DOM dynamics to be monitored and serves to increase our understanding of its processing and fundamental role in the aquatic environment. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A Preliminary Study of Chromophoric Dissolved Organic Matter (CDOM) in Lake Taihu,a Shallow Subtropical Lake in China

The optical properties and spatial distribution of chromophoric dissolved organic matter (CDOM) in Meiliang Bay of Lake Taihu were evaluated and compared to the results in literature. Concentrations of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) ranged from 8.75 to 20.19 mg L^?1 with an average of (13.10 ± 3.51) mg L^?1. CDOM absorption coefficients a(λ) at 280 nm, 355 nm, and 440 nm were in the range 11.28...33.46 m^?1 (average (20.95 ± 5.52) m^?1), 2.42...7.90 m^?1 (average (4.92 ± 1.29) m^?1), and 0.65...2.44 m^?1 (average (1.46 ± 0.44) m^?1), respectively. In general, CDOM absorption coefficient and DOC concentration were found to decrease away from the river inflow to Meiliang Bay towards the lake center. The values of the DOC‐specific absorption coefficients a*(λ), given as absorption coefficient related to mass concentration of organic carbon (C) ranged from 0.28 to 0.47 L mg^?1 m^?1 at 355 nm. The determination coefficients between CDOM absorption and DOC concentration decreased with the increase of wavelength from 280 to 550 nm. The linear regression relationship between CDOM absorption at 280 nm and DOC concentration was following: a(280 nm) = 1.507 L mg^?1 m^?1 · DOC + 1.215 m^?1. The spectral slope S values were dependent on the wavelength range used in the regression. The estimated S values decreased with increasing wavelength range used. A significant negative linear relationship was found between CDOM absorption coefficients, DOC‐specific absorption coefficients and estimated S values especially in longer wavelength range. The linear regression relationship between DOC‐specific absorption coefficients at 440 nm and estimated S values during the wavelength range from 280 to 500 nm was following: a*(440 nm) = (–0.021 μm · S + 0.424) L mg^?1 m^?1.     

淮河流域周村水库夏季CDOM吸收光谱特征、空间分布及其来源分析

基于2015年8月采集的24个淮河流域以周村水源水库为代表的表层水样的有色溶解性有机物(CDOM)吸收系数数据,研究了CDOM吸收光谱的空间分布特征,考察了CDOM的吸收系数与水质参数的相关关系,同时探讨了周村水库夏季CDOM的潜在来源.结果显示:依据CDOM的吸收光谱空间分布特性及采样点分布特征,周村水库分为入库口、过渡区和主库区3个特征水域;CDOM的吸收系数沿入库口到主库区依次递减,S值呈现相反的趋势;分析发现S240~500与a(355)和a*(355)呈极显著负相关(R~2=0.98、0.88);CDOM吸收系数a(355)与溶解性有机碳(DOC)浓度具有良好的线性相关,有利于建立DOC遥感反演模型;同时,CDOM吸收系数a(355)与a_(ph)(440)存在极显著正线性相关,表明浮游植物的新陈代谢及其降解产物是夏季周村水库CDOM的潜在来源.综上,通过对夏季周村水库水体CDOM的研究,丰富了关于水源水体CDOM的调查资料,可为日后水库的管理提供技术支撑.     

Distribution and photoreactivity of chromophoric dissolved organic matter in northern Gulf of Mexico shelf waters

The distribution and photoreactivity of chromophoric dissolved organic matter (CDOM) in the northern Gulf of Mexico along the Louisiana coastal shelf were examined during three cruises in summer 2007, fall 2007, and summer 2008. The influence of the Mississippi River plume was clearly evident as CDOM levels (defined as a₃₀₅) and dissolved organic carbon (DOC) concentrations were well-correlated with salinity during all cruises. Elevated CDOM and CDOM:DOC ratios of surface samples collected offshore of Atchafalaya Bay and the Breton-Chandeleur Sound complex indicated emanations of organic-rich waters from coastal wetlands are also an important source to nearshore shelf waters. Generally, CDOM and DOC levels were highest in surface waters and decreased with depth, but during summer 2007 and summer 2008, CDOM levels in near-bottom samples were occasionally higher than at mid-depths without concomitant increases in DOC. CDOM photobleaching was measured during 24 irradiations using a SunTest XLS+ solar simulator with photobleaching rate coefficients (k₃₀₅) ranging from 0.011 to 0.32 h⁻¹. For fall 2007 and summer 2008, higher k₃₀₅ values were generally observed in samples with higher initial CDOM levels. However, samples collected during summer 2007 did not exhibit a similar pattern nor were there differences in photobleaching rates between surface and bottom samples. Spectral slope coefficients (S_275-295 or S_350-400) and DOC levels were largely unchanged after 24 h irradiations. Modeled CDOM photobleaching for northern Gulf of Mexico mid-shelf waters predicts that during the summer when solar irradiance is high and the water column becomes stratified, nearly 90% of the CDOM in the upper 1 m may be lost to photobleaching, with losses up to 20% possible even at 10 m depth.     

长江中游湖泊CDOM光学特性及其空间分布对比

根据2007年秋季洪湖、东湖和梁子湖的调查结果,分析了长江中游3个典型湖泊CDOM光学特性及其空间分布差异.结果表明:(1)CDOM吸收系数在洪湖最高,梁子湖最低;(2)在洪湖,CDOM吸收系数受陆源影响较大,与悬浮泥沙浓度呈现较好正相关关系,而在梁子湖,CDOM吸收系数主要受到浮游植物降解贡献,与叶绿素浓度具有显著的正相关关系;(3)洪湖与东湖指数函数斜率S值变化不大;梁子湖CDOM吸收系数空间分布差异较大,指数函数斜率S值与400nm波段CDOM吸收系数ag(400)显著负相关.在建立梁子湖CDOM遥感反演模型时,应引入上述指数甬数斜率S值与400nm波段CDOM吸收系数之间的线性函数,对CDOM吸收系数的指数模型进行优化.