南海北部时间系列沉降颗粒的有机地球化学特征及意义

通过对南海北部用大孔径沉积物捕获器采集的时间系列沉降颗粒样品中总有机碳，总氮，氨基酸与单糖组分以及叶绿素等有机组分的分析，揭示了南海颗粒物质中有机组分的主要特征，表明沉降颗粒物质中有机质主要来自近期生长的海洋浮游生物，并进一步推断季风对南海北部沉降颗粒物质通量及有机组分具有重要的控制作用。     

南海颗粒物质的通量、组成及其与沉积物积累率的关系初探

通过大孔径时间系列沉积物捕获器的多年测量及对样品的多学科综合分析表明:南海北部与中部深海区1000m左右水深颗粒通量大约为90mg·m-2·d-1,在多数情况下,季风期间的颗粒通量有比较明显的增高。颗粒物主要组成为钙质生物来源的CaCO₃、生物硅、岩源物质及海洋生物来源的有机质。颗粒通量与组成在水柱中的垂向变化表明,生源组分中CaCO₃及有机质随深度具有较为明显的减少。颗粒物侧向运动可能是造成某些时段南海中部深层颗粒通量增加的主要原因。颗粒物质在进入深海沉积物之前,CaCO₃、生物硅均在深层水与沉积物界面之间发生大量的溶解作用。有机质在沉降过程中的减少,一方面是由于硅质与钙质壳体的溶解而使结合在壳体内部的有机质随之溶解造成;另一方面可能与生物及生物地球化学作用有关。岩源物质除水柱沉降之外,还可以通过浊流等底层搬运机制进入南海北部及中部海盆,其中在南海北部这种搬运作用更为明显。     

南海北部1987～1988年颗粒物质和硅藻通量的季节性变化:季风气候与 El Nino的响应

南海北部1987年9月～1988年10月沉积物捕获器中颗粒物质和硅藻通量的季节性变化受到季风气候的控制.颗粒物质与硅藻在东北和西南季风盛行期增加,在季风转变期减少.浅层和深层的颗粒总通量、蛋白石通量、碳酸钙通量、蛋白石/颗粒总通量比值、碳酸钙/颗粒总通量比值、有机碳/磷的比值以及浅层硅藻Thalassionema nitzschioides、Coscinodiscus excentricus、Coscinodiscus nodulifer、Nitzschia marina和Rhizosolenia bergonii的通量在东北季风期间明显地增加了,这些变化可能与1987年～1988年发生的EINino事件相关.     

南海北部1987～1988年颗粒物质和硅藻通量的季节性变化:季风气候与El Nio的响应

南海北部１９８７年９月～１９８８年１０月沉积物捕获器中颗粒物质和硅藻通量的季节性 变化受到季风气候的控制。颗粒物质与硅藻在东北和西南季风盛行期增加，在季风转变期减 少。浅层和深层的颗粒总通量、蛋白石通量、碳酸钙通量、蛋白石／颗粒总通量比值、碳酸钙／颗 粒总通量比值、有机碳／磷的比值以及浅层硅藻Ｔｈａｌａｓｓｉｏｎｅｍａ ｎｉｔｚｓｃｈｉｏｉｄｅｓ、Ｃｏｓｃｉｎｏｄｉｓｃｕｓ ｅｘｃｅｎｔｒｉｃｕｓ、Ｃｏｓｃｉｎｏｄｉｓｃｕｓ ｎｏｄｕｌｉｆｅｒ、Ｎｉｔｚｓｃｈｉａ ｍａｒｉｎａ和Ｒｈｉｚｏｓｏｌｅｎｉａ ｂｅｒｇｏｎｉｉ的通量在东北 季风期间明显地增加了，这些变化可能与１９８７年～１９８８年发生的ＥＩ Ｍｉ　ｏ事件相关。     

末次冰期以来南海北部下陆坡区沉积有机质地球化学特征及其意义

选取南海北部下陆坡-深海平原过渡带典型沉积柱状样,通过对其沉积有机质的整体有机地球化学特征进行表征,探讨了南海下陆坡-深海平原区沉积有机质在冰期/间冰期旋回中的赋存状态、来源变化以及与古气候环境之间的相应关系。结果表明,总有机碳（TOC）、总氮（TN）和有机质稳定碳同位素（δ13Corg）与冰期/间冰期旋回有明显的对应关系,冰期时对应高值,间冰期时对应低值;而有机质稳定氮同位素（δ15N）表现为全新世时其值偏低,末次冰消期其值偏高,与气候旋回没有相关性; C/N值和δ13Corg值都表明南海北部下陆坡沉积有机质来源是陆相和海相的混源,且在末次冰期/间冰期尺度上主要以海相来源为主。     

Amino acid biogeo- and stereochemistry in coastal Chilean sediments

The spatial distribution of total hydrolysable amino acids (THAA) and amino acid enantiomers (d- and l-forms) was investigated in sediments underlying two contrasting Chilean upwelling regions: at ∼23 °S off Antofagasta and at ∼36 °S off Concepción. The contribution of amino acids to total organic carbon (%T_AAC: 7-14%) and total nitrogen (%T_AAN: 23-38%) in surface sediments decreased with increasing water depth (from 126 to 1350 m) indicating that organic matter becomes increasingly decomposed in surface sediments at greater water depth. Changes in the ratio between the protein amino acid aspartate and its non-protein degradation product β-alanine confirmed this observation. Furthermore, estimates of THAA mineralization showed that sedimentary amino acid reactivity decreased with both increasing water depth as well as progressive degradation status of the organic matter that was incorporated into the sediment. Reactivity of organic matter in the sediment was also assessed using the Degradation Index (DI) developed by [Dauwe, B., Middelburg, J.J., 1998. Amino acids and hexosamines as indicators of organic matter degradation state in North Sea sediments. Limnol. Oceanogr.43, pp. 782-798.]. Off Concepción, DI was successfully applied to examine the degradation status of sedimentary organic matter at different water depths. However, unexpected results were obtained at the Antofagasta stations as DI increased with sediment depth, suggesting more degraded organic matter at the surface than deeper in the cores. The contribution of peptidoglycan amino acids to THAA was estimated from the concentrations of d-aspartate, d-glutamic acid, d-serine, and d-alanine. Peptidoglycan amino acids accounted for >18% of THAA in all investigated samples. In surface sediments peptidoglycan amino acids accounted for a progressively larger fraction of THAA at increasing water depths (up to >26%). Further, the contribution of peptidoglycan amino acids to THAA increased with increased sediment depth and age (up to 288-year-old) reaching up to 59%. Independent estimates based on d-amino acid concentrations in selected laboratory strains, bacterial counts and the sedimentary concentrations of d-amino acids indicate that a large fraction of the measured d-amino acids (>47 to >97%) originated from cell wall residues rather than from enumerated cells.     

Fluxes of material in the Arabian Sea and Bay of Bengal — Sediment trap studies

In order to investigate how monsoons influence biogeochemical fluxes in the ocean, twelve time-series sediment traps were deployed at six locations in the northern Indian Ocean. In this paper we present particle flux data collected during May 1986 to November 1991 and November 1987 to November 1992 in the Arabian Sea and Bay of Bengal respectively. Particle fluxes were high during both the SW and NE monsoons in the Arabian Sea as well as in the Bay of Bengal. The mechanisms of particle production and transport, however, differ in both the regions. In the Arabian Sea, average annual fluxes are over 50gm^-2y^-1 in the western Arabian Sea and less than 27gm^-2 y^-1 in the central part. Biogenic matter is dominant at sites located near upwelling centers, and is less degraded during peak flux periods. High particle fluxes in the offshore areas of the Arabian Sea are caused by injection of nutrients into the euphotic zone due to wind-induced mixed layer deepening. In the Bay of Bengal, average annual fluxes are highest in the central Bay of Bengal (over 50gm^-2y^-1) and are least in the southern part of the Bay (37gm^-2y^-1). Particle flux patterns coincide with freshwater discharge patterns of the Ganges-Brahmaputra river system. Opal/carbonate and organic carbon/carbonate carbon ratios increase during the SW monsoon due to variations in salinity and productivity patterns in the surface waters as a result of increased freshwater and nutrient input from rivers. Comparison of S years data show that fluxes of biogenic and lithogenic particulate matter are higher in the Bay of Bengal even though the Arabian Sea is considered to be more productive. Our results indicate that in the northern Indian Ocean interannual variability in organic carbon flux is directly related to the strength and intensity of the SW monsoon while its transfer from the upper layers to the deep sea is partly controlled by input of lithogenic matter from adjacent continents.     

Amino acid composition of suspended particles,sediment-trap material,and benthic sediment in the Potomac Estuary

Sediment trap deployments in estuaries provide a method for estimating the amount of organic material transported to the sediments from the euphotic zone. The amino acid composition of suspended particles, benthic sediment, and sediment-trap material collected at 2.4 m, 5.8 m, and 7.9 m depths in the Potomac Estuary was determined in stratified summer waters, and in well-mixed oxygenated waters (DO) in late fall. The total vertical flow, or flux, of material into the top traps ranged from 3 g m^?2 d^?1 in August to 4.9 g m^?2 d^?1 in October. The carbon and nitrogen fluxes increased in the deepest traps relative to the surface traps during both sampling periods, along with that of the total material flux (up to 47.3 g m^?2 d^?1 in the deepest trap), although the actual weight percent of organic carbon and organic nitrogen decreased with depth. Amino acid concentrations ranged from 129 mg g^?1 in surface water particulate material to 22 mg g^?1 in particulate material in 9-m-deep waters and in the benthic sediment. Amino acid concentrations from 2.4-mg-depth sediment traps averaged 104±29 mg g^?1 in stratified waters and 164±81 mg g^?1 in well-mixed waters. The deep trap samples averaed, 77.3±4.8 mg g^?1 amino acids in summer waters and 37±16 mg g^?1 in oxygenated fall waters. Amino acids comprised 13% to 39% of the organic carbon and 12% to 89% of the orgnaic nitrogen in these samples. Analysis of the flux results suggest that resuspension combined with lateral advection from adjacent slopes can account for up to 27% of the material in the deep traps when the estuary was well-mixed and unstratified. When the estuary was stratified in late summer, the amino acid carbon produced by primary productivity in the euphotic zone decreased by 85% (86% for total organic carbon) at the pycnocline at 6 m depth, leaving up to 15% of the vertical organic flux available for benthic sediment deposition.     

Spatial and temporal variation of organic carbon in the northern South China Sea revealed by sedimentary records

Three sediment cores were taken from the Pearl River estuary and adjacent northern South China Sea (SCS). These sediment cores span the time interval 1900–2000 AD. The stratigraphy of the concentration, the ratio of total organic carbon (TOC) to total nitrogen (TN) and stable isotope (δ¹³C_org) of organic carbon (OC) from three high-resolution sediment cores were analyzed. The stratigraphic profiles of OC concentration, TOC/TN ratios and δ¹³C_org for the near past 100 yrs indicate that terrestrial organic matter decreases from 68.3% to 27.4% of the TOC in the Pearl River estuary, while Dapeng Bay (offshore east of Hong Kong) apparently had throughout little terrestrial organic matter input. The highest deposited OC occurs at the Humen River mouth and the OC concentrations are higher in the outer estuary than in the inner shelf of the northern SCS. The deposited OC at the River mouth increased with time, which could be caused by the high precipitation of land-derived organic matter and the high input of terrestrial organic matter, which is likely related to the rapid urbanization and industrial development in the Pearl River Delta since the 1970s. The OC concentrations did not exhibit an obvious increase with time in most areas of the Pear River estuary and adjacent inner shelf of the SCS, but the algal-derived OC concentration inferred from the δ¹³C_org values increased with time especially from 1980 to 2000 in the outer Pearl River estuary and Dapeng Bay. This increase is presumably caused by enhanced primary marine productivity supported by higher anthropogenic nutrient inputs.     

南海表层沉积物与沉降颗粒物中有机碳的δ13C对比研究及其古环境再造意义

对南海表层沉积物与沉降颗粒物有机碳的δ13C进行了对比研究,从古环境再造方面探讨了陆源和海源对南海表层沉积物的贡献。南海表层沉积物有机碳的δ13C比沉降颗粒物中有机碳的δ13C偏重表明,Suess效应对南海现代过程的影响不可忽视,两者的δ13C差值反映了Suess效应对南海现代过程的影响程度。利用两者的δ13C差值,对现代陆源和海源有机碳的δ13C进行修正后,计算得到,在南海陆架周围表层沉积物的有机碳中,陆源的比例为48%,海源的比例为52%;在远离陆架的表层沉积物的有机碳中,陆源的比例为14%,海源的比例为86%。     

Amino Sugars and Their Indicating Role in the Cycling of Organic Matter in Marine Environment

As a kind of marine organic matter with important geochemical characteristics, amino sugars can effectively reflect the source, diagenetic state and mineralization process of organic matter by their concentration and composition in marine environment. This article systematically concluded the research progresses of amino sugars from the aspects of their source, composition and distribution characteristics in marine environment, and the role as a biomarker indicating source and diagenetic state of marine organic matter. The result showed that the macromolecular morphology, the oxygen and nutrient level and the sedimentary environment could affect the reactivity of amino sugars. The higher ratios of glucosamine to galactosamine (GlcN/GalN) and the Total Hydrolysable Amino Acids to Total Hydrolysable Amino Sugars (THAA/THAS) can reflect the fresh planktonic organic matter source and the lower ratios can reflect the conversion from planktonic to bacterial organic matter. The carbon and nitrogen normalized yield of total hydrolysable amino sugars, however, could give contradictory results depending on the relative contribution of the source and degradation degree of organic matter. Muramic acid is suitable to estimate the contribution of relatively fresh bacteria organic matter to particulate and sediment organic matter, but it is not suitable for applying in the dissolved organic matter because of its very low concentration leading from its rapid recycle. It is critical to enhance the research on the contribution of different microorganisms to amino sugars and differentiate the influence of organic matter source and degradation on amino sugars in marine environment. The research on the conversion and fate of amino sugars in marine environment is also needed.     

Sedimentary record of black carbon in the Pearl River estuary and adjacent northern South China Sea

The concentrations of black carbon (BC) and δ¹³C_BC were determined in sediments of three dated cores from the Pearl River estuary (core PR-3) and adjacent northern South China Sea (cores SS-30, E2). For comparison, the total organic C (TOC) contents and δ¹³C_TOC in the sediments were also measured. Relatively higher concentrations and fluxes of BC were found in sedimentary core PR-3, taken in the Pearl River estuary. The BC concentration profiles or fluxes correlated well with fossil-fuel usage in the Pearl River Delta. Maximum BC fluxes occurred in the late 1970s to early 1980s as recorded in core PR-3, and in the 1950s (core SS-30), reflecting the maximum BC emission in the Pearl River Delta and Hong Kong region, respectively. After the 1980s, a rapid decrease of BC fluxes and a light δ¹³C_BC excursion were presumably due to improvements in combustion and pollution-control technologies and a shift of energy structure from biomass and coal to a mixture of coal, gas, oil and biomass. The fossil BC that contributed to total BC in core PR-3 increased from 20–30% to 70–80% during the last five decades. The study also shows that BC correlates well with terrestrial organic matter and that the ratio of BC to TOC is a good pollution indicator in relation to anthropogenic activities.     

Advances in Seasonal Variations and Controls of the Air-sea CO2 Flux in the South China Sea

Marine carbon cycle of the South China Sea is an important part of global carbon cycle. Researches on the air-sea CO₂ flux in the South China Sea will help us understand the global carbon cycle and improve the global carbon system parameter database. This paper concisely summarized the changes of partial pressure of CO₂ (pCO₂), air-sea CO₂ fluxes (FCO₂), and related environmental factors in four regions in domains in the South China Sea. The low-salinity area of the upper reaches of the Pearl River estuary in the northern of South China Sea shelf area acted as a strong source of atmospheric CO₂, with high pCO₂（405.3~810.6 Pa）all year round. The lower area of the Pearl River estuary (salinity > 33.7) acted as a weak sink of CO₂ in winter, with relatively low pCO₂ （35.2~37.0 Pa). The northern slope/basin in the South China Sea acted as a source of CO₂ in warm seasons with a relatively high pCO₂ (45.0 Pa), and acted as a sink of CO₂ in cold seasons with a relatively low pCO₂ (34.7 Pa). The west of the Luzon Strait acted as a sink of CO₂ in spring, while it acted as a source of CO₂ in other seasons, with relative high pCO₂ (38.4~47.5 Pa) in winter. The central/southern basin in the South China Sea acted as sources of CO₂, with relative high pCO₂ (41.0 Pa) all the year. Generally, the estimation of annual sea-air CO₂ fluxes showed that most domains in the South China Sea served as weak sources of atmospheric CO₂. In the future, more researches should be focused on the time-series of sea surface pCO₂ and the remote sensing of the sea-air CO₂ fluxes.     

楚科奇海-加拿大海盆表层沉积物中的氨基酸

对2003年中国第二次北极科学考察所获得的部分表层沉积物样品进行了总水解氨基酸(THAA)、氨基糖(HA)的测定。不同区域氨基酸主要成分不同,楚科奇海站位的氨基酸主要成分为甘氨酸(Gly)、谷氨酸(Glu),位于加拿大海盆的B80、B11、P27站THAA的主要成分为丝氨酸(Ser)。沉积物的总有机碳(TOC)、总氮(TN)、THAA、HA含量等特征随区域不同有较大差别,白令海峡的BS11站TOC、HA含量最低,加拿大海盆的B80站THAA、TN含量最低。楚科奇海R03站TOC、TN为最高,THAA在R11含量达最大值,HA在楚科奇海台的P11站最高。初步讨论了楚科奇海—加拿大海盆表层沉积物中氨基酸的空间分布,根据氨基酸选择性降解和主成份分析结果引入DI”指标,并对七个站位表层沉积物有机质新鲜程度进行了比较,新鲜度由大至小顺序为C15>BS11>R11>S11>P11>R03>B80,这与表层沉积物来源、水动力条件等有关,由此推测楚科奇海陆架、白令海峡沉积物有机质较楚科奇海台、加拿大海盆较为新鲜。     

热带东太平洋中国多金属结核开辟区深海成矿环境的氨基酸表征

为了解中国多金属结核开辟区沉积物有机质活性及深海成矿沉积环境特征，使用高效液相色谱（HPLC）法分析了表层沉积物氨基酸的组成状况。结果显示该区表层沉积物中氨基酸与氨基糖含量(干样)均较低，分别在0.30～0.59 mg·g-1及 0.10～0.17 mg·g-1之间。其中以中性氨基酸占绝对优势，占50%以上，其次为酸性氨基酸和含氢氧基氨基酸，分别占17%和11%，碱性氨基酸占9%，芳香与含硫氨基酸均在5%以下,表明深海沉积环境为氧化环境，且偏碱性条件。表征有机质活性的Asp/β Ala、Glu/γ Aba及DI值（（Glu+Phe+Leu+Ala+Val）/ (β Ala+γ Aba)）分别为1.1～1.9，0.8～2.2和1.4～2.9，表明该区有机质成熟度已很高。蛋白氨基酸/非蛋白氨基酸的比值为1.0～2.0，葡萄糖胺/半乳糖胺比值则在1.7～3.0之间变化，表明该海区有机质经过强烈的细菌改造，即海区存在强烈的细菌活动，活性较低，表征了多金属结核有机—微生物成矿的可能性。     

Interaction of organic compounds with calcium carbonate—III. Amino acid composition of sorbed layers

Nitrogenous organic compounds in sorbed surface layers and in calcified organic matter associated with calcium carbonate sediment particles consist of 40–50% amino acids, 2% amino sugars and 25% ammonia. In grain size classes > 20 μm these compounds are mainly contained in the calcified protein of carbonate secreting organisms but with smaller grain sizes—and consequently increased specific surface area—they are contained in sorbed layers at the mineral surface. The composition of the sorbed layer is characterized by a predominance of neutral amino acids, a relative enrichment of basic and weakly polar amino acids, and a deficiency of acidic amino acids in comparison with the proteinaceous matter of calcifying organisms. The respective abundances for sorbed and calcified matter are: 505 and 380 Res./ of neutral amino acids, 262 and 450 Res./1000 of acidic amino acids, 92 and 51 Res./l000 of basic amino acids, and 141 and 129 Res./1000 of weakly polar amino acids.The composition of the sorbed layer appears to be the result of sorption of proteinaceous matter from solution since it reflects the free and peptide-bound amino acid composition of seawater. The characteristic amino acid assemblage could also be the result of preferential decomposition of protein and subsequent enrichment of neutral and basic amino acids; however, sorption from solution appears more likely since the total amount of amino acids sorbed to calcium carbonate (0.58 mg m ^?2) corresponds closely to the amount of protein known to cover one m² of aqueous substrate in monolayer arrangement. Sorption from solution is further supported by the low arginine/ornithine ratios in both the sorbed layer and the natural dissolved organic matter. This process might lead to a characteristic amino acid spectrum in fine grained calcareous sediments that reflects the composition of the dissolved organic matter in seawater rather than that of the carbonate secreting proteinaceous matter.     

Distribution and diagenesis of organic compounds in JOIDES sediment from Gulf of Mexico and western Atlantic

Fifteen sediment samples were studied from five drill sites recovered by the ‘Glomar Challenger’ on Legs I and IV in the Gulf of Mexico and western Atlantic. This study concentrated on compounds derived from biogenic precursors, namely: (1) hydrocarbons, (2) fatty acids, (3) pigments and (4) amino acids.Carbon isotope (δC¹³) data (values < ? 26%, relative to PDB), long-chain n-alkyl hydrocarbons ( ?C₂₇7) with odd carbon numbered molecules dominating even carbon numbered species, and presence of perylene proved useful as possible indicators for terrigenous contributions to the organic matter in some samples. Apparently land-derived organic matter can be transported for distances over 1000 km into the ocean and their source still recognized.The study was primarily designed to investigate: (i) the sources of the organic matter present in the sediment, (ii) their stability with time of accumulation and (iii) the conditions necessary for in situ formation of new compounds.     

Organic matter diagenesis in shallow water carbonate sediments

Muddy carbonate deposits near the Dry Tortugas, Florida, are characterized by high organic carbon remineralization rates. However, approximately half of the total sedimentary organic matter potentially supporting remineralization is occluded in CaCO₃ minerals (intracrystalline). While a portion of nonintracrystalline organic matter appears to cycle rapidly, intracrystalline organic matter has an approximately constant concentration with depth, suggesting that as long as its protective mineral matrix is intact, it is not readily remineralized. Organic matter in excess of intracrystalline organic matter that is preserved may have a variety of mineral associations (e.g., intercrystalline, adsorbed or detrital). In surface sediment, aspartic acid contributed ∼22 mole % and ∼50 mole % to nonintracrystalline and intracrystalline pools, respectively. In deeper sediment (1.6-1.7m), the composition of hydrolyzable amino acids in both pools was similar (aspartic acid ∼40 mole %). Like amino acids, intracrystalline and nonintracrystalline fatty acids have different compositions in surface sediments, but are indistinguishable at depth. These data suggest that preserved organic matter in the nonintracrystalline pool is stabilized by its interactions with CaCO₃. Neutral lipids are present in very low abundances in the intracrystalline pool and are extensively degraded in both the intracrystalline and nonintracrystalline pools, suggesting that mineral interactions do not protect these compounds from degradation. The presence of chlorophyll-a, but absence of phytol, in the intracrystalline lipid pool demonstrates that chloropigments are present only in the nonintracrystalline pool. Sedimentary chloropigments decrease with depth at similar rates in Dry Tortugas sediments as found in alumino-silicate sediments from the Long Island Sound, suggesting that chloropigment degradation is largely unaffected by mineral interactions. Overall, however, inclusion and protection of organic matter by biominerals is a major pathway for organic matter preservation in this low-organic carbon, biomineral-rich regime.     

Molecular and stable carbon isotopic compositions of saturated fatty acids within one sedimentary profile in the Shenhu,northern South China Sea: Source implications

This study examined the distributions and stable carbon isotopic compositions of saturated fatty acids (SaFAs) in one 300 cm long sedimentary profile, which was named as Site4B in Shenhu, northern South China Sea. The concentrations of total SaFAs in sediments ranged from 1.80 to 10.16 μg/g (μg FA/g dry sediment) and showed an even-over-odd predominance in the carbon chain of C₁₂ to C₃₂, mostly with n-C₁₆ and n-C₁₈ being the two major components. The short-chain fatty acids (ScFAs; n-C₁₂ to n-C₁₈) mainly from marine microorganisms had average δ¹³C values of −26.7‰ to −28.2‰, whereas some terrigenous-sourced long-chain fatty acids (LcFAs; n-C₂₁ to n-C₃₂) had average δ¹³C values of −29.6‰ to −34.1‰. The other LcFAs (n-C₂₄ & n-C₂₆ ∼ n-C₂₈; average δ¹³C values are −26.1‰ to −28.0‰) as well as n-C₁₉ and n-C₂₀ SaFAs (average δ¹³C values are −29.1‰ and −29.3‰, respectively) showed a mixed signal of carbon isotope compositions.The relative bioproductivity calculation (marine vs. terrigenous) demonstrated that most of organic carbon accumulation throughout the sedimentary profile was contributed by marine organism. The high marine productivity in Shenhu, South China Sea may be related to the hydrocarbon seepage which evidenced by diapiric structures. Interestingly, there is a sever fluctuation of terrigenous inputs around the depth of 97 cm below the seafloor (bsf), probably resulting from the influence of the Dansgaard–Oeschger events and the Younger Dryas event as revealed by ¹⁴C age measurements.