近百年来大亚湾沉积物有机质的沉积记录及对人为活动的响应

通过对沉积物中粒度组成、总有机碳（TOC）、总氮（TN）、碳氮比（TOC/TN）和碳、氮稳定同位素丰度（δ13C、δ15N）等的分析,结合沉积年代学信息与端元混合模型结果,解析了百年尺度下大亚湾沉积物中不同来源有机质的演变过程及控制因素。结果表明,大亚湾沉积物特性在20世纪70年代末至80年代初发生了显著改变:在此之前,TOC、TN、δ13C和δ15N表现稳定,陆源与海源有机碳的比例维持在3∶7,而自此之后,TOC与TN含量显著升高,TOC/TN持续下降,在1980—2000年和2010年至今都出现了陆源有机碳比例升高,海源有机碳比例降低的现象。上述显著变化表明大亚湾海洋环境自20世纪70年代末至80年代初已经发生了重大变化。近20年来GDP与沉积柱中TN和δ15N呈现出的显著正相关,与TOC/TN呈现出的显著负相关,表明沿岸经济的迅猛增长,水产养殖业的快速发展,周边人口的急速增加等人为活动,是造成大亚湾生态环境变化的重要原因。未来的研究应更密切关注人为活动对海湾生态环境的影响,通过法律法规约束行为,加强海湾生态环境保护与修复治理工作。     

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。     

Sedimentary records of eutrophication in the Changjiang Estuary upwelling area over last 100 a

The upwelling area in the Changjiang Estuary was selected to collect the core, where the red tide occurred frequently and hypoxic existed. The total organic carbon （TOC）, total nitrogen （TN）, biogenic silica （BSi） and stable organic carbon isotopic ratios（δ13 Corg） were determined on the 210pb-dated sediment core. The concentrations of TOC, TN, BSi as well as their sedimentation fluxes have in- creased to some extent since the 1970s. TOC and TN fluxes increased about 45%, 36% respectively. The average δ13 Coorg value in the core was -23.67 ×10^-3 which remained nearly constant before the 20 century. The δ13 Corg values increased after the 1900s, two marked increases were observed from the 1950s and the 1970s. A simple δ13 Cors model was used to estimate the contribution of terrigenous and marine organic matter inputs for the sediment, which indicated the increase in accumulation since the 1970s has been almost exclusively marine. The increasing of marine organic matter accumulation （TOC, TN and BSi） was corresponding with the increasing of fertilizer consumption and the NO3-N budgets from the Changjiang River. The riverine runoff of fertilizers and nutrients stimulated the algae blooming. Enhanced primary production resulted in an enrichment of organic matter in the sediment. These data support the hypothesis that anthropogenic nutrient loading has been a significant factor on the eutrophication in the Changjiang Estuary.     

九龙江口潮滩表层沉积物有机质的分布、来源及沉积环境指示意义

本研究旨在揭示九龙江口潮滩有机质含量及其来源的时空分异规律,寻找有效识别潮滩沉积环境的有机碳指标,以便更好地将有机碳应用于河口沉积微相识别和古环境研究。在九龙江口潮滩不同地貌单元,于夏季和冬季采集41个表层沉积物,进行粒度、总有机碳(TOC)、总氮(TN)和稳定碳同位素(δ¹³C)测试。结果显示：从高潮滩至低潮滩,沉积物粒度逐渐变粗,TOC、TN和C/N变小,δ¹³C值偏正。高潮滩有机质来源以陆源和红树林贡献为主,中潮滩以海源和互花米草贡献为主,低潮滩以海源贡献为主。九龙江口潮滩有机质的分布和来源受控于河口陆海相互作用的季节变化、潮滩沉积动力分异和潮滩植被分布。高潮滩与中–低潮滩之间,TOC存在显著性差异,TN、δ¹³C存在极显著性差异,因此参数组合TOC、TN和δ¹³C可作为高潮滩与中–低潮滩的有效判别指标。     

近200年桑沟湾养殖海域柱状沉积剖面的污染有机质记录与评价

通过对取自桑沟湾南部和北部养殖海域2个站位的柱状沉积物样品进行TOC和TN测定,分析了桑沟湾沉积物中TOC和TN的分布情况,结合沉积物年代序列的测定,估算了工业革命之前、之中及规模化养殖之后桑沟湾海域沉积物中水生有机碳和总氮的含量,并对近200年来桑沟湾养殖海域有机质沉积情况进行了评价。结果显示:19世纪70年代以前,TOC含量较稳定,TN含量随深度增加而缓慢降低;19世纪70年代至20世纪70年代,TOC,TN含量波动均较大;20世纪70年代以后,TOC含量逐渐减小并趋于稳定,TN含量随养殖规模的扩大显著增加,且扇贝养殖区表层沉积物中TOC,TN的含量均低于海带养殖区。近200年桑沟湾沉积物中有机质来源变化趋势为混源-陆源-混源,近40年来的规模化养殖明显增加了水生有机碳及水生总氮在TOC和TN中所占比例。对桑沟湾沉积物中有机质污染评价结果显示,大规模的养殖活动增加了底质中沉积物TOC和TN的含量,海带筏式养殖对沉积物中的TN造成了一定的累积性自身污染。     

Radiocarbon and stable carbon isotope compositions of organic compound classes in sediments from the NE Pacific and Southern Oceans

Radiocarbon (Δ¹⁴C) abundance and stable carbon isotope (δ¹³C) compositions were measured for total lipid, total hydrolyzable amino acids (THAA), total carbohydrates (TCHO), and acid-insoluble organic fractions separated from phytoplankton, zooplankton, and sediment cores collected from two abyssal sites, one in the northeast (NE) Pacific Ocean and one in the Southern Ocean. These results are compared with those obtained for a separate core from the NE Pacific and reported by Wang et al. [Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta 62 (1998) 1365.]. An uncharacterized acid-insoluble fraction dominated (43–57%) the sediment TOC pool at both sites. Sediment collected from the NE Pacific exhibited higher TOC, TN. and higher Δ¹⁴C values and contained both labile (THAA and TCHO) and refractory (lipid and acid-insoluble) fractions. In contrast, sediment from the Southern Ocean had much lower TOC and Δ¹⁴C values, which indicated that organic matter was extremely refractory. Sedimentation rates calculated from ¹⁴C ages of TOC for both sites indicate that the differences in the organic composition and Δ¹⁴C signatures of organic matter in the sediments likely resulted from the differences in production and deposition of organic matter to the sediment, and the diagenetic stages of sedimentary organic matter in the two oceans.Unlike Δ¹⁴C, stable carbon isotopic (δ¹³C) compositions of TOC in the sediments of the two oceans had similar values, which reflect not only the organic matter input from marine-derived sources but also the nature of degraded, predominately uncharacterized organic fraction in these sediments. The differences in δ¹³C values among the compound classes in sediments at both sites can be attributed to the carbon isotopic signatures in original sources during photosynthesis and associated environmental factors. Preferential degradation of organic matter and heterotrophic effects may also play important roles for the observed δ¹³C variations and these effects need to be further investigated.     

东海典型港湾表层沉积物中主要生源要素分布及污染状况分析

分别于2016年11月、2018年4月、2016年7月、2014年11月采集了福建东山湾、福宁湾、浙江象山港以及江苏大丰港52个表层沉积物样品,分析了表层沉积物中总有机碳(TOC)、总氮(TN)、总磷(TP)、生物硅(BSi)、有机质(OM)及含水率(MC)的含量。TOC、TN、TP、BSi、OM及MC含量分别为:0.35%～1.52%,0.08%～0.32%,0.020%～0.074%,0.28%～1.89%,1.86%～9.53%,19.55%～52.55%。福宁湾TN和BSi含量较高,东山湾TP含量较高,而象山港TOC含量较高。从元素之间的摩尔比来看,本研究中各港湾沉积物中的TOC均主要来自浮游植物等水生生物,而TOC的分解和再生速率应远高于BSi的溶解速率。根据主要生源要素污染评价标准,东山湾海域污染较严重,TN、TP、TOC均达到Ⅱ级污染标准。福宁湾及象山港TN、TOC均为Ⅱ级污染。而大丰湾海域总体污染较轻,只有TN超过Ⅱ级标准。     

Sediment organic matter composition and dynamics in San Francisco Bay, California, USA: Seasonal variation and interactions between water column chlorophyll and the benthos

Sediment and water column data from four sites in North, Central and South San Francisco Bays were collected monthly from November 1999 through November 2001 to investigate the seasonal variation of benthic organic matter and chlorophyll in channel sediments, the composition and quality of sediment organic matter (SOM), and the relationship between seasonal patterns in benthic organic matter and patterns in water column chlorophyll. Water column chlorophyll peaked in the spring of 2000 and 2001, characteristic of other studies of San Francisco Bay phytoplankton dynamics, however an unusual chlorophyll peak occurred in fall 2000. Cross-correlation analysis revealed that water column chlorophyll at these four channel sites lead sediment parameters by an average of 2 to 3 months. Sediment organic matter levels in the San Francisco Bay channel showed seasonal cycles that followed patterns of water column production: peaks in water column chlorophyll were followed by later peaks in sediment chlorophyll and organic matter. Cyclical, seasonal variations also occurred in sediment organic matter parameters with sediment total organic carbon (TOC) and total nitrogen (TN) being highest in spring and lowest in winter, and sediment amino acids being highest in spring and summer and lowest in winter. Sediment chlorophyll, total organic carbon, and nitrogen were generally positively correlated with each other. Sediment organic matter levels were lowest in North Bay, intermediate in Central Bay, and highest in South Bay. C:N ratio and the ratio of enzyme hydrolyzable amino acids to TOC (EHAA:TOC) data suggest that SOM quality is more labile in Central and northern South Bay, and more refractory in North Bay and southern South Bay.     

珠江口外近海沉积有机质化学及稳定同位素组成的早期成岩改变

理解早期成岩过程中有机质的化学和同位素分馏对于研究海洋和湖泊环境中的生物地球化学过程是很重要的。将珠江口外近海生物成因有机质分为可水解氨基酸、碳水化合物、脂类和酸不溶四个部分,分析了有机质的化学和同位素组成(δ13C,δ15N),借以讨论沉积有机质在埋藏的早期成岩过程中所发生的化学和同位素改变,结果表明,从浮游生物→悬浮颗粒物→表层沉积物→沉积柱内部,易降解组分可水解氨基酸、碳水化合物、脂类占样品总有机碳的份额依次降低。沉积物及四个有机部分的稳定碳同位素组成在纵向上随深度保持相对恒定,而在不同有机部分之间差异明显。不同类型有机物的分解速率差异在改变有机质化学成分的同时,导致其δ13C发生小幅度负向漂移;细菌有机质的形成和分解对有机质化学成分和同位素组成演化也有重要贡献,并且在一定程度上抵消了上述δ13C的负向漂移,其结果导致沉积有机质的δ13C略低于浮游生物;另一方面,由于异养菌生长过程中的氮同位素分馏系数与可利用氮源的特征和培养基的性质等多种因素有关,导致沉积物的δ15N变化范围增大。在这里δ13C可以可靠地指示该海域沉积有机质的来源,而δ15N变化范围较大且规律不明显,难以用作沉积有机质来源的指示。     

Origins and maturity of organic matter in mid-Cretaceous black shales from ODP Site 1138 on the Kerguelen Plateau

We have conducted elemental, isotopic, and Rock-Eval analyses of Cenomanian–Santonian sediment samples from ODP Site 1138 in the southern Indian Ocean to assess the origin and thermal maturity of organic matter in mid-Cretaceous black shales found at this high-latitude location. Total organic carbon (TOC) concentrations range between 1 and 20 wt% in black to medium-gray sediments deposited around the Cenomanian–Turonian boundary. Results of Rock-Eval pyrolysis indicate that the organic matter is algal Type II material that has experienced modest alteration. Important contributions of nitrogen-fixing bacteria to the amplified production of organic matter implied by the high TOC concentrations is recorded in δ¹⁵N values between −5 and 1‰, and the existence of a near-surface intensified oxygen minimum zone that favored organic carbon preservation is implied by TOC/TN ratios between 20 and 40. In contrast to the marine nature of the organic matter in the Cenomanian–Turonian boundary section, deeper sediments at Site 1138 contain evidence of contributions land-derived organic matter that implies the former presence of forests on the Kerguelen Plateau until the earliest Cenomanian.     

鸭绿江河口西岸潮滩沉积物有机质对流域变化的响应

河流颗粒有机质提供了陆地碳循环的重要信息以及人类活动的记录,通过河口地区沉积物有机质组成,可反映流域变化及海陆间相互作用。2010-2011年分两次于鸭绿江河口西岸潮滩采集柱样4根及表层样23个。对样品进行有机质碳氮总量(TOC、TN)、碳氮同位素(δ13C、δ15 N)及沉积物粒度测试。分析结果表明,由河口向西,有机质受改造程度加深且来源逐渐复杂化,致TOC/TN与δ13C的相关性逐渐降低,δ15 N与沉积物粒度的相关性也随之降低。文中以δ13C为主线探讨沉积物有机质的来源及运移,TOC/TN作为辅助,δ15 N则用于指示生化条件的改变。柱样的δ13 C分布与河流入海输沙密切相关,水库对入海泥沙的拦截,致河口潮滩沉积速率减缓,从而增加了沉积物中海源有机质的含量,δ13C随之增加。潮滩西侧柱样的δ15 N增加指示了生活工业污水的大量排放。此外,表层样δ13C分布的方向性,指示了西水道门口处的快速堆积及潮下带物质的向岸运移,并在西岸潮滩向岸一侧富集。     

珠江口沉积物有机质特征、来源及其对碳存储的意义

河口沉积物作为承接陆海过程的重要载体, 是有机质赋存的主要形式之一。本文研究了珠江口沉积物总有机碳、总氮含量和沉积物可溶性有机物三维荧光特征, 以及其在口内区、混合区和口外区空间差异和影响因素, 并结合碳稳定同位素(δ¹³C)估算了珠江口各区域沉积物中不同来源有机质的贡献。结果显示: (1)沉积物总有机碳和总氮含量空间变化相似, 口内区和混合区域沉积有机质含量显著高于口外区; 主成分分析发现, 口内区沉积有机质含量主要受径流输入的影响, 口外区主要受Fe³⁺的影响; (2)MixSIAR稳定同位素混合模型结果显示, 口内区和混合区沉积有机质以陆源为主, 口外区则以海源为主; (3)珠江口沉积物新生有机质较多, 可快速被利用, 总体上不利于有机碳存储; 而陆源输入导致口内区和混合区沉积有机质腐殖化程度较高, 有机碳可存储性相对较高, 口外受海源有机质和铁氧化物—有机质复合体的影响, 有机碳可存储性相对较低。本研究可为深入认知河口区沉积有机质的生物地球化学过程及有机碳存储提供参考。     

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...     

海南小海表层沉积环境及重金属污染综合评价

利用2008年在海南小海采集的30个表层沉积物样品,对其进行了TP、TN、TOC、石油类和Hg、Cd、Cu、Pb、Zn、Cr、As重金属元素含量的测定,并采用综合污染指数法和潜在生态危害指数法对该区重金属的污染程度进行了评价,结果显示:(1)研究区表层沉积物中TP含量呈中部高沿岸带低的特征,这可能是由于沿岸带初级生产力高于小海中部,所消耗的磷营养盐较多的缘故;TOC和TN的含量则表现为与TP含量分布相反的特征,即沿岸带高而中部低,这可能是由于沿岸带人为活动对小海沿岸碳、氮元素含量的影响较大的缘故。Hg、Cd、Cu、Pb、Zn、Cr和As 7种重金属元素均表现出在小海中部附近海域和北坡镇沿岸带出现高值,而在小海北边入口处和梅开-英豪沿岸带出现低值的分布特征,这可能与在北坡镇附近的工业区排水时向该海域输入了含有这些重金属元素的污染物所致,而其它区域则受工业排污影响较小,也可能与入海口的潮汐水动力的稀释作用有关。(2)研究区综合污染指数(ISQJ)、潜在生态危害污染指数(ERI)的最大值分别为2.283和240.0,平均值也较高,分别达1.494和151.0,各重金属元素的潜在生态危害系数(Eri)大小顺序为:Hg>Cd>Pb>As>Cu>Cr>Zn,反映出研究区将达到中等污染程度的现状,而某些海域的污染程度已达到重污染水平,研究区受Hg和Cd元素污染较为严重。由此可见,小海的沉积环境已受到较为严重的破坏,未来该海域应该重视重金属Hg和Cd元素的污染治理,以避免小海沉积环境的进一步恶化。     

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。     

筼筜湖绿潮期间颗粒有机物及沉积有机物的来源研究

以原子碳氮比C_at/N_at、TOC/Chl a、δ13C和δ15N等为指标,分析了筼筜湖绿潮爆发期间悬浮颗粒有机物(POM)和沉积有机物(SOM)的来源。结果显示,筼筜湖的POM主要以外源输入为主。在靠近海水入口的引水渠,POM主要来自厦门西海域的陆源有机碎屑;位于筼筜湖上游的干渠,生活污水及餐饮业废水的有机质是其POM的主要贡献者;内、外湖POM的C_at/N_at(6.94~7.08)与浮游植物接近,但它们并不以浮游植物为主,而主要来自引水渠和干渠有机质的输入。以内湖为例,它们对内湖POM的联合贡献高达54%~97%。筼筜湖SOM的潜在来源多样,但不同湖区差异显著:在大型海藻覆盖区,主要以大型海藻和POM为主,而在无海藻覆盖的区域,则主要来自POM的自然沉降或与底栖微藻的联合贡献。结果表明,在来源复杂的潟湖系统,有机物的化学组成并不能很好的指示有机物的来源和成因,它在有机质的示踪方面并不如稳定同位素来得有效可靠。不过,基于多种指标的分析结果可能更准确。     

长江口不同沉积环境沉积物中碳的分布和来源

利用2004年5月在长江口门区获得的R3、N3、S3和S1四个沉积物柱状样品,对其各种形态碳的含量和垂直分布、TOC/N值以及同位素δ13Corg值进行了分析,并结合该区域的水文悬沙特征,探讨了影响沉积物中碳埋藏的因素及其物质来源,结果表明:长江的径流量和沉积速率是影响长江口碳埋藏的两大重要因素,对各种形态碳在沉积柱中...     

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。     

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.     

Characterizing the depositional settings for sedimentary organic matter distributions in the Lower Yangtze River-East China Sea Shelf System

Grain-size distributions, total organic carbon (TOC) and total nitrogen (TN) concentrations, and TOC/TN ratios (C/N) were analysed for surface sediments from the Lower Yangtze River-East China Sea (ECS) shelf system. Hierarchical cluster analysis of grain-size parameters (mode, mean, sorting, skewness and kurtosis) has been employed to characterize grain-size compositions. The results suggest there are five grain-size compositional types (type-I–V) that fingerprint distinct depositional conditions. In areas with high sedimentation rates, hydrological sorting preferentially enriches the fraction coarser than 6.4ø (12 μm) in shallow seafloor sediments (water depth<30 m) by transporting the finer fraction to the deeper seafloor (water depth>30 m), and thus forms grain-size compositional type-I (shallow) and type-II (deep). In the open shelf, where modern sediment supply is very limited, grain-size types-III–V are identified according to different winnowing intensity. Overall TOC contents significantly correlate with mud proportions, suggesting muddy sediments are the primary control on OM accumulation. However, de-association of terrestrial OM from fine sediments in the Estuary and the occurrence of presumably relict OM in the open shelf exert additional controls on OM dispersal and carbon cycling in the ECS. By considering geography, oceanography, sediment source, and the relation between sedimentation conditions and sedimentary OM distributions, we define six depositional settings: the lower river, the estuary, the coast, the offshore upwelling area, the erosional area, and the open shelf. These settings describe the sediment dispersal and associated organic matter cycling in the Lower Yangtze River-ECS shelf system.