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.     

Seasonal changes of water properties and current in the northernmost gulf of aqaba,red sea

Seasonal changes of tide signal(s), temperature, salinity and current were studied during the years 2004-2005 in the northernmost Gulf of Aqaba, which is under developmental activities, to obtain scientific bases for best management and sustainability. Spectrum analysis revealed permanent signals of tide measurements during all seasons, which represented semidiurnal and diurnal barotropic tides. The other signal periods of 8.13, 6.10-6.32, 4.16 and 1.02-1.05 h were not detected in all seasons, which were related to shallow water compound and overtides of principle solar and lunar constituent and to seiches generated in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aqaba. Spatial and temporal distribution of temperature, salinity and density showed significant differences between months in the coastal and offshore region and no significant differences among the coastal sites, between the surface and bottom waters and between coastal and offshore waters. Therefore, the temporal and spatial variation of water properties in the northernmost Gulf of Aqaba behave similarly compared to other parts. The coastal current below 12 m depth was weak (3-6 cms^-1) and fluctuated from east-northeastward to west-southwestward (parallel to the shoreline), which may be related to the effect of bottom topography and/or current density due to differential cooling between eastern and western parts in the study area, and windinduced upwelling and downwelling in the eastern and western side, respectively. The prevailing northerly winds and stratification conditions during summer were the main causes of the southward current at 6 and 12 m depths with average speed of 28 and 12 cms^-1, respectively.     

Zooneuston and zooplankton abundance and diversity in relation to spatial and nycthemeral variations in the Gulf of Aqaba and northern Red Sea

Zooplankton and zooneuston observations were made at seven stations(four from the Gulf of Aqaba and three from the northern Red Sea), during September and October 2016. The main objective of this study was to assess the variability of nycthemeral fauna in relation to the sampling methods using two different types of nets namely,WP2 net and Neuston net along the two study sites, i.e., the Gulf of Aqaba and the northern Red Sea. Zooplankton was sampled vertically using a standard WP2 net from a depth of 200 m to the surface, whereas zooneuston was made using a standard Neuston net from a depth of 0–10 cm of the water surface. Total zooplankton density was maximum during night time((617.83 ± 201.84) ind./m~3) at the Gulf of Aqaba and total zooneuston was maximum during night at the northern Red Sea((60.94±29.48) ind./m~3), respectively. The most abundant taxa were Copepoda, Gastropoda, Bivalva, Chaetognatha, Tunicata and Ostracoda. The abundance was almost 50% higher at night time at both the Gulf of Aqaba and the northern Red Sea. Overall, 30 taxa covering 10 phyla and 27 taxa covering 8 phyla were recorded in the Gulf of Aqaba and the northern Red Sea.     

胶州湾水体和表层沉积物营养环境现状及影响因素

为了解胶州湾水体和表层沉积物营养环境状况及其主要影响因素,于2019年8月在胶州湾30个站位点采集了海水和表层沉积物样品,并于2021年5月在胶州湾沿岸采集了18个站位点的水样,对水体溶解无机态营养盐浓度和组成以及表层沉积物中总有机碳、总氮、总磷及生物硅含量和碳、氮稳定同位素(δ¹³C、δ¹⁵N)进行了分析。结果表明,胶州湾内水体和沿岸水体中溶解无机氮、溶解无机磷和溶解硅酸盐浓度空间分布相近,高值均位于湾东北部,主要受到河流输入和沿岸污水排放的影响,低值主要出现在湾中部和湾口处。结合近30年来的历史数据分析发现,胶州湾夏季营养盐浓度在1990-2008年期间呈持续上升的趋势,政府实施的污染物总量控制措施以及河流径流量下降使得2006年以来营养盐浓度呈现下降的趋势,该变化在空间上主要体现为大沽河氮、磷输入量的减少及其对应的湾西部营养盐高值的消失。胶州湾氮、磷营养盐输入的不平衡使得“磷限制”在2000年后逐渐加剧。胶州湾表层沉积物中总有机碳、总氮、总磷含量高值均集中于东北部和东部沿岸,结合生物硅和水体营养盐含量分析显示,这主要是河流与排污输入及其...     

9810号台风过程厦门近岸海域POC的变化特征

本文研究了９８１０号台风影响下九龙江口及厦门西港表层海水颗粒有机碳（ＰＯＣ）的变化特征及其与某些环境因子的关系,除厦门西港低潮水外,台风期间ＰＯＣ含量的迅速增大,此“冲击期”共维持３ｄ后ＰＯＣ值迅速回落,进入“恢复期”。台风期间,九龙江口高低潮,厦门西港高潮表层水ＰＯＣ含量分别为０．７３９、１．３１９和０．８４８ｍｇ／ｄｍ＾３,是非台风状况下的１．１、１．９和１．４倍,陆源有机物的输入和底质再悬浮作用是控制表层水ＰＯＣ含量的主要因素,而厦门西港低潮水ＰＯＣ含量受台风作用影响较小,碎屑ＰＯＣ为厦门近岸海域表层海水ＰＯＣ的主要组成部分。ＰＯＣ与溶解态Ｎ、Ｐ营养盐有一定正相关性,暗示其可能来自颗粒物有机Ｎ、Ｐ的生物降解。     

Phosphorus in Bottom Sediments of Pomeranian Bay (Southern Baltic—Poland)

The paper presents the results of determination of inorganic and organic forms of phosphorus in bottom sediments of Pomeranian Bay. The sediments were collected in March and July of 1996. The following characteristics of the sediments were determined: organic matter content, forms of inorganic phosphorus: loosely adsorbed phosphorus and phosphorus bound to aluminium, calcium and iron, as well as total inorganic phosphorus. Pomeranian Bay is a shallow basin, with depth averaging between 12 and 15 m and sandy sediments prevailing. Smaller silt fractions occur only in the vicinity of the wina River estuary and in deeper northern regions of the Bay. Calcium-bound phosphorus is the dominant form of inorganic phosphorus in the Pomeranian Bay. Iron-bound phosphorus is the second most prevailing form, and aluminium-bound phosphorus the third. Loosely bound phosphorus was present in the lowest amounts. Total inorganic phosphorus in the Bay consisted of the four forms listed above, except in estuarine regions where an additional form of phosphorus occurred, most probably occluded phosphorus. High organic phosphorus concentrations were found at the wina River estuary and in the northern part of the Bay (Saßnitz Deep) corresponding to the higher organic matter content of these sediments. Sediments of Pomeranian Bay contained less phosphorus than those from the Gulf of Gda sk or Puck Bay and other parts of the Baltic Sea, suggesting that the amount of phosphorus in the sediments was determined by a number of inter-related factors, such as sediment type, amount of organic matter, the chemical composition of the sediment and oxygen content of near-bottom water.     

Turbid bottom water layer and bottom sediment in the Seto Inland Sea

Measurement of the vertical distribution of total suspended matter (TSM) was carried out during summer throughout the Seto Inland Sea. TSM concentration near the bottom is influenced significantly by water movement and turbid bottom water is observed in all areas where median grain size (Md) of the bottom sediment is more than 47gf. The high concentration of TSM near the bottom may be due to resuspension of the surface layer of bottom sediments. Comparison of the organic content of the resuspended matter with that of the bottom sediment shows that the resuspended matter contains more organic matter with a lower C : N ratio than the bottom sediment. The C : N ratio of the resuspended matter is similar to that of TSM in the surface layer of the water column. It is thought that TSM in surface waters sinks and settles on the surface of the bottom sediment. This deposited material is then easily resuspended in the water column by tidal currents before becoming permanently incorporated into the bottom sediment.     

Detecting environmental change in estuaries: Nutrient and heavy metal distributions in sediment cores in estuaries from the Gulf of Finland,Baltic Sea

Historical sediment nutrient concentrations and heavy metal distributions were studied in four estuaries in the Gulf of Finland, Baltic Sea to examine the response of these estuaries to temporal changes in human activities. Cores were collected using a 1-m Mackereth corer and dated using ²¹⁰Pb and ¹³⁷Cs. The cores were analyzed for total carbon (TC), total nitrogen (TN), total phosphorus (TP), organic phosphorus (OP), inorganic phosphorus (IP), biogenic silica (BSi), loss-on-ignition (LOI), Cu, Zn, Al, Fe, Mn, K, Ca, Mg and Na. Principal component analysis (PCA) was used to summarize the trends in the chemical variables and to compare the trends at the different sites. Applying the 1986 ¹³⁷Cs date as a reference point, ²¹⁰Pb chronologies were constructed for the sites using either the CRS model or a composite model (using both CIC and CRS). Significant increases were observed in sedimentation rates, TP and TN concentrations in all of the cores. Copper showed clear increases from 1850 towards present at all sites. Furthermore, redundancy analysis (RDA) was used to correlate environmental variables (catchment land use, catchment size, estuary surface area, depth and lake percentage) to sediment geochemistry. Based on redundancy analysis (RDA), the percentage of agriculture in the catchment was the most important factor affecting the sediment accumulation rate. Urban land-use types and industry correlate well with sediment Cu and Ca concentrations. Forest areas were related to high sediment BSi concentrations. Catchment land use was the most significant factor affecting sediment geochemical composition and sediment accumulation rates in these coastal embayments. Our results demonstrate that the coastal estuaries of the Gulf of Finland respond to the increased nutrient loading with the increased sedimentation and nutrient accumulation rates.     

江苏近海表层沉积物中几个化学要素的分布及其控制因素

海洋沉积物中的化学成分(尤其是浅海区),能反映陆地及河流的化学矿物面貌,也能表征出海区本身的物理、化学和生物特征。因此,它对研究海岸变迁、沉积成岩作用以及海区的物质来源有着实际意义。近海区,特别是河口地段,是研究元素迁移变化的理想场所。阐明沉积物中化学成分的分布状况及其控制因素,对研究古今海洋状况是非常重要的。     

Biogeochemical processes and nutrient cycling within an artificial reef off Southern Portugal

This study (2002/2004) examines the effect of artificial reef (AR) structures off the southern coast of Portugal on biogeochemical process and nutrient cycling. Organic and inorganic carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus and chlorophyll a were determined monthly in sediment cores and settled particles for a two-year period. Ammonium, nitrates, phosphates, silicates, total organic nitrogen and phosphorus, chlorophyll a and phaeopigments were also determined monthly in water samples within AR and control sites. Results of the two-year study showed that: (i) there was a significant exponential fit between organic carbon and chlorophyll a (r2=0.91; p<0.01) in reef sediment suggesting an increase of benthic productivity; (ii) organic carbon and nitrogen content in settled particles within AR environment was about four times higher two years after reef deployment; (iii) nutrients and chlorophyll a in the water column were higher at AR than control site. Two years after AR deployment, dissolved organic and inorganic compounds in near bottom water were 30-60% higher, emphasizing benthic remineralization processes at AR's organically rich sediment. Marked chemical changes in the ecosystem were observed during the two-year study period, reinforcing the importance of these structures for sandy coastal areas rehabilitation through trophic chain pull-out.     

春、夏季惠州市海水环境质量及其有机污染评价

为加强惠州市海洋生态环境保护工作,并为其提供科学依据,文章利用2016年春季和夏季惠州市海洋环境综合调查数据,选取溶解氧、化学需氧量、无机氮和活性磷酸盐4个环境因子,分析其近岸海域和海洋基本功能区的海水环境质量,并评价海水有机污染状况。研究结果表明:春季近岸海域海水环境质量优于夏季,无机氮和活性磷酸盐为主要超标因子;港口航运区海水环境质量良好,其他功能区均有环境因子超标现象;近岸海域受到有机污染,旅游休闲娱乐区在2个季节均受到有机污染;海水环境尚未对海洋生物产生影响。     

Sulfate reduction in deep coastal marine sediments

Sulfate reduction rates in sediments of four deep stations in the Saguenay Fjord and the Laurentian Trough, Gulf of St. Lawrence, are among the lowest reported for the coastal environment. Maximum rates were 0.4–7.0 nmol cm⁻³ day⁻¹. The low rates are due to relatively low sedimentation rates and continuously low temperatures. Regional differences in both integrated and maximum sulfate reduction rates in the sediment correlate with sediment trap measurements of sedimentation rate and organic carbon flux.Sulfate reduction accounts for the degradation of 5–26% of the estimated downward flux of organic matter to these sediments. Unlike the absolute rate of sulfate reduction, the relative proportion of the carbon flux that is degraded via sulfate reduction is not directly correlated with the sedimentation rate but is a function of organic matter composition, intensity of bioturbation, and the abundance of sub-oxic electron acceptors. Thus, the lowest proportion of carbon degradation via sulfate reduction occurred at a Gulf site, where a combination of low sedimentation and bioturbation rates allowed a long residence time for organic matter near the sediment surface and, in consequence, a low flux of labile carbon into the sulfate reduction zone. The highest proportion was observed at a station with a similar organic carbon flux but with higher rates of sedimentation and bioturbation. At a third site, with the highest rates of sulfate reduction as well as the highest rates of sedimentation and bioturbation, the contribution of sulfate reduction to organic matter degradation was only intermediate. This is attributable to the exhaustion of the supply of porewater sulfate. In deep coastal environments the proportion of organic matter degraded via sulfate reduction can be highly variable both spatially and temporally.     

Origin and fate of particulate organic matter in the southern Beaufort Sea – Amundsen Gulf region,Canadian Arctic

To establish the relative importance of terrigenous and marine organic matter in the southern Beaufort Sea, we measured the concentrations and the stable isotopic compositions of organic carbon and total nitrogen in sediments and in settling particles intercepted by sediment traps. The organic carbon content of surface sediment in the Chukchi and southern Beaufort Seas ranged from 0.6 to 1.6% dry wt., without a clear geographical pattern. The C_ORG:N_TOT ratio ranged from 7.0 to 10.4 and did not vary significantly downcore at any one station. Values of δ¹³C_ORG and δ¹⁵N_TOT in the sediment samples were strongly correlated, with the highest values, indicative of a more marine contribution, in the Amundsen Gulf. In contrast, the organic matter content, elemental (C_ORG:N_TOT ratio) and isotopic (δ¹³C_ORG and δ¹⁵N_TOT) composition of the settling particles was different from and much more variable than in the bottom sediments. The isotopic signature of organic matter in the Beaufort Sea is well constrained by three distinct end-members: a labile marine component produced in situ by planktonic organisms, a refractory marine component, the end product of respiration and diagenesis, and a refractory terrigenous component. A three-component mixing model explains the scatter observed in the stable isotope signatures of the sediment trap samples and accommodates an apparent two-component mixing model of the organic matter in sediments. The suspended matter in the water column contains organic matter varying from essentially labile and marine to mostly refractory and terrigenous. As it settles through the water column, the labile marine organic matter is degraded, and its original stable isotope signature changes towards the signature of the marine refractory component. This process continues in the bottom sediment with the result that the sedimentary organic matter becomes dominated by the refractory terrigenous and marine components.     

Tracking multiple pathways of waste from a northern bluefin tuna farm in a marine-coastal area

Aquaculture of bluefin tuna in Mediterranean coastal waters has generated growing concern about the negative environmental effects. In the present isotopic study we examined the dispersal and fate of organic matter derived from a Mediterranean tuna farm in the surrounding environment. An overall enrichment in the heavy nitrogen isotope was found in the feed and in farmed tunas, indicating the input of isotopically traceable organic matter in the system. Waste was clearly traceable in the water column up to 1000 m from the cages, while only slight accumulation occurred in the sediment just below the cages. Waste was isotopically shown also to contribute to the diet of demersal and benthopelagic wild fish collected around the cages. As a result, waste undertook multiple pathways. In the water column its was diluted and dispersed due to hydrodynamism, which prevented great accumulation of aquaculture-derived organic matter in sediments. In addition, biological constraints such as benthopelagic and demersal fish further prevented organic matter accumulation through the benthic trophic route.     

夏季南黄海颗粒氮同位素分布特征及影响因素研究

黄海是人类活动影响显著的半封闭陆架边缘海,在夏季存在特征鲜明的冷水团结构。为研究南黄海颗粒态氮的循环转化过程,本文通过分析2016年夏季南黄海水体颗粒物和表层沉积物的碳、氮含量及同位素,探讨南黄海近岸海域和冷水团海域颗粒物和表层沉积物氮含量、同位素的分布差异和影响因素。近岸海域颗粒氮(Particulate Nitrogen,PN)呈现出含量较高、氮同位素值(δ15N_PN)垂向差异较小、沉积物总氮(Total Nitrogen,TN)含量较低且氮同位素值(δ15N_TN)偏负的分布特征;冷水团海域PN呈现出含量低、δ15N_PN垂向差异显著、沉积物TN含量高且δ15N_TN偏正的分布特征。通过海底边界剪切应力模拟、环境因子分析并结合颗粒物与沉积物δ15N示踪分析,发现南黄海海域颗粒态氮及同位素分布主要受到水体/底边界动力过程影响,陆源输入和矿化过程亦共同参与调控。     

乳山湾外低氧海域沉积物中有机碳、氮、磷及其形态特征分析

根据2009年8月在乳山湾及其毗邻海域的综合调查,分析了该海域表层沉积物中有机碳、氮、磷含量及其组成形态的变化,初步探讨了影响底质理化参数变化的原因及对乳山湾外近岸底层低氧形成的影响.结果表明,乳山湾外近海为粉砂质岸滩,以细颗粒为主;底质中有机碳含量介于0.49％ ～0.93％,平均值为0.69％;总氮含量介于382～1020 mg/kg,平均值为671 mg/kg;可溶性总氮含量介于23.0 ～ 60.0 mg/kg,平均值为44.0mg/kg,其中可溶性有机氮和氨氮分别占可溶性总氮的58.8％和38.8％;总磷含量介于138～769 mg/kg,平均值为356 mg/kg,有机磷是占有绝对优势的磷形态(62.5％).研究区域沉积物中总氮和湾内相当,有机碳、总磷含量普遍低于乳山湾内,但均明显高于南黄海区域,且呈还原性状态.调查区域内沉积物中相对较高的有机碳、氮、磷可能是在潮流作用下乳山湾与外海的物质交换所致,其耗氧过程是导致底层溶解氧亏损的重要原因,值得进一步关注.     

Temporal Variations of Nutrients, ­Chlorophyll a and Particulate Matter in Three Coastal Lagoons of Amvrakikos Gulf (Ionian Sea, Greece)

Abstract. The temporal variations of nutrients, chlorophyll a (chl a ), suspended particulate matter (SPM) and particulate organic carbon (POC) were measured over 12 months in three shallow coastal brackish water lagoons of the Amvrakikos Gulf, Ionian Sea. Two of the lagoons, Tsoukalio and Rodia, are interconnected but separated from Logarou by a narrow strip of land. Logarou has a better water exchange with the sea as indicated by the higher salinity and dissolved oxygen concentrations and the smaller variation of the above-mentioned parameters. Nitrate concentrations were largely the same in the three lagoons and higher than in the Amvrakikos Gulf. Phosphate concentrations in Logarou exceeded by far those of Tsoukalio/Rodia; the increased phosphate levels recorded in January caused an extended phytoplankton bloom with chl a concentrations higher than in the other two lagoons. Chl a in Tsoukalio was positively correlated with nitrate whereas in the most shallow lagoon, Logarou, it showed a positive correlation with light winds (force 4 and lower), probably caused by resuspension from the sediment. Increased phytoplankton biomass in Logarou coupled with the better water exchange may be related to the higher fish production in this lagoon.     

Enzyme activities in the Delaware Estuary affected by elevated suspended sediment load

Extracellular enzyme activities were compared among surface water, bottom water, and sediments of the Delaware Estuary using six fluorescently labeled, structurally distinct polysaccharides to determine the effects of suspended sediment transport on water column hydrolytic activities. Potential hydrolysis rates in surface waters were also measured for the nearby shelf. Samples were taken in December 2006, 6 months after a major flood event in the Delaware Basin that was followed by high freshwater run-off throughout the fall of 2006. All substrates were hydrolyzed in sediments and in the water column, including two (pullulan and fucoidan) that previously were not hydrolyzed in surface waters of the Delaware estuary. At the time of sampling, total particulate matter (TPM) in surface waters at the lower bay, bay mouth, and shelf ranged between 31 mg l⁻¹ and 48 mg l⁻¹ and were 2 to 20 times higher than previously reported. The presence of easily resuspended sediments at the lower bay and bay mouth indicated enhanced suspended sediment transport in the estuary prior to our sampling. Bottom water hydrolysis rates at the two sites affected by sediment resuspension were generally higher than those in surface waters from the same site. Most notably, fucoidan and pullulan hydrolysis rates in bay mouth bottom waters were 22.6 and 6.2 nM monomer h⁻¹, respectively, and thus three and five times higher than surface water rates. Our data suggest that enhanced mixing processes between the sediment and the overlying water broadened the spectrum of water column hydrolases activity, improving the efficiency of enzymatic degradation of high molecular weight organic matter in the water with consequences for organic matter cycling in the Delaware estuary.     

海南洋浦湾近百年来人与自然相互作用下的环境沉积记录

2005年8月在海南洋浦湾内湾取得1根柱状样,在铅-210定年的基础上分析沉积物粒度、总有机碳含量及其同位素值(δ13C)、总氮含量及其同位素值(δ15N)、生物硅含量、重金属(镍、镉、铬、铜、锌、铅)含量及有机氯农药(六六六、滴滴涕)含量等参数发现,111cm至表层,沉积物中有机碳、总氮、生物硅含量升高,特别是从45cm至表层,它们的含量明显增加,说明该湾内有富营养化趋势。由有机碳与总氮的原子比和有机碳同位素指示的物源信息可知,该湾内有机质来源为藻类和陆源脉管植物的混合,且以陆源输入为主。陆源有机碳含量与总有机碳含量的相关系数为0.917。自23cm至表层有机碳同位素明显偏轻,氮同位素偏重。从111cm至表层,重金属和有机氯农药含量升高。综合分析各环境指标可知,洋浦湾近百年来环境演变可分为三个时期,即20世纪70年代以前、70年代至90年代、90年代至21世纪初,洋浦湾经历了未污染期、轻度污染期、显著污染期。     

Nutrient fluxes from deep sediment support nutrient budget in the oligotrophic waters of the Gulf of Aqaba

The role of deep sediment in supporting nutrient budget in the Gulf of Aqaba has been investigated by estimating the flux of inorganic nitrogen, phosphate and silicate. Fluxes were calculated directly by pore water profiles and indirectly by chamber incubations carried out onboard the RV Meteor cruise. The results showed that maximum potential fluxes calculated by chamber incubations were higher than those calculated by porewater profiles for all nutrients (6.4–28.5 fold). This has been attributed to the additional flux due to bioturbation and flux from advective porewater exchange in the case of chamber incubation, while porewater fluxes represent diffusive ones. Using a rough estimation considering flux results in addition to the sediment area and water mass of the Gulf of Aqaba, we estimate that 3.3 × 10⁵, 6.4 × 10⁴ and 6.5 × 10⁶ kg year⁻¹ of inorganic nitrogen, phosphate and silicate respectively are effused from deep sediments to the water column. This quanitity would certainly support the primary productivity in the oligotrophic water in the Gulf of Aqaba.