The distribution and nature of amino acids and other nitrogen-containing compounds in Lake Ontario surface sediments

Five surface sediment samples (0–3 cm), two suspended sediment samples and a zooplankton sample from Lake Ontario were analysed for nitrogen-containing compounds. Amino acids, amino sugars, ethanolamine and urea were separated and characterized by ion-exchange chromatography. Free amino acids and soluble combined amino acids and amino sugars accounted for less than 0–25 per cent of the total nitrogen in the sediments. Insoluble combined amino acids and amino sugars were the most abundant nitrogen fraction in the sediments, making up from 49 to 55 per cent of the total nitrogen. Evidence is presented that asparagine, glutamine and citrulline are present in the interstitial waters and may make up part of the sediment organic nitrogen that was not characterized.The free amino acids released by the proteolytic enzyme, pronase, from the interstitial waters and sediment humic and fulvic acid extracts were determined. Pronase released 65 per cent of the soluble combined amino acids and 34 per cent of the fulvic acid amino acids as free amino acids. Enzyme activity was inhibited in the presence of the humic acid extract. The results indicate that the combined amino acids in the interstitial waters and fulvic acid extracts are intermediates between the primary aquatic detritus and the sediment humic acids. The enzyme experiments and infra-red data indicate that part of the sediment amino acids are combined through peptide linkages.     

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.     

湖泊沉积物中蛋白质和氨基酸的动态变化

测定了阿哈湖和百花湖沉积物孔隙水中蛋白质和氨基酸的含量。蛋白质含量分别在0．32－1．71mg/ml和0．22－1．38mg/ml之间，氨基酸含量分别在1．15－5．01μg/ml（以含N量计）和1．41－4．16μg/ml之间。两湖沉积物氨基酸含量逐渐增高，表明扩散作用的存在。随着时间的推移，蛋白质在沉积物各层中得到了很好的保存，说明它的分解比较有限。沉积物孔隙水中氨基酸含量和微生物活动有关，氨基酸在27cm以后的阿哈湖沉积物中明显积累，可能指示微生物活动的减弱。     

Study on Nitrogen Dynamics at the Sediment–Water Interface of Dongting Lake,China

Eutrophication of lakes and reservoirs has become a worldwide environmental problem, and nitrogen (N) has been recognized as one of the key factors responsible for eutrophication. Nitrogen adsorbed on sediments may be released via chemical and biological processes under changing environmental conditions. Spatial distributions of concentrations of ammonia nitrogen (NH₄ ⁺–N), nitrate nitrogen (NO₃ ^?–N) and total nitrogen (TN) were investigated in sediments and overlying water of Dongting Lake, the second largest freshwater lake in China. The concentration of TN in the sediments exhibited strong spatial variation with relatively high values in the eastern part and relatively low values in the southern part of the lake. The TN concentration in the water of different regions of Dongting Lake was affected by the internal load of sediment N. The vertical distribution of TN in sediment cores showed a decreasing trend with an increase in depth. Concentrations of NH₄ ⁺–N in the sediment cores decreased with the depth increase until 6–8 cm and then increased slowly. However, concentrations of NO₃ ^?–N in the sediment cores showed an opposite trend from those of NH₄ ⁺–N. A kinetic release experiment of NH₄ ⁺–N showed that the maximum release rate occurred in the first 5 min and the amount of NH₄ ⁺–N release reached 77.93–86.34 % of the total amount in 0–10 min. The release of NH₄ ⁺–N in the surface sediments of Dongting Lake fits a first-order kinetics function.     

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.     

Bacterial reworking of terrigenous and marine organic matter in estuarine water columns and sediments

Amino acids and the bacterial biomarkers muramic acid and d-amino acids were quantified in the ultrafiltered dissolved, particulate and sedimentary organic matter (UDOM, POM and SOM) of the St. Lawrence system (Canada). The main objectives were to better describe the fate of terrigenous and marine organic matter (OM) in coastal zones and to quantify the bacterial contributions to OM composition and diagenesis. Regardless of their origin, the carbon (C) content of the particles substantially decreased with depth, especially near the water-sediment interface. Major diagenetic transformations of organic nitrogen (N) were revealed and important differences were observed between terrigenous and marine OM. Amino acid contents of particles decreased by 66-93% with depth and accounted for 12-30% of the particulate C losses in marine locations. These percentages were respectively 18-56% and 7-11% in the Saguenay Fjord where terrigenous input is important. A preferential removal of particulate N and amino acids with depth or during transport was measured, but only in marine locations and for N-rich particles. This leads to very low amino acid yields in deep marine POM. However, these yields then increased to a level up to three times higher after deposition on sediments, where SOM showed lower C:N ratios than deep POM. The associated increase of bacterial biomarker yields suggests an active in situ resynthesis of amino acids by benthic bacteria. The N content of the substrate most likely determines whether a preferential degradation or an enrichment of N and amino acid are observed. For N-poor OM, such as terrigenous or deep marine POM, the incorporation of exogenous N by attached bacteria can be measured, while the organic N is preferentially used or degraded in N-rich OM. Compared to the POM from the same water samples, the extracted UDOM was poor in N and amino acids and appeared to be mostly made of altered plant and bacterial fragments. Signs of in situ marine production of UDOM were observed in the most marine location. The POM entering the St. Lawrence Upper Estuary and the Saguenay Fjord appeared made of relatively fresh vascular plant OM mixed with highly altered bacterial debris from soils. In contrast, the POM samples from the more marine sites appeared mostly made of fresh planktonic and bacterial OM, although they were rapidly degraded during sinking. Based on biomarker yields, bacterial OM represented on average ∼20% of bulk C and approximately 40-70% of bulk N in POM and SOM, with the exception of deep marine POM exhibiting approximately two times lower bacterial contributions.     

Microbial lipids from a nearshore sediment from Bowling Green Bay,North Queensland: The fatty acid composition of intact lipid fractions

Samples from a sediment core collected in Bowling Green Bay, North Queensland have been analysed for hexane/isopropanol extractable lipids and fatty acids. These data revealed a subsurface lipid abundance maximum at 3–4 cm depth and consistent low total fatty acid abundances (ca 2 μg/g) in the deeper samples ( > 10 cm depth). Lipid phosphate was below the level of detection in all the samples. Bacterial community structure was found to vary markedly in the upper 10 cm of the core, with the 18:1Δ11 bacterial chemotype predominant in the surface sediment and trans-acid chemotypes dominating in the 3–4 cm depth sediment. Based on the fatty acid composition, the bacterial biomass was estimated to vary from 199 μg/g at 3–4 cm depth toca 8 μg/g at 11–13 cm depth, although the fatty acid distributions indicated possible interference from protozoan detritus. In order to test this possibility, a surface sediment sample from a nearby site was extracted and analysed for fatty acids in lipid fractions separated by silica column chromatography. The fatty acid distributions in lipid fractions containing wax/steryl esters, triacylglycerols, glycolipids and phospholipids were markedly different. These analyses were interpreted in terms of fatty acid contributions to the extractable lipids from bacteria, cyanobacteria, protozoan detritus and highly degraded organic matter.     

The amino acid composition of a deep-water marine sediment from the upwelling region northwest of Africa

The distribution of amino acids with depth have been described for three samples of a core of recent sediment (< 1000–8000 yr) from the continental slope off N.W. Africa. Basic amino acids are more abundant than acidic amino acids in all samples. The amino acid composition of the oldest sample resembles most closely the amino acid composition of planktonic protein. It is suggested that the differences in amino acid composition of the three samples reflect diagenetic changes which are probably controlled by the environment of deposition.     

Nature of sedimentary organic matter in the lower reaches of the Godavari River basin, India

The distribution and nature of sedimentary organic matter (OM) have been examined in sediment cores collected from the lower reaches, including estuary, of the Godavari River in order to understand sedimentation patterns, sources, and diagenesis of OM. The samples were analyzed for organic carbon (Corg), total nitrogen, amino acids and hexosamines. The observed irregular trends in Corg distribution with depth indicate the unstable nature of bed sediment in the lower reaches of the river. Yet, in the lower estuarine region, regular trends in Corg distribution with depth reflect the deposition of sediment. The atomic ratio of Corg and total nitrogen (C/N; 10.5–16.1) also supported this observation. The distribution of amino acids and diagenetic indicators (β-ala+γ-aba mol.%, AA/HA and Glc-NH₂/Gal-NH₂) in individual cores revealed the post-depositional changes in the OM. In the core sediment from the lower reaches, there was no clear cut trend in amino acid content with depth. In the estuarine region, however, amino acid content was very low (50.5 and 186.5 μg g⁻¹) in the upper layers compared to that in the lower layers (558.5 and 1099.3 μg g⁻¹). Reactivity index (range 0.3–3.7) revealed that OM in the upper few centimeters, especially in the lower estuarine region, was more reactive relative to that in the deeper layers.     

Short-time response in growth and sediment properties of Zizania latifolia to water depth

Field experiments were conducted to study the short-time response in growth and sediment properties of Zizania latifolia to four levels of water depth: 10, 50, 90, and 130 cm. The results showed that Z. latifolia was sensitive to high water depth stress in terms of the significantly decreased basal stem diameter, leaf width, root length, total biomass, and root to shoot ratio with increasing water depth. It was found suitable to grow in shallow water less than 50 cm in depth. The growth of Z. latifolia significantly increased sediment moisture content and porosity, while reduced wet bulk density in sediment and NH₄–N concentration in interstitial water. Along the water depth gradient, the growth of Z. latifolia significantly impacted sediment wet bulk weight and loss on ignition, both NH₄–N and PO₄–P concentrations in interstitial water. However, no obvious regularities were observed in the sediment vertical profiles. NH₄–N and PO₄–P concentrations in interstitial water were much higher than in overlying water, indicating that they could diffuse from sediment to overlying water. NH₄–N concentration was also higher in deep sediment. Growth properties of Z. latifolia (except for leaf length) are significantly correlated to wet bulk density, loss on ignition, NH₄–N concentration in sediment and NH₄–N, PO₄–P concentrations in interstitial water. The results indicate that water depth less than 50 cm is favorable for the growth of Z. latifolia, where it can exert its ecological function effectively. This research suggests a possibility to promote the growth of Z. latifolia and exert its ecological function by rational water depth management.     

Analytical problems in determining peptide nitrogen in the humic fractions of three Italian soils

Peptides were released from organic matter fractions of three Italian soils (humin, humic and fulvic acids), when the samples were hydrolyzed in Ba(ON)₂-saturated solution at 105°C for 2 hr. The peptides obtained were separated using electrophoresis and paper chromatography. The presence of polypeptides in the soil organic matter was indicated by: (1) their hydrolysis by pronase; (2) the amino acids released by 6 N HCl hydrolysis; (3) The comparison of i.r. spectra of humic fractions before and after hydrolysis with 6 N HCl.Attempts at isolating the native proteinaceous compounds using electrophoresis in polyacrylamide gel failed; additionally, our attempts to hydrolyze proteinaceous components enzymatically in unfractionated soil organic matter, as well as in its fractions, before and after methylation, with pepsin, papain and pronase, were unsuccessful. Pronase demonstrated a weak proteolytic activity only at very low substrate-enzyme ratios (20 : 1) in humic and fulvic fractions and in whole phyrophosphate extract. Deproteinated substrates treated with pronase also released free amino acids, suggesting autodigestion.In humin, humic and fulvic fractions we found a total amino acid content of 40–45%, 12–24% or 1–85, respectively. Amino acid recovery from single fractions was about 70–80% of the total content in the unfractionated soil.     

The influence of tidal action on porewater nitrate concentration and dynamics in intertidal sediments of the Sado estuary

The change in porewater nitrate (NO₂ ^? + NO₃ ^?) concentrations during exposure of intertidal sediment was studied at a fixed location in the Sado estuary, southwest Portugal, in November 1994. In order to follow nitrate concentration and dynamics from pre-ebb to post flood, during the day, high vertical resolution profiles (0.2 cm) were studied. As a complement, in February 1995, potential nitrification rates in the sediment were measured by laboratory incubations, with high vertical resolution (0.2 cm) up to 3 cm depth. Oxygen penetration was measured with polarographic mini-electrodes. The sediment’s texture as well as the organic matter composition in carbon and nitrogen were studied in deeper (30 cm) cores. In February 1993,²¹⁰Pb activity depth profiles were measured in a core sampled at the beginning of exposure, in order to evaluate the possibility of nonlocal particle exchange. C:N ratios and²¹⁰Pb activity profiles show evidence of nonlocal exchange of solid phase particles between the surface and deeper sediment, most likely due to macrofaunal activity. As a consequence, fresh organic matter is brought from the surface to 7–9 cm depth, causing enhancement of nutrient concentrations. Results of this study suggest nitrate dynamics in intertidal sediments of the Sado estuary are strongly influenced by tidal action. Periodic submersion and exposure allow for the diversification of pathways of oxygen supply to the sediment. Tidal stress at the sediment-water interface during the arrival (flooding) and departure (exposure) of the tidal front at the site has an important bearing on the effective depth of the nitrification zone. A denitrification rate of 2.16 μmol N dm^?5 h^?1 was measured directly from the nitrate inventory in the 1.5–6 cm depth layer. The schematic model of N cycling in these sediments suggests that 20% of the N pool is denitrified during exposure, and that this process is limited by O₂ availability for nitrification.     

Dissolution of silica and the development of concentration profiles in freshwater sediments

The dissolution of silica and diffusion of reactive dissolved Si in the porewaters of river sediments are investigated using sediments of different physical and chemical properties. Three sediments are considered: (a) from sectioned cores taken from a river-bed, (b) fine organic-rich surface sediment (<5 cm depth) installed in a fluvarium channel and, (c) coarse river sediment of low organic matter content also installed in a fluvarium channel. Dissolution rates of silica are measured at 10°C using batches of suspended material. The derived dissolution rate constants show large differences between the sediments. The river bed-sediment cores had vertical concentration profiles of dissolved Si that are consistent with the diffusion and dissolution of biogenic silica. Experiments in a fluvarium channel enabled Si fluxes to be calculated from a mass-balance of the overlying solution. The results are consistent with the attainment of a steady-state concentration profile of dissolved Si in the sediment. There are no discernible effects of water velocity over the sediment between 5 and 11 cm s⁻¹. However, at 20 cm s⁻¹, the flux increases as a result of either entrainment of fine particles at the surface or advective effects in the surface sediment. A fluvarium experiment with the fine sediment (<125 μm) over 61 days, produced a concentration profile with the highest concentration of 1025 μmol dm⁻³ at a depth of 4–5 cm in the sediment. A FORTRAN program is used to model the results of the increase in dissolved Si in the overlying water and development of a concentration profile in the porewater. This leads to a sediment diffusion coefficient of 1.21×10⁻⁹ m² s⁻¹ at 8.8°C at the beginning of the experiment and rate constant k=13.1×10⁻⁷ s⁻¹ at pH=7.82 and average temperature of 7.6°C for the entire experiment. Fluxes measured at the sediment–surface interface and calculated assuming steady-state profiles had developed are typically 0.01–0.04 μmol m⁻² (of river bed) s⁻¹. The approach enables the efflux of dissolved Si from bottom-sediments to be estimated from dissolution rates measured using suspensions of bed-sediment.     

The effect of desertification on carbon and nitrogen status in the northeastern margin of the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau

Environmental degradation resulting from desertification often accelerates biodiversity loss and alters carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) stocks within grassland ecosystem. In order to evaluate the effect of desertification on plant diversity and carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) stocks, species compositions and C and N contents in plants and soil were investigated along five regions with different degrees of desertification in the northeastern margin of the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau (control, light, moderate, severe and very severe stages). The study showed: (1) species composition and richness changed significantly with the development of grassland desertification; (2) the aboveground biomass C and N contents in the control were 101.60 and 4.03 g m^?2, respectively. Compared to the control, the aboveground tissue C and N contents significantly decreased from light, moderate, severe to very severe stages. (3) The root C and N contents in the control in 0–40 cm depth are 1,372.83 and 31.49 g m^?2, respectively, while the root C and N contents in 0–40 cm were also declining from the control, light, moderate, severe to very severe stages. (4) Compared to the plant, the soil made a greater contribution for C and N distribution, in which the soil organic C and total N contents in 0–40 cm depth in the control are 20,386.70 and 3,587.89 g m^?2, respectively. At the same time, soil organic C and N contents also decreased significantly from the control to very severe stages. These results suggest that grassland desertification not only alters species compositions and leads to the loss of plant diversity, but also results in greater loss of organic C and N in alpine meadow, in which there is a negative effect on reducing greenhouse gas emission.     

Distribution Characteristics of Cobalt-rich Ferromanganese Crust Resources on Submarine Seamounts in the Western Pacific

Based on the survey data of five submarine seamount provinces （chains） in the Western Pacific, the distribution characteristics of cobalt-rich ferromanganese crust resources have been researched in this paper by using the relative reference data and applying the theories of hotspot and seafloor spreading. The main research results obtained are as follows： The Co-rich crust thickness in the study area is gradually increasing from east to west and from south to north having a negative correlation （r = -0.59） with longitude and a positive correlation （r = 0.48） with latitude. The crust thickness varying along longitude and latitude is influenced by the hotspot and seafloor spreading. The oceanic crusts and seamounts in the northwest part of the study area are older, and the crust resources are superior to those in the southeast part. In the depth of 〈1500 m, 1500-2000 m, 2000-2500 m in the study area, the cobalt crust thickness is respectively 5.45 cm, 4.34 cm and 3.55 cm, and in the depth of 2500-3000 m and 3000-3500 m, it drops respectively to 2.84 cm and 3.37 cm. The Co-rich crust resources are mainly concentrated in the seamount summit margins and the upper flanks in the depth of 〈2500 m. There is a strong negative correlation （r = -0.67） between the cobalt crust abundance and the slope of the seamount, 75 kg/m^2 and 50 kg/mz at the slopes of 0°-20° and 20°-34° respectively. Cobalt crusts are mainly distributed in the parts whose slopes are less than 20°. It is consistent with the fractal result that the slope threshold of cobalt crust distribution is 19°, and slopes over 20° are not conducive to the crust growth. The cobalt crusts of high grade are mainly enriched in the region within 150°E-140°W and 30°S-30°N in the Pacific, where there are about 587 seamounts at the depth of 3500- 6000 m and over 30 Ma of the oceanic crusts. The perspective area rich in cobalt crust resources is about 41×104 km^2 and the resource quantity is approximately 27 billion tons.     

Resolving the bulk δN values of ancient human and animal bone collagen via compound-specific nitrogen isotope analysis of constituent amino acids

Stable nitrogen isotope analysis is a fundamental tool in assessing dietary preferences and trophic positions within contemporary and ancient ecosystems. In order to assess more fully the dietary contributions to human tissue isotope values, a greater understanding of the complex biochemical and physiological factors which underpin bulk collagen δ¹⁵N values is necessary. Determinations of δ¹⁵N values of the individual amino acids which constitute bone collagen are necessary to unravel these relationships, since different amino acids display different δ¹⁵N values according to their biosynthetic origins. A range of collagen isolates from archaeological faunal and human bone (n = 12 and 11, respectively), representing a spectrum of terrestrial and marine protein origins and diets, were selected from coastal and near-coastal sites at the south-western tip of Africa. The collagens were hydrolysed and δ¹⁵N values of their constituent amino acids determined as N-acetylmethyl esters (NACME) via gas chromatography-combustion-isotope ratio mass spectrometry (GC-C-IRMS). The analytical approach employed accounts for 56% of bone collagen nitrogen. Reconstruction of bulk bone collagen δ¹⁵N values reveals a 2‰ offset from bulk collagen δ¹⁵N values which is attributable to the δ¹⁵N value of the amino acids which cannot currently be determined by GC-C-IRMS, notably arginine which comprises 53% of the nitrogen unaccounted for (23% of the total nitrogen). The δ¹⁵N values of individual amino acids provide insights into both the contributions of various amino acids to the bulk δ¹⁵N value of collagen and the factors influencing trophic position and the nitrogen source at the base of the food web. The similarity in the δ¹⁵N values of alanine, glutamate, proline and hydroxyproline reflects the common origin of their amino groups from glutamate. The depletion in the δ¹⁵N value of threonine with increasing trophic level indicates a fundamental difference between the biosynthetic pathway of threonine and the other amino acids. The δ¹⁵N value of phenylalanine does not change significantly with trophic level, reflecting its conservative nature as an essential amino acid, and thus represents the isotopic composition of the nitrogen at the base of the food web. Δ¹⁵N_Glu-Phe values in particular are shown to reflect trophic level nitrogen sources within a food web. In relation to the reconstruction of ancient human diet the contribution of marine and terrestrial protein are strongly reflected in Δ¹⁵N_Glu-Phe values. Differences in nitrogen metabolism are also shown to have an influence upon individual amino acid δ¹⁵N values with Δ¹⁵N_Glu-Phe values emphasising differences between the different physiological adaptations. The latter is demonstrated in tortoises, which can excrete nitrogen in the form of uric acid and urea and display negative Δ¹⁵N_Glu-Phe values whereas those for marine and terrestrial mammals are positive. The findings amplify the potential advantages of compound-specific nitrogen isotope analysis in the study of nitrogen flow within food webs and in the reconstruction of past human diets.     

The seabed characteristics of the bottom floor of Damietta Branch,Egypt, using acoustic signals

The study area lies between 31.32°N, 31.70°E and 31.41°N, 31.78°E along Damietta branch, Nile River. It is about 24-km long. Acoustic classification (Quester Tangent Corporation—QTC) is used as a powerful tool to study seabed characteristics which is confirmed by the sediment analyses. Sediment characteristics of the study are presented by three acoustic classes: sand, mud and organic matter intercalated by clay. The depth varies from about ?12 m at Faraskour Bridge (southern part of the study area) to about ?2.5 m at Faraskour Dam (northern part of the study area). The average current velocity is detected as 4 cm/s and it has a very low effect on the transport of both sediment and waste debris. The sediment in the northern part characterized by organic matter reaches about 70 cm thickness under and around fish cages. This huge amount of organic matter deposit leads to the reduction of the dissolved oxygen and increase pH values. This study shows that the water quality in the northern part of the study area is at risk (drinking water for Damietta city) due to the presence of the huge amount of waste debris intercalated by organic matter. The rises of temperature in summer enhance oxygen consumption and the decomposition of the organic matter. This is rapidly increasing the growth of bacteria and phytoplankton, causing turbidity and algal blooms. Those affect the water quality and raise the water toxicity (drinking water).     

Effect of temperature on the dissolution and thermal alteration of combined amino acids fixed in natural sediment under simulated hydrothermal conditions

Seafloor sediment containing biogenic amino acids was heated with NaCl solutions at 50–200 °C for 240 h to investigate the dissolution process of amino acids and evaluate their stabilities under hydrothermal conditions. Dissolved amino acids in the combined phase (dissolved combined amino acids, DCAAs) and free phase (dissolved free amino acids, DFAAs) were rapidly released into the solution during heating. The amount of DCAAs in the solutions was 4–9 times higher than the amount of DFAAs at each temperature. When heated at ⩽ 100 °C, most of the total dissolved hydrolyzable amino acids (TDHAAs) were in the combined form (DCAAs/TDHAAs ratios > 0.9). The compositions of the DCAAs in solutions heated at ⩽ 100 °C were similar to that of the total hydrolyzable amino acids (THAAs) of the initial sediment, indicating that the DCAAs, which are derived from organisms and biodebris in the sediment, are barely altered during the hydrothermal reaction at these temperatures. On the other hand, the DCAAs/TDHAAs ratios were 0.72 and 0.57 at 150 and 200 °C, respectively, and the compositions of the DCAAs at 150 and 200 °C were significantly different from that of the initial THAAs. In addition, non-protein amino acids (β-alanine and γ-aminobutyric acid), which are sensitive biochemical indicators of the diagenetic alteration of natural organic matter, drastically increased to 80.9% of the DCAAs after heating at 200 °C. These results suggests that DCAAs are thermally unstable in the hydrothermal solutions at ⩾ 150 °C. These DCAA would be transformed into thermally stable geo-polymers such as humic-like substances and hydrolyzable kerogens.     

Distribution and isotope composition of nitrogen in Bay of Quinte (Lake Ontario) sediments

The concentrations and isotopic compositions of the various forms of nitrogen in silty clay sediments from the Bay of Quinte (Lake Ontario) have been determined. The total organic-N content is high throughout the sediment profiles and generally decreases with depth. On the contrary, exchangeable NH⁺₄-N concentration is quite low and tends to increase with depth in two out of three sediment cores examined. The concentration of non-exchangeable NH⁺₄-N and the 6 N HCl hydrolyzable NH⁺₄-N are relatively constant with depth. Among the N fractions analyzed, the exchangeable NH⁺₄-is most enriched in ¹⁵N. In most cases, the δ ¹⁵ N values of the N fractions remain relatively constant with sediment depth. There is no apparent correlation of δ ¹⁵ N values with the N concentration for any of the individual N fractions. The observed ranges in the δ ¹⁵ N values are: exchangeable NH⁺₄, + 5–+10‰; 6 N HCl hydrolyzable total N and 6 N HCl hydrolyzable NH⁺₄-N, + 3.5–+5.5‰.     

N-15 NMR spectra of naturally abundant nitrogen in soil and aquatic natural organic matter samples of the International Humic Substances Society

The naturally abundant nitrogen in soil and aquatic NOM samples from the International Humic Substances Society has been characterized by solid state CP/MAS ¹⁵N NMR. Soil samples include humic and fulvic acids from the Elliot soil, Minnesota Waskish peat and Florida Pahokee peat, as well as the Summit Hill soil humic acid and the Leonardite humic acid. Aquatic samples include Suwannee River humic, fulvic and reverse osmosis isolates, Nordic humic and fulvic acids and Pony Lake fulvic acid. Additionally, Nordic and Suwannee River XAD-4 acids and Suwannee River hydrophobic neutral fractions were analyzed. Similar to literature reports, amide/aminoquinone nitrogens comprised the major peaks in the solid state spectra of the soil humic and fulvic acids, along with heterocyclic and amino sugar/terminal amino acid nitrogens. Spectra of aquatic samples, including the XAD-4 acids, contain resolved heterocyclic nitrogen peaks in addition to the amide nitrogens. The spectrum of the nitrogen enriched, microbially derived Pony Lake, Antarctica fulvic acid, appeared to contain resonances in the region of pyrazine, imine and/or pyridine nitrogens, which have not been observed previously in soil or aquatic humic substances by ¹⁵N NMR. Liquid state ¹⁵N NMR experiments were also recorded on the Elliot soil humic acid and Pony Lake fulvic acid, both to examine the feasibility of the techniques, and to determine whether improvements in resolution over the solid state could be realized. For both samples, polarization transfer (DEPT) and indirect detection (¹H–¹⁵N gHSQC) spectra revealed greater resolution among nitrogens directly bonded to protons. The amide/aminoquinone nitrogens could also be observed by direct detection experiments.