Influence of intermittent estuary outflow on coastal sediments of adjacent sandy beaches

Outflows from estuaries potentially contribute to the productivity of adjacent coastal waters, although most previous work has been on estuaries with considerable river discharge. We investigated the influence of estuary outflow on aspects of coastal sediments adjacent to two seasonally intermittent estuaries, the Curdies and Anglesea Rivers, in southwest Victoria, Australia. For each estuary, we measured sediment organic matter, microphytobenthic chlorophyll a and microbial utilization of carbon sources at three locations associated with each estuary: (1) inside estuary mouth, (2) estuary swash and (3) control swash (an open beach distant from any estuarine influences). Sampling occurred one week before and at one and nine weeks after both an artificial mouth opening and a separate natural flood at both estuaries. Significant temporal changes were detected for all three variables at the estuary mouth and estuary swash but the direction of change was inconsistent across the two estuaries and between the artificial mouth opening and natural flood. Organic matter in both estuaries showed no difference after the artificial mouth openings. Only Anglesea showed an increase in organic matter in the estuary mouth and estuary swash after the floods. Microphytobenthic chlorophyll a concentrations were highest when the estuary mouths were closed. Concentrations decreased at all locations at Curdies after the mouth was artificially opened. The estuary mouth at Anglesea sustained high chlorophyll concentrations and the estuary swash increased one week post artificial opening. The flood event resulted in an increase in chlorophyll a at the estuary mouth and swash at both estuaries, one week post flood. At Curdies, the microbial utilization of different carbon sources changed after both mouth events; estuary mouth and estuary swash showed similar patterns at one and nine weeks post opening. At Anglesea, the bacteria utilized different carbon sources between locations and the only significant interaction between location and time was post flood with change in carbon sources utilized by bacteria in the estuary mouth and estuary swash for one and nine weeks post flood. The southern coastline of Australia is characterized by estuaries with small catchments. This study highlights the spatial and temporal variability in the effects of the output of relatively small, intermittent estuaries on coastal sediment of adjacent beaches, particularly during prolonged periods of drought.     

Spatial and temporal changes in abundance of the infaunal bivalve Soletellina alba (Lamarck, 1818) during a time of drought in the seasonally-closed Hopkins River Estuary,Victoria, Australia

The infaunal bivalve Soletellina alba is susceptible to mass mortalities during annual winter flooding in the Hopkins River Estuary, southern Australia. Periods of low salinity (≤1) are the likely cause of these mass mortality events, which can occur in seasonally-closed estuaries when high winter flows are sufficient to flush all salt water from the estuary. Core samples of S. alba were collected from two water depths across four times and at three sites near the mouth of the estuary. Minimal to zero abundances of large S. alba (>1 mm) were expected to be sampled, particularly at the shallower water depth, during a typical winter flood event. However, the present study occurred during a period of drought, which led to the absence of winter flooding. This absence of winter flooding prevented the occurrence of lethal salinities (i.e. ≤1) in the estuary during this period and a greater number of living S. alba adults were sampled. Abundances of juvenile and adult S. alba were still variable, even in the absence of winter flooding, and reflected an interaction between date, site and water depth. However, no mass mortalities of adults were observed during the drought conditions in contrast to what occurs during typical winter flood events and provides support for the hypothesis that winter flooding is responsible for past mass mortalities.     

Metals in sediments and benthic organisms in the Mersey estuary

Concentrations of twelve metals were determined in sediments, seaweed (Fucus vesiculosus), winkles (Littorina littorea), polychaetes (Nereis diversicolor), suspension feeding bivalves (Mytilus edulis, Cerastoderma edule) and deposit feeding bivalves (Macoma balthica, Scrobicularia plana) collected from the Mersey estuary between April 1980 and June 1984.Sediments and organisms in the Mersey are moderately contaminated with most of the metals measured, but mercury concentrations are consistently higher than in other United Kingdom estuaries. Comparisons with other sites in the North West of England indicate that mercury residues in organisms, though primarily dependent on sediment concentrations, are also influenced by complexation with particulate organic matter which reduces the availability of mercury. The biological availability of arsenic in Mersey sediments is similarly influenced by complexation with iron oxyhydroxides.Nereis diversicolor and Macoma balthica are the most suitable indicator species in terms of abundance and widespread distribution along the estuary, and, for the majority of metals, tissue concentrations increase upstream, reflecting corresponding gradients in sediment contamination. However mid-estuarine peaks for tin, chromium copper and nickel in Nereis indicate more localised inputs to the estuary. Correlations between lead in sediments and organisms are poor; it is suggested that hydrophilic alkyl lead compounds may be the predominant biologically available forms.Progressive reductions in mercury contamination in sediments and mercury and lead in organisms have occurred in recent years, which coincide with efforts to reduce inputs of these metals to teh Mersey estuary.     

Growth rates of the infaunal bivalve Soletellina alba (Lamarck, 1818) (Bivalvia: Psammobiidae) in an intermittent estuary of southern Australia

Caging and a mark–recapture design were used to estimate the growth rate of the brittle, infaunal bivalve Soletellina alba in the Hopkins River estuary. The growth of both caged and uncaged individuals was monitored at three sites near the mouth of the estuary over 180 days. Growth rates did not differ for caged and uncaged bivalves, or for bivalves subject to different amounts of handling, or between sites. Growth did differ between consecutive time intervals, which was attributable to negligible growth occurring during the colder months of autumn/winter. Comparisons of the condition (as indicated by total mass for length³) of S. alba were inconsistent between sites for caged and uncaged bivalves and for those subject to different amounts of handling. Soletellina alba is a rapidly growing bivalve with mean growth rates for the three time intervals being 0.04±0.002 mm day⁻¹ in summer, 0.02±0.001 mm day⁻¹ in autumn and 0.03±0.001 mm day⁻¹ from summer to winter. Using existing literature, it was shown that a significant relationship exists between maximum shell length and onset of sexual maturity in bivalve molluscs. This relationship predicts that S. alba should reach the onset of sexual maturity at 15.8 mm length. Therefore, it appears that it may be possible for juvenile S. alba (<1 mm) to grow, reach sexual maturity and reproduce in between annual mass-mortality events caused by winter flooding.     

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。     

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.     

Fatty acid composition of surface sediments in the subtropical Pearl River estuary and adjacent shelf,Southern China

Surface sediments (10 cm) of the subtropical Pearl River estuary and adjacent shelf, Southern China were collected. Fatty acids and compound-specific carbon isotopic analyses were determined to infer their sources and biogeochemical cycle of this lipid in the subtropical Pearl River estuary and adjacent northern South China Sea (SCS). The total concentrations of fatty acids ranged from ∼1.28 to ∼42.25 μg g⁻¹ dry weight. The levels of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) were low (0.2–4.8% of total fatty acids), suggesting that fatty acids derived from algae were effectively recycled during the whole settling and depositing process. Bacterial fatty acids were significantly high and terrigenous fatty acids were low in the sediments. Principal component analysis (PCA) of the data also indicates that a clear separation of the biogeochemical sources can be seen. The δ¹³C values of bacterial fatty acids, i.e., i/aiC₁₅ (−22.9‰ to −29.4‰) suggest that bacteria within the sediments mainly utilize a labile pool of organic matter derived from algae for their growth in the subtropical Pearl River estuary system.     

Potential rates and environmental controls of denitrification and nitrous oxide production in a temperate urbanized estuary

Denitrification may play a major role in inorganic nitrogen removal from estuarine ecosystems, particularly in those subjected to increased nitrate and organic matter loads. The Douro estuary (NW Portugal) suffers from both problems: freshwater input of nitrate and organic load from untreated wastewater discharges. To assess how these factors might control sediment denitrification, a 12-month survey was designed. Denitrification potential and nitrous oxide (N₂O) production were measured at different locations using the slurry acetylene blockage technique. Denitrification rate ranged from 0.4 to 38 nmol N g⁻¹ h⁻¹, increasing towards the river mouth following an urban pollution gradient. N₂O production, a powerful greenhouse gas implicated on the destruction of the ozone layer, was significantly related with sediment organic matter and accounted for 0.5–47% of the N gases produced. Additional enrichment experiments were consistent with the results found in the environment, showing that sediments from the upper less urban stretch of the estuary, mostly sandy, respond positively to carbon and, inversely, in organic rich sediments from the lower estuary, the denitrification potential was limited by nitrate availability. The obtained results confirmed denitrification as an important process for the removal of nitrate in estuaries. The presence of wastewater discharges appears to stimulate nitrogen removal but also the production of N₂O, a powerful greenhouse gas, exacerbating the N₂O:N₂ ratio and thus should be controlled.     

Metal binding by humic acids in recent sediments from the SW Iberian coastal area

The concentrations of Cu, Zn, Cr, Ni, Pb, As, Mn and Co were determined by Inductively Coupled Plasma–Mass Spectrometry both in recent sediments from different locations of the Huelva littoral (SW Iberian Peninsula) and in their humic acid (HA) fractions in order to evaluate distribution and binding capacity of those trace elements to HAs. In addition, elemental composition (C, N, S) and δ¹³C values were determined to appraise the sources of organic matter in the area. This study involved the comparison of selected samples taken from different environments including the estuary of the Guadiana River, the main fluvial system of the region, the Tinto and Odiel estuary system and the proximal shelf. Significant positive correlations were found among Cu, Zn, As and Pb in bulk sediments, suggesting a common origin of all of those elements: the mining activities and pyrite deposits located hinterland. On the other hand, results for Cr, Co and Ni pointed to the basic rocks from the low basin of the Guadiana River as their main source. Elemental (C, N) and isotopic (δ¹³C) composition of sediments indicated a significant contribution of autochthonous plankton in coastal shelf sediments, whereas estuarine and riverine sediments showed a major contribution of terrestrial biomass. Geochemical values for their corresponding HAs suggested a greater terrestrial contribution in the sedimentary OM of the coastal shelf sediments than in bulk sediments, which evidenced the influence of coastal currents and sediment fluxes. Humic acids sequester considerable amounts of Cu and Zn contributing to reduce the bioavailability of these contaminants.     

Food preferences of mangrove crabs related to leaf nitrogen compounds in the Segara Anakan Lagoon,Java, Indonesia

The large amounts of leaf litter produced by tropical mangrove forests serve as a major food source for the benthic fauna. The reasons for the preferential consumption of mangrove leaves by crabs are unclear as yet. We investigated the diet, food preferences and consumption rates of 8 dominant grapsoid crab species (Perisesarma spp., Episesarma spp., Metopograpsus latifrons, and Metaplax elegans) in mangroves of Segara Anakan, Java, Indonesia, by means of stomach-content analysis and feeding experiments. Leaves from the five most abundant mangrove tree species (Aegiceras corniculatum, Avicennia alba, Ceriops decandra, Rhizophora apiculata, and Sonneratia caseolaris) were analyzed for organic carbon, total nitrogen, δ¹³C, δ¹⁵N and amino acids and hexosamines. This study is the first that investigated crab food preferences related to the nitrogen compound composition of leaves.Our results show that Episesarma spp. and Perisesarma spp. are omnivorous crabs which mainly feed on detritus, mangrove litter and bark, and on a small amount of roots, algae and animal matter whereas M. elegans is a detritus feeder. In feeding experiments with green, yellow and brown leaves Perisesarma spp. and E. singaporense had the highest consumption rates for brown leaves of R. apiculata and S. caseolaris, and for green leaves of A. alba. Preferred leaves were characterized by a high amount and/or freshness of nitrogenous compounds and their biochemical composition was significantly different from that of disliked leaves (all leaves of A. corniculatum and C. decandra, green and yellow leaves of R. apiculata and S. caseolaris). The presence of the hexosamine galactosamine found only in brown leaves indicates that bacteria contribute to the amount of bioavailable nitrogen compounds. We infer that the nitrogen compound composition rather than the C/N ratio alone is a determinant for bioavailability of mangrove leaves and hence may partly explain the crabs' food preferences.     

Mechanisms of land–sea interactions – the distribution of metals and sedimentary organic matter in sediments of a river-dominated Mediterranean karstic estuary

This paper examines disposal of metals and the origin, characteristics, and distribution of sedimentary organic matter (SOM) in a Mediterranean karstic estuary in the north-eastern Adriatic. This environment offers a real-time, small model system for studies of geochemical processes in microtidal Mediterranean estuaries that are infilling with sediments and classified as river-dominated disequilibrium estuaries. The results have shown that the longitudinal distribution of heavy metals in sediments follows the sedimentation dynamics and deposition pattern of river-borne, clay mineral particles. The highest concentration of metals was found in the restricted upper part of the estuary, characterized by rapid deposition of clay particles and terrestrial sedimentary organic matter, and decreases toward the open sea. The vertical distribution of metals in sediment cores depends on the prevailing pH and Eh conditions. Significant increases of the concentrations of metals in the uppermost strata are the result of recent anthropogenic inputs. The share of the terrestrial component in SOM, estimated by N/C_org atomic ratios and δ¹³C values, decreases with distance from the river mouth. The small vertical variation in δ¹³C values of SOM indicates that a fast sedimentation rate overrides the diagenetically determined decomposition. The results obtained indicate that river-borne inorganic particles, natural terrigenous organic material, and anthropogenic metal loads are trapped in sediments of the estuarine system. Under the prevailing conditions, there is negligible transport towards the open sea.     

Annelid assemblages in soft bottoms subjected to human impact in the Urías estuary (Sinaloa,Mexico)

The annelid fauna inhabiting soft bottoms was analysed during February and April, 1997 in the Urías estuary which is mostly surrounded by mangrove swamps, but is also subjected to the effect of several anthropogenic activities. Classification and ordination techniques were used to perform the characterisation of the system based on the annelid assemblages according to environmental variables (mainly organic matter content and percentage of mud). Three zones were found: (1) ‘very polluted zone’, in front of a slaughterhouse and a fish processing factory with a total lack of macrofauna due to the strong enrichment of the sediment in organic matter; (2) ‘polluted zones’, characterised by the sporadic presence of oligochaetes in front of a domestic sewage effluent, by the dominance of Capitella capitata close to a thermoelectric plant, and by the dominance of Streblospio benedicti and oligochaetes in the surroundings of an upstream shrimp farm; (3) ‘unpolluted zones’, in the mouth of the estuary and an area surrounded by mangrove trees, with low organic matter content in sediment, high diversity and no dominant species.     

Stable Carbon and Nitrogen Isotopic Characterization of Organic Matter in a Mangrove Ecosystem on the Southwestern Coast of Thailand

Organic matter in a tropical mangrove ecosystem was characterized by stable carbon and nitrogen isotopic analyze, conducted on various organic samples, including land and mangrove plants, soils, particulate organic matter (POM), and sea and river sediments along the southwestern coast of Thailand. The δ¹³C values of land plants and POM in river water can be explained in terms of a greater influence of C₃ plants than C₄ plants in this area. The POM and sediments from the Trang River and Ko Talibong area showed systematically higher δ¹⁵N values than those from Ko Muk and other coastal areas. Organic matter in the Trang River might be influenced by nitrogen released from agricultural or human waste, which could affect the isotopic composition of POM and sediments in the Trang River estuary and along the coast near the river mouth. We used a stochastic method to estimate the contributions of four organic end-members, identifiable by their δ¹³C and δ¹⁵N values. The results implied that seagrasses were a major source of sedimentary organic matter, contributing 42 ± 5% in the Ko Muk area and 36 ± 5% in the Ko Talibong area. The contribution of coastal POM to sediments was estimated to be only 13% in Ko Muk and 19% in Ko Talibong. Mangrove plants contributed approximately 23% in both areas. It was concluded that seagrasses are an important source of sedimentary organic matter in this coastal region of southwestern Thailand. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Photochemical changes in chemical markers of sedimentary organic matter source and age

Several chemical markers of organic matter source and age are shown to be susceptible to light-induced alteration. To test for the photochemical lability of markers previously employed for sediments from the Louisiana coastal zone, we subjected sediments under resuspension conditions to simulated sunlight, and monitored changes in C:N and Br:OC ratios, δ¹³C, Δ¹⁴C, and lignin composition. Markers of terrigenous origin (high C:N, lignin) decreased and δ¹³C became enriched in sediments containing primarily terrigenous organic matter, while a marker of marine organic matter (Br:OC) decreased in samples containing significant contributions from this source. Preferential loss of ¹⁴C from all sediments indicated enhanced photochemical lability of organic matter of relatively recent origin, consistent with the changes in chemical markers. Most, but not all, experimental alterations are consistent with field distributions of these markers. Relatively small experimental changes in the markers in combination with confounding processes in the environment, however, prevent these parallel trends from providing any more than a consistency test for the importance of photochemical reactions in this region.     

A comparative study of mercury contamination in the Tagus estuary (Portugal) and major French estuaries (Gironde,Loire, Rhône)

Concentrations of mercury were determined for the waters, suspended matter and sediments of the Tagus and of major French estuaries.The Tagus estuary is one of the most contaminated by mercury derived from the outfalls of a chloralkali plant and from other industrial sources. In deposited sediments the median level, 1·0 μg Hg g^?1, is twenty times higher than the natural background and Hg contents depend on the sediment grain-size, age and the distance from waste-outfalls. Suspended matter is more regularly and highly contaminated (median value: 4·5 μg Hg g^?1). In the French estuaries Hg levels in the suspended material decrease with salinity due to dilution and/or remobilization processes. In June 1982, in the Loire estuary, high values of Hg are observed in the middle estuary and attributed to urban and industrial sources.In the Tagus estuary, the general distribution of total dissolved Hg confirms the contamination: it increases seaward from 10 ng 1^?1 in the river to 80 ng 1^?1 in the estuary outlet. The dissolved Hg is almost totally organic in the river, inorganic in the middle estuary due to inorganic Hg effluents and again organic in the lower estuary. This variation is related to the dissolved organic carbon values. The dissolved Hg levels in the Loire Estuary (5–300 ng 1^?1) are much higher than in the Gironde estuary (3–6 ng 1^?1) and of the same order as those observed in the Tagus estuary.     

Distribution and sources of organic carbon, nitrogen and their isotopes in sediments of the subtropical Pearl River estuary and adjacent shelf, Southern China

The isotopic composition (δ¹³C and δ¹⁵N) and organic carbon (OC) and total nitrogen (TN, organic plus inorganic) content of 37 carbonate-free surficial sediments of the subtropical Pearl River estuary and the adjacent shelf of South China Sea (SCS) was determined. The δ¹³C values indicate that the sediment organic material is a mixture from two sources, terrestrial and marine. Several of the sediments have extremely low (< 4) OC / TN ratios, which could be due to low OC contents and/or to a significant fraction of the TN present as inorganic nitrogen adsorbed on clays. In general, the spatial patterns of OC, TN, δ¹³C and δ¹⁵N are similar. Values are low at the river mouth and on the western coast, suggesting proportionally greater accumulation of terrestrial particulate organic matter relative to marine phytodetritus, which is limited by low productivity in the turbid plume of the Pearl River. Algal-derived organic carbon (al-OC) content is estimated to be low (≤ 0.06%) at the river mouth and higher (up to 0.57%) on the adjacent inner shelf based on a mixing model of end members.     

The Significance of Diagenesis versus Riverine Input in Contributing to the Sediment Geochemical Matrix of Iron and Manganese in an Intertidal Region

Summer porewater and spring and summer surficial sediment samples were collected from 26 locations in the intertidal region of the Fraser River estuary. Porewaters were analysed for dissolved iron and manganese (as defined by species <0·2μm in diameter) to assess the contribution of diagenesis to concentrations of iron and manganese oxides at the sediment–water interface. Surficial sediment samples were geochemically characterized as: % organic matter (% LOI); reducible iron (RED Fe, iron oxides) and easily reducible manganese (ER Mn, manganese oxides). Grain size at each site was also determined. The sediment geochemical matrix, as defined by the above four parameters, was highly heterogeneous throughout the intertidal region (three-way ANOVA;P<0·0001). For RED Fe and ER Mn, this heterogeneity could be explained by either diagenetic processes (RED Fe) or by a combination of the proximity of the sample sites to the mouth of the Fraser River estuary plus diagenetic processes (ER Mn). Correlation (Spearman Rank Correlation Test (r_s), of dissolved iron within the subsurface sediments with amounts of RED Fe recovered from the associated surface sediments was highly significant (r_s=0·80, P<0·0001); high concentrations of RED Fe at the sediment–water interface co-occurred with high concentrations of dissolved iron, regardless of the proximity of the sample locations to riverine input. Compared with iron, the relationship between dissolved manganese and ER Mn from surface sediments was lower (r_s=0·58;P<0·0008). Locations most strongly influenced by the Fraser River contained greater concentrations of ER Mn at the sediment–water interface than that which would be expected based on the contribution from diagenesis alone. Sediment grain size and organic matter were also influenced by the proximity to riverine input. Surficial sediment of sites close to the river mouth were comprised primarily of percent silt (2·0μm–50μm) whereas sites not influenced by riverine input were primarily percent sand (grain size >50μm). Concentrations of organic matter declined from the mouth to the foreslope of the estuary. With the exception of RED Fe, temporal variation (May vs July) was insignificant (P>0·05, three-way ANOVA). Concentrations of RED Fe recovered from the surficial sediments were in general greater in the summer vs spring months, although spring and summer values were highly correlated (Pearson Product Moment Correlation Coefficient; PPCC; R=0·89;P<0·0001). As the bioavailability of metals is dependent on sediment geochemistry, availability throughout the intertidal region will also be spatially dependent. This heterogeneity needs to be taken into account in studies addressing the impact of metals on estuarine systems.     

Composition of the organic matter of the water,suspended matter,and bottom sediments in Nha Trang Bay in Vietnam in the South China Sea

Research has been conducted in Nha Trang Bay (Southern Vietnam, the South China Sea) at the section from the estuary of the Cai River to the marine part of the bay, as well as in the area of coral reefs. The objects of the studies are the river and sea waters, the suspended matter, and the bottom sediments. Data on the dissolved organic carbon and the total nitrogen in the water are obtained. The organic carbon content is estimated in the suspended matter; the organic carbon and the molecular and group composition of the n-alkanes are determined in the bottom sediments. The molecular and group composition of the n-alkanes in the bottom sediments of the landfill have made it possible to identify three types of organic matter (OM): marine, mixed, and of mainly terrigenous origin. All the types of OM are closely related to the specificity of the sedimentation and the hydrodynamics of the waters in this water area.     

The role of suspended matter in the biogeochemical cycles in the Adige River estuary (Northern Adriatic Sea)

Suspended matter and sediments from the Adige River mouth were analysed in an attempt to elucidate the transfer of heavy metals from the river to the sea. The vertical profile of grain-size spectra of suspended matter in front of the river mouth has shown that the riverine particles are limited to the upper brackish layer.Particulate matter was found to have a large specific surface area, up to 20 m² g⁻¹ in the estuarine sample. High quantities of quartz and phyllosilicates (micas and clay minerals) were found in the riverine suspended matter. The quartz content of the suspended matter from the brackish layer was found to be diminishing and with the organic matter becoming the essential component (22%). Higher levels of trace metals were usually detected in suspended matter samples (40 ppm Ni, 200 ppm Cr, 60 ppm Pb, 100 ppm Cu, 320 ppm Zn, and 0·9 ppm Cd) than in sediments.The observed similarity of physico-chemical, mineralogical and geochemical characteristics of riverine suspended matter and recent marine sediments, indicates that most of the riverborne particulate matter is deposited in the proximity of the Adige River mouth.The peculiar characteristics of the chromium level (high bulk concentration and its abundance in the organic fraction of the particular matter) when compared to the other trace metals, indicates the anthropogenic influence on its biogeocycle.     

Stable isotopes of carbon and nitrogen in suspended matter and sediments from the Godavari estuary

Spatial distribution of the carbon and nitrogen content and their isotopic enrichment in suspended matter and sediments were measured in the Godavari estuary to identify the sources and transformation mechanism of organic matter. Significant variability in isotopic distribution was found over the entire length of the Godavari estuary, suggesting multiple sources of organic matter. The mean isotopic ratios (δ¹³C_sed −25.1 ± 0.9, δ¹³C_sus −24.9 ± 1, δ¹⁵N_sed 8.0 ± 2 and δ¹⁵N_sus 6.5 ± 0.9‰) and elemental concentrations (C_sed 0.45 ± 0.2%, C_sus 0.9 ± 0.7%, N_sed 0.07 ± 0.05% and N_sus 0.16 ± 0.1%) support a predominantly terrigenous source. Significant enrichment in the isotopic ratios of δ¹³C from the upper to lower estuary in both suspended (−27.5 and −24.3‰, respectively) and sedimentary (−26.2 and −24.9‰, respectively) phases indicates a decrease in the influence of terrigeneous material toward the mouth of the estuary. A significant positive relationship exists between the δ¹³C of suspended and sediment, which indicates that these two organic carbon pools are likely coupled in the form of a significant exchange between the two phases. A positive relationship exists between chlorophyll a and suspended organic matter, which may mean that a significant source of organic carbon is the in situ produced phytoplankton. But, applying a simple mixing model to our isotopes, data yielded about 46% as the contribution of the terrestrial source to suspended matter, which may support the excessive heterotrophic activity in the Godavari estuary reported earlier.