The distribution and flux of particulate matter in the Bideford River Estuary,Prince Edward Island,Canada

The temporal and spatial distribution of total and organic particulate matter is investigated in the Bideford River estuary. Particulate matter is homogenously distributed in both the water column and the surface sediment, due to high rates of resuspension and lateral transport. The measured mean sedimentation rate for the estuary is 183·5 g of particulate matter m^?2 day^?1, of which more than half is due to resuspension.The surface sediment of the estuary is quantitatively the dominant reservoir of organic matter, with an average of 902·5 g of particulate organic carbon (POC) m^?2 and 119·5 g of particulate organic nitrogen (PON) m^?2. Per unit surface area, the sediment contains 450 times more POC and 400 times more PON than the water column. Terrestrial erosion contributes high levels of particulate matter, both organic and inorganic, to the estuary from the surrounding watershed. Low rates of sediment export from the estuary result in the accumulation of the terrigenous material. The allochthonous input of terrigenous organic matter masks any relationship between the indigenous plant biomass and the organic matter.In the water column, a direct correlation exists between the organic matter, i.e. POC and PON, concentration and the phytoplankton biomass as measured by the plant pigments. Resuspension is responsible for the residual organic matter in the water column unaccounted for by the phytoplankton biomass.The particulate content of the water column and the surface sediment of the estuary is compared to that of the adjacent bay. Water-borne particulate matter is exported from the estuary to the bay, so that no significant differences in concentration are noted. The estuarine sediment, however, is five to six times richer in organic and silt-clay content than the bay sediment. Since sediment flux out of the estuary is restricted, the allochthonous contribution of terrigenous particulate matter to the bay sediment is minor, and the organic content of the bay sediment is directly correlated to the autochthonous plant biomass.     

用细化的铁形态分析及量化的铁氧化物活性表征海洋沉积物中铁的成岩作用：以胶州湾为例

以富营养化的胶州湾一个柱状沉积物为例,用细化的铁形态分析及量化的铁氧化物还原活性相结合的方法研究了沉积物中铁的成岩作用过程。结果表明,这两种方法相结合的结果能更详细示踪铁的转化并能从多视角提供铁成岩作用的细微差别。这一方法有望应用于其它研究中更好地揭示复杂的铁和硫的生物地球化学循环。铁微生物还原在上部沉积物铁的还原中起重要作用,但12 cm深度以下铁被硫化物的化学还原为主要过程。最具生物活性的无定形铁氧化物是铁微生物还原的主要参与者,然后依次为弱晶态铁氧化物和磁铁矿,晶态铁氧化物几乎不参与铁的成岩循环。沉积物上部铁微生物还原的重要作用主要是活性铁含量高而活性有机质含量低共同作用的结果,且后者也是沉积物中硫酸盐还原速率以及硫化物积累的最终制约因素。对比研究表明,通过还原性溶解动力学方法表征的微生物可还原的铁氧化物主要由无定形和弱晶态铁氧化物组成,其总体活性常数相当于老化的水铁矿,且随深度增加而减低。