Dynamics of dissolved organic carbon after a cyanobacterial bloom in hypereutrophic Lake Taihu (China)

To establish the influence of the cyanobacterial bloom collapse on the characteristics of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) in Lake Taihu, high-molecular-weight dissolved organic matter (HMW-DOM), with sizes between 1 kDa and 0.5 μm, were collected using cross-flow ultrafiltration, from three different eutrophic regions. Isolated HMW-DOM was further characterized by atomic carbon to nitrogen ratio and neutral sugars composition by gas chromatography and mass spectrometry. The results indicated that the cyanobacterial cell lysis induced by nitrate depletion is the likely mechanism for DOC release. The relatively high DOC level was associated with the high chlorophyll a concentration in Meiliang Bay, one of the most eutrophic bays in the northern part of the lake. However, no significant correlations were observed between chlorophyll a concentration and HMW-DOC concentration during the demise of the cyanobacterial bloom in Lake Taihu. No significant differences were found in the HMW-DOC concentration among the three sampling sites, which were selected to represent different eutrophic status. However, a significant difference in the HMW-DOC concentration was found between October 2009 and January 2010 in all three sampling sites (p = 0.02). The HMW-DOC release may be attributed to the cyanobacterial cell lysis after the peak of summer bloom. The similarity in neutral sugar composition between the HMW-DOM and cyanobacterial exopolysaccharides suggests that the cyanobacterial bloom is the source of HMW-DOM. However, the significant correlation between the carbon to nitrogen ratio in HMW-DOM and chlorophyll a concentration was only observed in Meiliang Bay, which implies that apart from the cyanobacteria-derived DOC, a fraction of DOC was from riverine input. The decline of the cyanobacterial bloom also changed the overall DOM pool, leading to a shift in the component of HMW-DOM from a C-enriched material to an N-enriched material, as revealed by the variation in the carbon to nitrogen ratios. Overall, these results demonstrate that the quantitative and qualitative DOM is affected by the post-cyanobacterial bloom in Lake Taihu.     

菹草(Potamogeton crispus)附着物对水体氮、磷负荷的响应

通过实验模拟了10组氮、磷负荷对菹草(Potamogeton crispus)生长期和衰亡期茎叶附着物的影响.结果显示:随着水体氮、磷浓度的升高,菹草附着物的叶绿素a(Chl.a)含量、附着有机物量、附着无机物量和附着物总量均增加,在氮、磷浓度最高的T10组(总氮12.0 mg/L,总磷1.0 mg/L),附着物的总量达到高峰,附着物的Chl.a含量为2.005~4.765mg/g(DW),附着有机物的量为29.027~94.886 mg/g(DW),附着无机物的量为176.881~397.750 mg/g(DW),附着物总量为205.909~492.636 mg/g(DW).在菹草的快速生长期、稳定期和衰亡期,附着物的Chl.a含量、附着有机物量、附着无机物量和附着物总量均存在显著差异,均表现为衰亡期 >稳定期 >快速生长期,且在各营养盐浓度下均存在这一趋势.菹草衰亡期附着物的Chl.a含量、附着有机物量、附着无机物量和附着物总量分别为稳定期的1.046~1.826、1.046~1.638、1.029~1.858和1.106~1.717倍,为快速生长期的2.324~4.059、2.323~3.640、2.101~3.792和2.280~3.584倍.结果表明水体氮、磷负荷的增加促进了菹草茎叶附着物的生长和积累,加速了沉水植物衰亡.     

Dynamics and fluxes of organic carbon and nitrogen in two Guiana Shield river basins impacted by deforestation and mining activities

Deforestation and mining activities have proven to be very damaging to rivers because these activities disturb the environmental characteristics of rivers. Thus, the concentrations of dissolved organic carbon (DOC), particulate organic carbon (POC), particulate nitrogen (PN), and Chlorophyll‐a (Chl‐a) were measured monthly during 2 hydrological years in the Maroni and Oyapock Rivers to assess the dynamics and fluxes of organic carbon and nitrogen in these 2 Guiana Shield basins, which have been strongly (Maroni) and weakly (Oyapock) impacted by deforestation and mining activities. The 2‐year time series show that DOC, POC, PN, and Chl‐a concentrations vary seasonally with discharge in both rivers, indicating a hydrologically dominated control. Temporal patterns of DOC, POC, and PN indicate that these variables show maximum concentrations in rising waters due to the yield of organic matter and nitrogen accumulated in soils, which are incorporated into the rivers during rainfall. However, the Chl‐a concentrations were at a maximum during low‐water stages. The C/N and C/Chl‐a ratios also showed a seasonal trend, with lower values during the low water periods due to an increase in algal biomass. During high water, the POC in both rivers is the result of terrestrial organic matter, whereas during low‐water autochthonous organic matter can reach up to 34% of the POC. The mean annual fluxes of TOC and PN were higher (4.56 × 10⁵ tonC year^?1 and 1.77 × 10⁴ tonN year^?1, respectively) in the Maroni River than those (1.84 × 10⁵ tonC year^?1 and 0.54 × 10⁴ tonN year^?1, respectively) in the Oyapock River. However, the specific fluxes of DOC, POC, and PN from both basins were nearly the same. Although gold mining activities are performed in both basins, there is no conclusive evidence regarding the impact of these activities on the dynamics of organic matter and particulate nitrogen in the Maroni and Oyapock Rivers.     

UV spectrometry for measuring particulate organic matter in natural water

Ultraviolet (UV) spectra were measured to characterize the dissolved and particulate organic matter in a bog and to investigate the seasonal fluctuation of this organic matter. The optical density spectra in the UV region of dissolved organic matter (DOM) were proportional to ^–4, where is the wavelength of incident light. There was also small absorption on the ^–4 spectra. The optical density at a wavelength of 280 nm was proportional to the concentration of dissolved organic carbon (DOC). The spectra and the dependency of optical density on DOC did not vary throughout the investigation period. The UV spectra of acid extractions of particulate organic matter (POM) showed two absorption peaks at the wavelengths of 220 nm and 335 nm. These peaks are well represented by the sum of two Lorentz functions. The ratio of the absorbances,A ₂₈₀/A ₃₃₅, was dependent on the nitrogen/carbon ratio of POM and the chlorophyll fraction in particulate organic carbon (POC), and not dependent on POC itself. The dependency of POC absorption at 280 nm varied with this ratio which fluctuated seasonally.     

Classification of hydrological regimes of northern floodplain basins (Peace–Athabasca Delta,Canada) from analysis of stable isotopes (δ18O, δ2H) and water chemistry

We used stable isotopes (δ¹⁸O and δ²H) and water chemistry to characterize the water balance and hydrolimnological relationships of 57 shallow aquatic basins in the Peace‐Athabasca Delta (PAD), northern Alberta, Canada, based on sampling at the end of the 2000 thaw season. Evaporation‐to‐inflow ratios (E/I) were estimated using an isotope mass‐balance model tailored to accommodate basin‐specific input water compositions, which provided an effective, first‐order, quantitative framework for identifying water balances and associated limnological characteristics spanning three main, previously identified drainage types. Open‐drainage basins (E/I < 0·4; n = 5), characterized by low alkalinity, low concentrations of nitrogen, dissolved organic carbon (DOC) and ions, and high minerogenic turbidity, include large, shallow basins that dominate the interior of the PAD and experience frequent or continuous river channel connection. Closed‐drainage basins (E/I ≥ 1·0; n = 16), in contrast, possess high alkalinity and high concentrations of nitrogen, DOC, and ions, and low minerogenic turbidity, and are located primarily in the relict and infrequently flooded landscape of the northern Peace sector of the delta. Several basins fall into the restricted‐drainage category (0·4 # E/I < 1·0; n = 26) with intermediate water chemistries and are predominant in the southern Athabasca sector, which is subject to active fluviodeltaic processes, including intermittent flooding from riverbank overflow. Integration of isotopic and limnological data also revealed evidence for a new fourth drainage type, mainly located near the large open‐drainage lakes that occupy the central portion of the delta but within the Athabasca sector (n = 10). These basins were very shallow (<50 cm deep) at the time of sampling and isotopically depleted, corresponding to E/I characteristic of restricted‐ and open‐drainage conditions. However, they are limnologically similar to closed‐drainage basins except for higher conductivity and higher concentrations of Ca²⁺ and Na⁺, and lower concentrations of SiO₂ and chlorophyll c. These distinct features are due to the overriding influence of recent summer rainfall on the basin water balance and chemistry. The close relationships evident between water balances and limnological conditions suggest that past and future changes in hydrology are likely to be coupled with marked alterations in water chemistry and, hence, the ecology of aquatic environments in the PAD. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

火烧对洞庭湖湿地荻(Miscanthus sacchariflorus)和苔草(Carex brevicuspis)群落土壤性质的影响

火烧作为调控因子,对植物群落结构和生态系统功能具有重要影响,但在湖泊湿地中研究较少.通过野外调查取样与实验室分析,探讨火烧对洞庭湖湿地主要群落类型——荻(Miscanthus sacchariflorus)和苔草(Carex brevicuspis)土壤化学性质的影响.结果表明:火烧后,苔草群落土壤硝态氮含量显著减少64.6%,有机质含量增加26.3%;而荻群落土壤与之相反,硝态氮含量增加186.9%,有机质含量减少22.9%.火烧后,苔草群落的全氮、铵态氮、全碳和全磷含量均显著增加,分别增加了75.4%、36.3%、102.7%和76.9%,而荻群落土壤与对照组间无显著差异.总体上,火烧对荻群落土壤养分影响不大,可作为芦苇场的一种管理方式,但火烧促进苔草群落土壤养分释放,有助于苔草群落提前萌芽和生长,并引起牲畜牧食增加.     

Crustacean zooplankton distribution patterns and their biomass as related to trophic indicators of 29 shallow subtropical lakes

A comparative limnological study was carried out to present a snapshot of crustacean zooplankton communities and their relations to environmental factors to test whether there is a consistent relationship between crustacean biomass and trophic indicators among lake groups with similar trophic conditions. The study lakes showed a wide range of trophic status, with total phosphorus (TP) ranging from 0.008 to 1.448 mg L⁻¹, and chlorophyll a from 0.7 to 146.1 μg L⁻¹, respectively. About 38 species of Crustacea were found, of which Cladocera were represented by 25 taxa (20 genera), and Copepoda by 13 taxa (11 genera). The most common and dominant species were Bosmina coregoni, Moina micrura, Diaphanosoma brachyurum, Cyclops vicinus, Thermocyclops taihokuensis, Mesocyclops notius and Sinocalanus dorrii. Daphnia was rare in abundance. Canonical correspondence analysis showed that except for four species (D. hyalina, S. dorrii, C. vicinus and M. micrura), almost all the dominant species had the same preference for environmental factors. Temperature, predatory cyclopoids and planktivorous fishes seem to be the key factors determining species distribution. TP was a relatively better trophic indicator than chlorophyll a to predict crustacean biomass. Within the three groups of lakes, however, there was no consistent relationship between crustacean biomass and trophic indicators. The possible reason might be that top-down and bottom-up control on crustaceans vary with lake trophic state. The lack of significant negative correlation between crustacean biomass and chlorophyll a suggests that there was little control of phytoplankton biomass by macrozooplankton in these shallow subtropical lakes.     

新疆艾比湖主要入湖河流精河与博尔塔拉河三维荧光光谱特性及其与水质的关系

以艾比湖主要入湖河流——精河与博尔塔拉河为研究对象,分别分析了精河与博尔塔拉河的水体溶解性有机质(DOM)的组成结构及水质参数与荧光指数的关系.利用平行因子分析法对三维荧光光谱(EEM)分析发现,精河与博尔塔拉河均含有C1(260/420 nm)腐殖酸等有机质、C2(240,240/490 nm)UVC类腐殖质、C3(220/280,300/450 nm)蛋白质类有机质和C4(260,270/530 nm)类腐殖质,且不同荧光组分结构具有一定差异性.为了进一步了解DOM组分特征,采用三维荧光区域积分法分析各区域标准体积百分比,结果表明精河与博尔塔拉河EEM的区域Ⅰ与区域Ⅱ蛋白质有机质含量最高,区域Ⅲ富里酸含量最低.相关性分析表明,主要入湖河流的水质参数与荧光指数中,自生源指数(BIX)与总氮(TN)浓度以及腐殖化指数(HIX)与铵态氮(NH_4~+-N)浓度的相关性较强,相关系数分别为0.831和0.684,且具有显著性;HIX与TN浓度的相关系数为0.604,达到显著性水平.进而对相关性较强的水质参数与荧光指数进行3次拟合,其中HIX与NH_4~+-N浓度的拟合效果最好,相关性系数为0.908,其次是BIX与TN浓度,相关性系数为0.844.总之,通过分析精河与博尔塔拉河三维荧光特征,以及探讨荧光指数与水质参数的关系,可为治理干旱区水环境问题提供理论依据和参考.     

Investigation of the temporal relation of remotely sensed coastal water quality with GIS modelled upstream soil erosion

Hydrological processes at the river basin influence the quality of downstream water bodies by controlling the loads of nutrients and suspended solids. Although their monitoring is important for social, economic and environmental reasons, in‐situ measurements are too expensive and thus too sparse to describe their relations. The aim of this study is to investigate the temporal relations of soil erosion in the upstream part of river basins with water quality characteristics in the downstream coastal zone, using satellite remote sensing and GIS modelling. Data from satellite missions of MODIS, SRTM and TRMM were used to describe the soil erosion factors of the Universal Soil Loss Equation in three river basins, and MERIS satellite data was used to estimate chlorophyll‐a and total suspended matter concentrations in the coastal zone of northwest Aegean Sea in Greece, where the rivers discharge. The resulting time series showed an average correlation of upstream rainfall with downstream water quality, which increased when soil erosion was introduced. Higher correlations were observed with the use of a time lag, revealing a variable delay between the three test sites. Lower correlation coefficients were observed for chlorophyll‐a, due to the sensitivity of algae to environmental conditions. The use of free of charge satellite data and easy to operate GIS models renders the findings of this work useful for coastal zone management bodies, in order to help increase aquaculture productivity, predict algal blooms and predict siltation of ports. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

An isotopic model for the origin of autochthonous organic matter contained in the bottom sediments of a reservoir

Geochemical analysis of surface sediment samples collected in 2005 and 2006 was used to evaluate the potential sources of the organic matter present in sediments of southeast Poland's Solina Reservoir.Statistical analysis of sediment variables(carbon to nitrogen ratio, and the carbon 13 and nitrogen 15 isotope ratios) determined for the organic fraction indicated significant spatial variability with respect to sources of organic matter. A binary mixing model was developed from literature sources to predict the relative contributions of allochthonous and autochthonous production to sediment organic matter.Autochthonous production was shown to account for 60-75% of bulk sedimentation in the lacustrine parts of the reservoir, near the dam. In contrast, autochthonous production accounted for only 25% of sedimentation in the riverine zone receiving stream inputs. Statistical analysis identified the δ~(15)N of organic matter as the best predictor of the source of organic matter. Multiple regression analysis indicated that two water-quality variables(nitrate and dissolved silica) were significantly related to the δ~(15)N signature of organic matter. This led to a conclusion that limnetic nitrate and dissolved silica concentrations were regulating organic matter production in the Solina Reservoir.     

Stable carbon and nitrogen isotopic composition of gas hydrate-bearing sediment from Hydrate Ridge,Cascadia Margin

Serious interest has been directed toward natural gas hydrate as a potential energy resource; factor in global climate change, and submarine geohazard since naturally occurring gas-hydrate deposits were found in the 1960s. Hydrate Ridge, Cascadia convergent mar- gin, is characterized by abundant methane hydrates at and below the seafloor, active venting of fluids and gases, chemosynthetic communities, and some of the highest methane oxidation rates ever found in the ma-rine environment. All of…     

Characterization of Estuarine and Fluvial Dissolved Organic Matter by Thermochemolysis using Tetramethylammonium Hydroxide

Selected samples of dissolved organic matter (DOM) isolated by ultrafiltration (UDOM) have been analyzed by thermochemolysis in the presence of tetramethylammonium hydroxide (TMAH). This technique cleaves ester and ether bonds of bio‐ and geological macromolecules and releases monomer subunits and methylates them in situ as their methyl ethers and methyl esters. Compared with conventional pyrolysis, TMAH thermochemolysis avoids decarboxylation of preexisting carboxylic moieties and produces aromatic acids as their methyl esters. Various phenolic derivatives, which might originate from incorporated lignin‐derived structures, from the highly aliphatic and resistant biopolymer cutan and also from proteinaceous materials, were identified among the products produced from UDOM upon thermochemolysis. The presence of lignin derivatives in UDOM indicates input of organic matter derived from terrestrial sources. Various aromatic acids, perhaps representing the final steps in the oxidation of the side‐chain during microbial oxidation of lignin, were released upon TMAH thermochemolysis, suggesting they are structural constituents of the UDOM. Different ratios of lignin‐derived materials, commonly determined using the CuO oxidation method, such as the Δ value, indicative of the amount of lignin present, the acid/aldehyde ratio (Ad/Al)_G, indicative of the extent of oxidative degradation of the lignin component, and the syringyl/guaiacyl (S/G) and p‐hydroxyphenyl/guaiacyl (P/G) ratios, indicative of the contribution for the different types of lignin, were determined.     

Sediment‐water Fluxes of Nutrients and Dissolved Organic Carbon in Extensive Sea Cucumber Culture Ponds

Sediment samples were collected from three seawater aquaculture ponds, and soil characteristics, sediment oxygen consumption (SOC), dissolved organic carbon (DOC) and nutrient fluxes were measured using chamber incubations at laboratory. The three ponds were each representing a specific monoculture or polyculture model of sea cucumber. Total organic carbon (TOC) and total nitrogen (TN) contents in the dry sediment ranged from 0.14 to 0.26% and 0.022 to 0.037%, respectively. Total phosphorus (TP) contents in the sediment were more spatially and temporally variable. SOC ranged from 15.29 to 45.86 mmol m^–2 d^–1 and showed significant differences among the three ponds (p < 0.05). TOC, total carbon (TC) contents, and SOC of the sediment in the pond polycultured with jellyfish increased with culture time, indicating that jellyfish farming enhanced the accumulation of organic matter in the sediments to some extent. Sediment showed net nitrate and ammonium uptake in most ponds and months, and significant differences were found among months (p < 0.05). Dissolved inorganic phosphate (DIP) was released from the sediments in all ponds with low flux rates. DOC was released from the sediment in all ponds and ranged from 0.67 to 1.74 g DOC m^–2 d^–1. The results suggested that non‐artificial‐feeding sea cucumber culture ponds could not only yield valuable seafood products, but also effectively remove nutrients from the aquaculture systems and consequently alleviate nutrient loadings of the nearby coast.     

Effects of pollen leaching and microbial degradation on organic carbon and nutrient availability in lake water

Nutrient fluxes across terrestrial-aquatic boundaries and their subsequent integration into lake nutrient cycles are currently a major topic of aquatic research. Although pollen represents a good substrate for microorganisms, it has been neglected as a terrestrial source of organic matter in lakes. In laboratory experiments, we incubated pollen grains of Pinus sylvestris in water of lakes with different trophy and pH to estimate effects of pollen input and its subsequent microbial degradation on nutrient dynamics. In this ex situ experiment, we measured concentrations of organic carbon, phosphorus and nitrogen in the surrounding water as well as microbial dynamics (bacteria and fungal sporangia) at well-controlled conditions. Besides leaching, chemical and microbial decomposition of pollen was strongest within the first week of incubation. This led to a marked increase of soluble reactive phosphorus and total dissolved nitrogen (up to 0.04 and 1.5 mg L⁻¹, respectively, after 5 days of incubation) in the ambient water. In parallel, pollen grains were rapidly colonized by heterotrophic bacteria and aquatic fungi. Leaching and microbial degradation of pollen accounted for ≥80, ≥40, ≥50% for organic C, N and P, respectively, and did not significantly differ among water samples from the studied lakes. Thus, pollen introduces high amounts of bio-available terrestrial organic matter and nutrients into surface waters within a short time. A rough calculation on P input into oligotrophic Lake Stechlin indicates that pollen plays an important ecological role in nutrient cycling of temperate lakes. This requires further attention in aquatic ecology.     

Different morphology of Nuphar lutea in two contrasting aquatic environments and its effect on ecosystem engineering

Aquatic plants (macrophytes) can have a large effect on river hydraulics and geomorphology. Though, the extent to how plant morphological plasticity actively influences these feedbacks has received little scientific attention. The nymphaeid macrophyte species Nuphar lutea (L.) Smith is characterized by a distinct leaf duality. Floating leaves shade most of the submerged leaves thereby limiting light penetration in the water. Despite their apparent negligible photosynthetic role, submerged leaves of N. lutea remain intact during summer and contribute a significant part to the total biomass. Our results indicate that the submerged leaves are crucial in plant–flow interactions and hence in the engineering potential of the plant, i.e. the capacity to locally reduce flow velocities and to promote sedimentation, including organic matter deposition. Plant individuals growing in running river water were compared to individuals from adjacent oxbow lake water. The number and size of submerged leaves were significantly higher for river standing individuals and the accumulated sediment contained significantly more organic matter, total nitrogen and total phosphorus, and was characterized by a lower carbon/nitrogen ratio and a finer grain size. We therefore argue that the submerged N. lutea canopy in rivers has the ability to create a high‐nutrient, low hydrodynamic environment, resembling the conditions found in oxbow lakes. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Nitrogen isotopic geochemical characteristics of crude oils in several basins of China

Nitrogen occupies a high content in crust and in atmospheric circle. It is one of the main elements in organism and an important element in sedimentary circle. Although nitrogen is little in crude oil, to a cer-tain degree, it influences the physical and chemical properties of oil, such as viscosity and density[1]. In reservoir the nitrogen-bearing compounds can form ion bonds or hydrogen bonds with substances on rock and form van der Vaals’ force among moleculae so they affect and alter the …     

有壳变形虫群落组成及与环境因子的关系——以山西滹沱河湿地为例

滹沱河湿地是山西省重要的湿地资源,对生物多样性的保护有至关重要的作用.有壳变形虫是一类生活在淡水生态系统中的原生动物,对环境变化响应敏感,是良好的环境生物指示剂.本研究主要对山西滹沱河流域6个湿地52个不同生境的沉积样品进行有壳变形虫物种组成及多样性分析,通过对有壳变形虫和环境因子数据进行排序分析探讨影响有壳变形虫群落分布的关键环境因子.结果显示:滹沱河湿地共记录有壳变形虫20种,其中斜口三足虫(Trinema enchelys)、顶足法帽虫(Phryganella acropodia)和线条三足虫(Trinema lineare)为优势种,相对丰度分别为23.4%、17.38%、13.48%.沉积物粒度和有机质含量对有壳变形虫的物种组成及多样性有显著影响,砂粒含量越低、有机质含量越高,有壳变形虫的丰富度和多样性就越高.CCA排序结果表明硝态氮和COD是影响有壳变形虫种类组成和分布的关键环境因子,解释量分别为19.6%和17.3%,而pH的解释量最小,为8.6%.本研究结果为山西湿地有壳变形虫的现代生态学研究提供借鉴,为湿地多样性保护、管理和修复提供理论支撑.     

The Structure of the Zooplankton Community and the Dynamics of its Biomass in the Lake Jaisamand (Rajasthan: India)

Zooplankton of the lake Jaisamand was represented by 50 taxa out of which 22 were Rotifera, 18 Cladocera, 5 Protozoa, 3 Copepoda and 2 Ostracoda. The total zooplankton exhibited a bimodal pattern with the first peak occurring in December and the second of a little less magnitude in June. The perennial zooplankters were Keratella valga, Brachionus falcatus from Rotifera, Ceriodaphnia spec. from Cladocera and Mesocyclops and Heterocyclops spp. from Copepoda. Considering surface zooplankton as a whole, Rotifera dominated the planktonic biomass followed by Copepoda, Cladocera, Ostracoda, Protozoa and Insecta. The species composition of the mid-stratum zooplankton was not much different from that of the surface. Interestingly, there was a presence of Cladocera in the anoxic bottom waters. The low and occasional presence of Calanoid copepods, the abundance of Cyclopoids and Cladocerans point to the eutrophication in the lake.     

Distribution and sources of sedimentary organic matter in a tropical estuary,south west coast of India (Cochin estuary): A baseline study

Surface sediments samples were collected from 9 stations of the Cochin estuary during the monsoon, post-monsoon and pre-monsoon seasons and were analyzed for grain size, total organic carbon (OC), total nitrogen (TN) and stable isotopic ratios of carbon (δ¹³C) and nitrogen (δ¹⁵N) to identify major sources of organic matter in surface sediments. Sediment grain size is found to be the key factor influencing the organic matter accumulation in surface sediments. The δ¹³C values ranges from ?27.5‰ to ?21.7‰ in surface sediments with a gradual increase from inner part of the estuary to the seaward side that suggest an increasing contribution of marine autogenous organic matter towards the seaward side. The δ¹⁵N value varies between 3.1‰ and 6.7‰ and it exhibits complex spatial and seasonal distributions in the study area. It is found that the dynamic cycling of nitrogen through various biogeochemical and organic matter degradation processes modifies the OC/TN ratios and δ¹⁵N to a considerable degree. The fraction of terrestrial organic matter in the total organic matter pool ranges from 13% to 74% in the surface sediments as estimated by δ¹³C based two end member mixing model.