察尔汗盐湖正构烷烃和单体碳同位素分布特征及其古植被意义

对察尔汗盐湖ISL1A钻孔沉积物样品进行了有机分子地球化学分析, 检测出了丰富的类脂物, 包括正构烷烃、一元正脂肪酸、一元正脂肪醇等, 本文主要讨论正构烷烃类脂物的分布特征。正构烷烃的分布型式表明其来源于低等菌藻类生物和陆生高等植物, 正构烷烃的高碳数部分均有显著的奇偶优势, 高碳数正构烷烃全部以C31 为主峰碳。正构烷烃分布特征表明在110.1~50.1 ka B.P.期间, 察尔汗盐湖地区为草原植被景观。对C27、C29、C31 长链正构烷烃进行了单体碳同位素测定, 利用二元模式估算了C3 和 C4 植物的相对输入贡献, 结果表明, 以C3 植物为主。     

安徽宣城更新世红土正构烷烃分布特征及其古植被意义

利用气相色谱一质谱联用仪(GC-MS)在安徽宣城更新世红土中检测出了微量的分子化石,包括正构烷烃、一元正脂肪酸、一元正脂肪醇以及α-正构脂肪酮等．正构烷烃的分布型式表明其来源于低等菌藻类生物和陆生高等植物,其中高碳数正构烷烃主要以C29为主峰,显示流域中的植被类型以木本植物为主;(C27 C29)／(C31 C33)比值的变化反映出,在以木本植物占优势的背景下,流域中草本植物的相对比例也发生了多次变化．这一比值在本剖面上表现出多阶段的变化．而且这种变化与岩性、粒度变化密切相关,反映出这些参数可能还蕴涵着古气候信息．     

白令海陆架区柱样沉积物脂类分子特征及其气候变化响应

为探究全球变暖对于高纬度海洋生态环境的影响,对中国第5次北极科学考察在白令海陆架区采集的BL16柱样沉积物中的脂类进行了研究.沉积物中检测到丰富的饱和烃和脂肪酸等化合物,其组成和分布显示,该沉积柱中有机质为陆源和海源混合输入.其中长链正构烷烃和长链饱和正构脂肪酸主要来源于陆源高等植物,饱和异构和反异构脂肪酸主要来源于海洋自生细菌,短碳链正构烷烃、反异构烷烃和烷基环戊烷烃的浓度相互间有较好的相关性,表明其来源较为一致,主要来源于海洋浮游藻类和细菌.海源短链正构烷烃与陆源长链正构烷烃的比值∑C_15-21/∑C_23-33在0.14~0.90之间,表明该沉积柱中正构烷烃主要以陆源输入为主.沉积柱中短链正构烷烃、反异构烷烃和烷基环戊烷浓度,以及脂肪酸中异构、反异构脂肪酸组分与长链饱和正构脂肪酸组分的相对变化与总有机碳含量（TOC）、总氮含量（TN）变化一致,尤其在20世纪70年代以来明显升高,可能反映了海洋初级生产力持续增加的趋势,并且对全球变暖做出了灵敏的响应.      

Characterization of organic matter deposited in the oriental zone from Moknine hypersaline environment, oriental Tunisia

The geochemistry data show that the total organic carbon （TOC） contents are high in the surface sediments in the eastern part of the Moknine＇ s Sebkha. Low decreasing of organic matter （ OM ） with increasing depth indicates the good preservation of OM in modern sediments. ＂Lignite levels＂ inserted in the sand sequence and deposited at the edge and in the intermediate zone are considered as lithologic and organic markers. It is characterized by high TOC and poor hydrogen index （HI） , indicating a higher plant origin and good preservation of OM in thin beds under anoxic condition. In all samples low values of HI are typical for strong terrigenous input in the Sebkha. Gas chromatography （GC） of saturate fraction showed that OM in the border zone is provided from plants but in the central zone OM is a mixture of terrestrial fraction and little fraction from microalgae. The study of free lipids indicated that this environment was influenced by intense bacterial and microbial activities, as evidenced by the abundance of n-alkanes and nC18-nC22.     

Suspended sediments and organic matter in mountain headwaters of the Amazon River: Results from a 1-year time series study in the central Peruvian Andes

Few studies have examined the dynamics of sediments and suspended organic matter and their export from headwater basins in the Andes Mountains to the Amazon River, despite the fact that the Andes are the primary source of sediments to the lower Amazon basin. We measured river discharge as well as the concentration, δ¹⁵N, δ¹³C, %N, and %OC of coarse and fine suspended sediments (CSS and FSS) in the Chorobamba River, located in the central Andean Amazon of Peru. Samples were taken at least weekly over an entire year (July 2004-July 2005), with additional sampling during storms. Concentrations of particulate organic matter (POM) were generally low in the study river, with concentrations increasing by up to several orders of magnitude during episodic rain events. Because both overall flow volumes and POM concentrations increased under stormflow conditions, the export of POM was enhanced multiplicatively during these events. We estimated that a minimum of 80% of annual suspended sediment transfer occurred during only about 10 days of the year, also accounting for 74% of particulate organic carbon and 64% of particulate organic nitrogen transport. Significant differences occurred between seasons (wet and dry) for δ¹³C of coarse and fine POM in the Chorobamba River, reflecting seasonal changes in organic matter sources. The time series data indicate that this Andean river exports approximately equal amounts of fine and coarse POM to the lower Amazon. The observation that the vast majority of sediments and associated OM exported from Andean rivers is mobilized during short, infrequent storm events and landslides has important implications for our understanding of Amazon geochemistry, especially in the face of incipient global change.     

Organic matter diagenesis in shallow water carbonate sediments

Muddy carbonate deposits near the Dry Tortugas, Florida, are characterized by high organic carbon remineralization rates. However, approximately half of the total sedimentary organic matter potentially supporting remineralization is occluded in CaCO₃ minerals (intracrystalline). While a portion of nonintracrystalline organic matter appears to cycle rapidly, intracrystalline organic matter has an approximately constant concentration with depth, suggesting that as long as its protective mineral matrix is intact, it is not readily remineralized. Organic matter in excess of intracrystalline organic matter that is preserved may have a variety of mineral associations (e.g., intercrystalline, adsorbed or detrital). In surface sediment, aspartic acid contributed ∼22 mole % and ∼50 mole % to nonintracrystalline and intracrystalline pools, respectively. In deeper sediment (1.6-1.7m), the composition of hydrolyzable amino acids in both pools was similar (aspartic acid ∼40 mole %). Like amino acids, intracrystalline and nonintracrystalline fatty acids have different compositions in surface sediments, but are indistinguishable at depth. These data suggest that preserved organic matter in the nonintracrystalline pool is stabilized by its interactions with CaCO₃. Neutral lipids are present in very low abundances in the intracrystalline pool and are extensively degraded in both the intracrystalline and nonintracrystalline pools, suggesting that mineral interactions do not protect these compounds from degradation. The presence of chlorophyll-a, but absence of phytol, in the intracrystalline lipid pool demonstrates that chloropigments are present only in the nonintracrystalline pool. Sedimentary chloropigments decrease with depth at similar rates in Dry Tortugas sediments as found in alumino-silicate sediments from the Long Island Sound, suggesting that chloropigment degradation is largely unaffected by mineral interactions. Overall, however, inclusion and protection of organic matter by biominerals is a major pathway for organic matter preservation in this low-organic carbon, biomineral-rich regime.     

Characteristic of quaternary sedimentation on a shelf of the Laptev Sea according to the molecular composition of n-alkanes

The molecular composition and distribution of the concentration of n-alkanes are considered for sediments of boreholes drilled in the shallow part of the Laptev Sea, in the area of Buor Khaya Gulf. The diverse molecular composition of n-alkanes is dominated by long-chain odd homologs, which indicate terrigenous organic matter (OM). Heterogeneous distribution and burial of OM are shown under conditions of pulsating contribution of river and thermoabrasive material and multiple changes in them up to hiatuses in sedimentation.     

若尔盖高原全新世气候序列的类脂分子化石记录*

基于可靠的年代标尺,结合青藏高原泥炭沉积剖面的有机碳、孢粉等相关资料,首次在该区利用类脂分子化石指标建立了全新世以来的气候与环境演化序列。结果表明,正构烷烃、脂肪酸和脂肪醇等类脂分子化石指标存有意义的规律性变化。其中,反映低等菌藻生物和高等植物相对变化的轻组分与重组分之比L/H以及平均碳链长度ACL具有很好的古气候意义,即L/H高,ACL低,指示气候偏暖湿;L/H低,ACL高,指示气候偏干冷。各个类脂分子化石指标记录的气候信息在细节上具有一定的差异,可能是不同类脂物分子的地球化学行为和生物组成结构的不同以及对气候因素温湿组合变化响应各异的体现。同时,也较好地揭示了类脂分子化石具有自己的敏感性,在细节上较传统的有机碳指标在记录气候信息上更为敏感。该研究进一步突出了这些泥炭类脂分子化石在第四纪研究中的重要地位和应用潜力。     

湖北清江和尚洞洞顶植物叶片和土壤的类脂物对比及其意义

用GC-MS对湖北清江岩溶地区和尚洞洞顶植物叶片与该洞上覆土壤层中的类脂物进行了分析和对比。在植物叶片中检测出了一系列直链烷烃、脂肪酸、以及丙三醇、植醇和甾醇等类脂物,其中直链烷烃的碳数分布范围大体在C21～C36之间,以C29或C31为主峰且具有奇偶优势;脂肪酸的分布主要集中在中、短链脂肪酸内（C数<23）,以C16为主峰呈单峰型分布且具有偶奇优势;醇的分布很不规则,仅检测出丙三醇,植醇和三种甾醇,没有检测到脂肪酮类化合物。与之相比,洞顶上覆土壤层中检测出更加丰富的类脂物。类脂物具有如下特征:正构烷烃以C31为主峰,还存在低碳数正构烷烃和异构烷烃,如2-甲基、3-甲基、4-甲基、5-甲基、6-甲基、7-甲基、8-甲基等一系列的单甲基支链烷烃,这些支链烷烃显示了微生物的贡献;脂肪酸分布也以低碳数的C16为主峰,且低碳数脂肪酸的含量较植物叶片中明显的增加,同时一些异构和反异构脂肪酸（C14∶0,C15∶0和C17∶0）以及一些单不饱和脂肪酸（C16∶1,C17∶1,C18∶1和C20∶1）也被检测到,也表明土壤中的脂肪酸不仅存在高等植物的贡献,还存在微生物的来源;没有植醇,但出现姥鲛烷和植烷并检测到了一系列脂肪醇化合物,碳数分布在C21～C36之间;检测到一系列的酮,具有奇偶优势,碳数分布范围在C23～C30和C33。高等植物叶片和土壤的差异反映了微生物对高等植物类脂物输入到土壤过程的重要贡献。本研究工作不仅提供了该岩溶地区植物叶片的类脂物信息,还为研究土壤有机质的来源和植物叶片中类脂物在地质过程中的转变提供信息,更为研究岩溶地区滴水和石笋中类脂物的来源提供一定的参考。     

甘南沼泽沉积脂类生物标志化合物的组成特征

较为系统地分析了寒冷潮湿高原气候条件下形成的沼泽泥炭中脂类化合物，研究了它们的组成，来源和成岩过程，结果表明，正构烷烃，正构烯烃，正构脂肪酸，直链烷基酮和直链烷基醇都由长链组分所构成，这些长链组分来自草本植物，并且得到它们单体碳同位素证据的支持，丰富的奥利烯醇和羽扇烷醇均起源于陆源高等植物，存在很少报道过的一系列藿醇化合物，它们起源于细菌，甾酮和甾醇都以C29组分为主，C28和C29组分主要来自高等植物，而27组分则具有一个细菌源。无奇偶优势的短链正构烷烃，细菌起源的脂肪酸（C14，C15，异构和不饱和脂肪酸），直链烷基－2－酮，藿类和一些甾酮的存在，都说明在这种沉积环境中沉积有机质已经历了强烈改造作用。甾烯酮和甾烯醇分别向它们烷烃的化学和生物化学转化也十分明显。     

Nature of particulate organic matter in the River Indus,Pakistan

Suspended sediments from the Indus River collected during 1981 through 1983 were analyzed for POC and its constituent fractions including amino acids, amino sugars and sugars. Percentage of POC decreased with increasing suspended matter concentrations, which suggested dilution of organic matter by mineral matter.The concentrations of amino acids, amino sugars and sugars varied, respectively, between 180 and 2000 μg/l, 5 and 125 μg/l, and 60 and 1100 μg/l. Their contributions to POC varied between 2 and 60% for amino acids and amino sugars, and between 2 and 15% for sugars. They were high during low sediment discharge (February to June), and low during high sediment discharge (August and September). Suspended sediments associated with high sediment discharge periods were characterized by low ratios of:

• 1.(i) aspartic acid:β-alanine
• 2.(ii) glutamic acid:γ-aminobutyric acid
• 3.(iii) amino acids:amino sugars
• 4.(iv) hexoses:pentoses. These and the relative distribution pattern of the monosaccharides such as galactose, arabinose, mannose and xylose indicated that, not only dilution, but also differences in the sources and processes affect the POC transport in the Indus River. These result in transport of biodegraded organic matter during high sediment discharge periods: this appears to be common to other major rivers of the region, with depositional centers in deep sea areas. These rivers, with their high sediment loads, could contribute up to 8 to 11% of the global annual organic carbon burial in marine sediments.

     

Constraining Sources of Organic Matter to Tropical Coastal Sediments: Consideration of Nontraditional End-members

Molar organic carbon to total nitrogen to organic phosphorus (OC:TN:OP) ratios are used in tandem with carbon isotopic values to constrain sources of organic matter (OM) to marine sediments in a tropical coastal embayment. Analysis of end-members specific to the study site indicates that the bulk OM pool cannot be modeled as a simple mixture of two end-members (terrestrial vs. marine OM), but rather reflects a more complex, multicomponent mixture. Mangrove, coral reef ecosystems, and bacterial biomass contribute OM to tropical coastal marine sediments that is compositionally distinct from traditional marine and terrestrial end-members and thus preclude the application of a classical two end-member mixing model of the sort that has been used traditionally in sediments from temperate environments. A survey of elemental ratios and carbon isotopic values of potential OM end-members reported in the literature, as well as depth profiles before and after whole-core incubation experiments conducted as part of this study, were used to evaluate the strength of OC:TN versus OC:OP ratios as OM source indices. Our study suggests that OC:TN ratios are a weaker indicator of OM source than OC:OP ratios, because: (1) the more restricted dynamic range of OC:TN ratios prevents clear distinction of terrestrial-from marine-derived OM, and (2) post-depositional changes in OC:TN ratios occur during diagenesis, obscuring the source signature of initially deposited OM. The fidelity of OM indices during early diagenesis underscores the importance of quantifying OP in sediments to assess sedimentary OM source.     

Biomarkers in surface sediments from the Cross River and estuary system,SE Nigeria: Assessment of organic matter sources of natural and anthropogenic origins

Herein, lipid biomarker analysis is applied to surface sediments from the southeastern Niger Delta region for the quantitative determination of aliphatic lipids, steroids and triterpenoids in order to differentiate between natural (autochthonous vs. allochthonous) and anthropogenic organic matter (OM) inputs to this deltaic environment. This ecosystem, composed of the Cross, Great Kwa and Calabar Rivers, is receiving new attention due to increased human and industrial development activities and the potential effects of these activities impacting its environmental health. While the presence of low molecular weight n-alkanes (<C₂₂) and the fossil biomarkers pristane and phytane in all samples, are indicative of a minor petroleum related input, the total extractable organic component of the surface sediments of these rivers remains predominantly of a natural origin as characterized by the variety and predominance of lipid classes that are mainly derived from the epicuticular waxes of vascular plants and include n-alkanes, n-alkanols, n-alkan-2-ones, n-alkanoic acids, steroids and triterpenoids. In addition, recent OM inputs from microorganisms are indicated by the presence of lower molecular weight n-alkanoic acids (C_max = 16), while the major triterpenoids of the sediments, taraxerol and friedelin, and the major sterol, sitosterol, indicate recent OM inputs from vascular plants. Plankton-derived sterols, such as fucosterol and dinosterol, are also found in sediments from the Cross and Great Kwa Rivers and likely originate from autochthonous primary productivity. Furthermore, the coprosterols coprostanol and 24-ethylcoprostanol are present in most samples and indicate measurable anthropogenic contributions from domestic untreated sewage inputs and agricultural run-off, respectively. Of the three rivers studied, the Cross River system was excessively influenced by human and industrial development activities, including drivers such as urbanization and population center growth, land-use change to support agricultural production and animal husbandry, and petroleum exploration and production. These influences were found to be regionally specific as controlled by point sources of pollution based on the relative distributions measured and on the fact that the molecular characteristics of sedimentary OM were not distributed smoothly along a gradient.     

Organic matter of the World Ocean

Available data on synthesis, input, and decomposition of organic matter (OM) in the water column and recent bottom sediments of the World Ocean are generalized. The most reliable values of OM production and masses in the ocean, the total supply of organic carbon, and the input of terrigenous OM with coastal erosion, river runoff, and eolian matter are estimated. Maps of fossilization coefficients, distribution, and accumulation of OM in recent bottom sediments of the World Ocean are presented. A numerical expression is proposed for the main circumcontinental pattern of OM accumulation in the ocean. The group and elemental compositions of living matter of the ocean, land, and the Earth as a whole and the organic composition of bottom sediments are briefly considered.     

Origin and transport of sedimentary organic matter in the Yalujiang estuary,North China

The biogeochemistry of organic matter (OM) in a macrotidal estuary, the Yalujiang River, was studied during two cruises: the flood season in August 1994 and the dry season in April 1996. Surface sediments were collected in the riverine zone (RZ), the turbidity maximum zone (TMZ), and the marine zone (MZ). The molecular distribution of the n-alkanes and fatty acid series and bulk sediment characteristics, such as C:N and δ¹³C, were used to assess differences in OM source and transport from the river upstream to the marine end member. Higher C:N values typical for terrestrial sources were observed at the upper reach for both seasons. The δ¹³C of OM in surface sediments varied from −27.3‰ to −21.6‰ in the flood season and from −26.8‰ to −31‰ in the dry season. The concentrations of n-alkanes varied between 0.3–21.4 μg g⁻¹ and the variation of fatty acids was 4.8–32.9 μg g⁻¹. The data showed mixing of terrestrial and autochthonous OM in the middle and lower reaches. The distribution of lipids (n-alkanes and Carbon Preference Index) encountered in this study confirmed the importance of terrestrial OM in the sediment samples from degraded soil material. The distribution of fatty acids suggested important phytoplankton, zooplankton, and microbial signals (short-chain and unsaturated acids; ≤C₂₀). Branched fatty acids, such as the iso- and anteiso-C₁₅ and C₁₇ compounds, relfect bacterial contributions. All samples were characterized by a high proportion of mixture inputs in both seasons. A slight decreasing trend was observed with increasing salinity except for the highest percentage of mixed fatty acids in the TMZ of the flood season. Terrestrial fatty acids were approximately 20% in the flood season and 27–46% in the dry season. Differences in hydrological conditions and primary production between the TMZ, RZ, and MZ resulted in different OM distributions, which are reflected in the sources and degree of diagenesis of the sedimentary OM. Seasonal variation may be strongly influenced by hydrological characteristics rather than primary productivity and anthropogenic activities in the Yalujiang region.     

Transformation of particulate organic matter at the water-bottom boundary in the Russian Arctic seas: Evidence from isotope and radioisotope data

Complex biogeochemical studies including the determination of isotopic composition of C_org in both suspended particulate matter and surface horizon (0–1 cm) of sediments (more than 260 determinations of δ¹³C-C_org) were carried out for five Arctic shelf seas: White, Barents, Kara, East Siberian, and Chukchi. The aim of this study is to elucidate causes that change the isotopic composition of particulate organic carbon at the water-sediment boundary. It is shown that the isotopic composition of C_org in sediments from seas with a high river runoff (White, Kara, and East Siberian) does not inherit the isotopic composition of C_org in particles precipitating from the water column, but is enriched in heavy ¹³C. Seas with a low river runoff (Barents and Chukchi) show insignificant difference between the value of δ¹³C-C_org in both suspended load and sediment because of a low content of the isotopically light allochthonous organic matter (OM) in particulates. Complex biogeochemical studies with radioisotope tracers (¹⁴CO₂, ³⁵S, and ¹⁴CH₄) revealed the existence of specific microbial filter formed from heterotrophic and autotrophic organisms at the water-sediment boundary. This filter prevents the mass influx of products of OM decomposition into water column, as well as reduces the influx of a part of OM contained in the suspended particulate matter from water into sediment.     

Composition and genesis of the organic matter in the bottom sediments of the East Siberian Sea

The chemical composition of organic matter (C_org, N_org, δ¹³C, δ¹⁵N, and n-alkanes) was studied in the top layer of bottom sediments of the East Siberian Sea. Possible ways were proposed to estimate the amount of the terrigenous component in their organic matter (OM). The fraction of terrigenous OM estimated by the combined use of genetic indicators varied from 15% in the eastern part of the sea, near the Long Strait, to 95% in the estuaries of the Indigirka and Kolyma rivers, averaging 62% over the sea area.     

Geochemical Characteristics of Amino Acids in Sediments of Lake Taihu, A Large, Shallow, Eutrophic Freshwater Lake of China

To examine the biogeochemistry of amino acids (AAs) in the sediment of Lake Taihu, surface sediments (0–3 cm) and deeper sediments (18–21 cm) were collected at 21 sites from different ecotype zones of the lake. AAs were extracted from the sediments, and the total hydrolyzable amino acids (THAA) were determined by high-performance liquid chromatography instrument. The THAA contents in Taihu sediment were much lower than that in marine sediments, ranging from 6.84 to 38.24 μmol g⁻¹ in surface sediments and from 2.91 to 18.75 μmol g⁻¹ in deeper sediments in Taihu, respectively. AAs were a major fraction of the organic matter (OM) and organic nitrogen in Taihu sediments. The AAs on average contributed 8.2% of organic carbon (OC) and 25.0% of total nitrogen (TN) from surface sediments, and 5.9% of OC and 20.5% of TN in deeper sediments, respectively. AA composition provided very useful information about the degradation of OM. Glycine (Gly) and lysine (Lys) were the predominant forms of AAs in the sediments, irrespective of lake regions, followed by alanine, glutamic acid, serine (Ser), and aspartic acid (Asp). The high concentrations of Gly, Lys, and Ser suggested that these forms of AAs were relatively refractory during OM degradation in sediments. The relationship between the Asp/Gly ratio and Ser + Thr [mol%] indicated that OM in surface sediment was relatively fresher than that in deeper sediments. The AAs-based degradation index (DI) gave a similar conclusion. The composition and DI of AAs in surface sediments are markedly different across different zones in Taihu. The percentages of AAs to organic carbon (AA-C%) and total nitrogen (AA-N%) were higher in phytoplankton-dominated zones than those in macrophyte-dominated zones. These results suggest that DI could provide useful information about the degradation of OM in shallow lakes such as Taihu.     

Composition of particulate organic matter in the southern Chesapeake Bay: Sources and Reactivity

The distribution of two classes of lipid biomarker compounds (fatty acids and sterols) was used in conjunction with several bulk parameters (total suspended solids, chlorophyll a, and particulate carbon and nitrogen concentrations) to examine spatial and temporal variability in the sources of particulate organic matter (POM) important to southern Chesapeake Bay. Based on these geochemical parameters, we found that suspended and sedimentary organic matter in the southern Chesapeake Bay is derived from autochthonous sources including a mixture of fresh and detrital phytoplankton, zooplankton, and bacteria. The dominant factor contributing to temporal variability during our study was phytoplankton productivity. Enrichments in particulate organic carbon, chlorophyll a, total fatty acids, total sterols, and a number of biomarkers specific to phytoplankton sources were found in particles collected from surface (1 m) and deep (1 m above the bottom) portions of the water column at several sites during the spring bloom in March 1996 and during a localized bloom in July 1995. Comparison of sites at the mouths of two tributaries (York and Rappahannock rivers) to southern Chesapeake Bay with two sites located in the bay mainsterm indicates spatial variation in the composition of POM was not significant in this region of the bay. The energetic nature of this region of the Chesapeake Bay most likely contributes to the observed homogeneity. Comparison with biomarker studies conducted in other estuaries suggests the high levels of productivity characteristic of the Chesapeake Bay contribute to high background levels of POM.     

Organic carbon concentrations and transport in small mountain rivers,Panama

Tropical small mountainous rivers (SMRs) are increasingly recognized for their role in the global export of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) to the oceans. Here we utilize the Isthmus of Panama as an ideal place to provide first-order estimates of DOC yields across a wide assemblage of bedrock lithologies and land cover practices. Samples for dissolved organic carbon (DOC) analysis were collected across Panama along an E–W transect from the central Panama area to the Costa Rican border for 24 mainstem rivers, 3 large tributary rivers, and one headwater stream. Sampling occurred during both the wet and the dry seasons. DOC concentrations during the wet season are higher than during the dry season in all but three of the rivers. Concentrations vary greatly from river to river and from season to season, with values as low as 0.64 mg l⁻¹ to greater than >25 mg l⁻¹ with the highest concentrations observed for the rivers draining Tertiary marine sedimentary rocks in the Burica and Azuero peninsulas. DOC yields from Panamanian rivers (2.29–7.97 tons/km²/y) are similar to or slightly lower than those determined for other tropical SMR systems. Areas underlain by Tertiary aged sediments exhibited significantly higher mean DOC yields compared to their igneous counterparts, despite maintaining substantially lower aboveground carbon densities, suggesting the important influence of lithology. Finally, regression analyses between DOC yields and select watershed parameters revealed a negative and statistically significant relationship with maximum and mean gradient suggesting lower soil retention times may be linked to lower DOC yields.