楚科奇和西伯利亚陆架颗粒有机物的来源：碳、氮同位素的线索

The stable isotopic composition(δ~(13)C and δ~(15)N) and carbon/nitrogen ratio(C/N) of particulate organic matter(POM) in the Chukchi and East Siberian shelves from July to September, 2016 were measured to evaluate the spatial variability and origin of POM. The δ~(13)C_(POC) values were in the range of -29.5‰ to-17.5‰ with an average of -25.9‰±2.0‰, and the δ~(15)N_(PN) values ranged from 3.9‰ to 13.1‰ with an average of 8.0‰±1.6‰. The C/N ratios in the East Siberian shelf were generally higher than those in the Chukchi shelf, while the δ~(13)C and δ~(15)N values were just the opposite. Abnormally low C/N ratios(4), low δ~(13)C_(POC)(almost-28‰) and high δ~(15)N_(PN)(10‰) values were observed in the Wrangel Island polynya, which was attributed to the early bloom of small phytoplankton. The contributions of terrestrial POM, bloom-produced POM and non-bloom marine POM were estimated using a three end-member mixing model. The spatial distribution of terrestrial POM showed a high fraction in the East Siberian shelf and decreased eastward, indicating the influence of Russian rivers. The distribution of non-bloom marine POM showed a high fraction in the Chukchi shelf with the highest fraction occurring in the Bering Strait and decreased westward, suggesting the stimulation of biological production by the Pacific inflow in the Chukchi shelf. The fractions of bloom-produced POM were highest in the winter polynya and gradually decreased toward the periphery. A negative relationship between the bloom-produced POM and the sea ice meltwater inventory was observed, indicating that the net sea ice loss promotes early bloom in the polynya.Given the high fraction of bloom-produced POM, the early bloom of phytoplankton in the polynyas may play an important role on marine production and POM export in the Arctic shelves.     

Sources and distribution of organic matter in a river-dominated estuary (Winyah Bay, SC, USA)

The sources and distribution of organic matter (OM) in surface waters and sediments from Winyah Bay (South Carolina, USA) were investigated using a variety of analytical techniques, including elemental, stable isotope and organic biomarker analyses. Several locations along the estuary salinity gradient were sampled during four different periods of contrasting river discharge and tidal range. The dissolved organic carbon (DOC) concentrations of surface waters ranged from 7 mg l⁻¹ in the lower bay stations closest to the ocean to 20 mg l⁻¹ in the river and upper bay samples. There was a general linear relationship between DOC concentrations and salinity in three of the four sampling periods. In contrast, particulate organic carbon (POC) concentrations were significantly lower (0.1–3 mg l⁻¹) and showed no relationship with salinity. The high molecular weight dissolved OM (HMW DOM) isolated from selected water samples collected along the bay displayed atomic carbon:nitrogen ratios ([C/N]a) and stable carbon isotopic compositions of organic carbon (δ¹³C_OC) that ranged from 10 to 30 and from −28 to −25‰, respectively. Combined, such compositions indicate that in most HMW DOM samples, the majority of the OM originates from terrigenous sources, with smaller contributions from riverine and estuarine phytoplankton. In contrast, the [C/N]a ratios of particulate OM (POM) samples varied significantly among the collection periods, ranging from low values of 5 to high values of >20. Overall, the trends in [C/N]a ratios indicated that algal sources of POM were most important during the early and late summer, whereas terrigenous sources dominated in the winter and early spring.In Winyah Bay bottom sediments, the concentrations of the mineral-associated OM were positively correlated with sediment surface area. The [C/N]a ratios and δ¹³C_OC compositions of the bulk sedimentary OM ranged from 5 to 45 and from −28 to −23‰, respectively. These compositions were consistent with predominant contributions of terrigenous sources and lesser (but significant) inputs of freshwater, estuarine and marine phytoplankton. The highest terrigenous contents were found in sediments from the river and upper bay sites, with smaller contributions to the lower parts of the estuary. The yields of lignin-derived CuO oxidation products from Winyah Bay sediments indicated that the terrigenous OM in these samples was composed of variable mixtures of relatively fresh vascular plant detritus and moderately altered soil OM. Based on the lignin phenol compositions, most of this material appeared to be derived from angiosperm and gymnosperm vascular plant sources similar to those found in the upland coastal forests in this region. A few samples displayed lignin compositions that suggested a more significant contribution from marsh C₃ grasses. However, there was no evidence of inputs of Spartina alterniflora (a C₄ grass) remains from the salt marshes that surround the lower sections of Winyah Bay.     

Carbon and nitrogen isotope composition of particulate organic matter in relation to mucilage formation in the northern Adriatic Sea

Carbon and nitrogen stable isotope ratios of particulate organic matter (POM) were studied approximately weekly during spring and summer 2003 and 2004 in the Gulf of Trieste (northern Adriatic Sea) in order to track the temporal variations and differences between two years. In parallel, particulate organic carbon (POC) and particulate nitrogen (PN), phytoplankton biomass (chlorophyll a), and N and P nutrients were monitored. All studied parameters, especially N and P nutrients and chlorophyll a, showed higher concentrations and larger variability in spring 2004. As a consequence the macroaggregates were produced in late spring 2004. The C and N isotope composition of POM was not directly linked to phytoplankton biomass dynamics. The δ¹³C_POC values covaried with temperature. In 2004, δ¹³C_POC variations followed the δ¹⁵N_PN values as well as the δ¹³C_DIC values which were probably more dependent on the photosynthetic use of ¹²C. Variations in δ¹⁵N_POM values were most probably the consequence of variations in N nutrient sources used in phytoplankton assimilation. The significant correlation between δ¹⁵N_PN values and nitrate concentrations in 2004 implies intense nitrate assimilation in the presence of higher nitrate concentration. This suggests nitrate as the key nutrient in the »new primary production«, later producing macroaggregates with a mean δ¹³C and δ¹⁵N values of − 19‰ and 5‰, respectively. A low fractionation factor ε, < 1‰, lower than that reported in other marine and lacustrine systems, was found probably to be a consequence of distinct phytoplankton species, i.e. several classes of autotrophic nanoflagellates, and specific growth conditions present in the Gulf of Trieste. The tentative use of C isotope composition of POM revealed a higher contribution of allochthonous organic matter in 2004 compared to 2003 due to higher riverine inflow.     

夏季大亚湾悬浮颗粒有机物碳、氮同位素组成及其物源指示

2015年夏季开展了大亚湾悬浮颗粒有机物碳（POC）、氮含量（PN）及其同位素组成的研究,结果表明,δ13C_POC和δ15N_PN的变化范围分别为-25.7‰~-17.4‰和-6.3‰~10.4‰,平均值分别为-20.2‰和8.2‰。大亚湾悬浮颗粒有机物含量及其碳氮同位素组成的空间变化反映了不同有机质来源的影响:喜洲岛附近海域表现出高POC、PN、δ13C_POC和δ15N_PN的特征,指征着浮游植物水华的主导贡献;东北部范和港附近海域具有高POC、PN、低δ13C_POC和高δ15N_PN的特征,反映了河流/河口水生有机物的影响;湾顶白寿湾附近海域的δ13C_POC和δ15N_PN出现低值,体现了陆源有机质和人类污水排放的影响。借助δ13C_POC和δ15N_PN的三端元混合模型,定量出海洋自生有机质、陆源有机质、河流/河口水生有机质等3个来源的贡献平均分别为70%、13%和17%,其中海洋自生有机质是夏季大亚湾悬浮颗粒有机物的最主要来源。从这3种来源颗粒有机物含量的空间变化看,海洋自生有机质含量由湾内向湾外减少,与初级生产力的空间变化相对应;河流/河口水生有机质含量在大亚湾东北部出现高值;陆源有机质含量在表、底层出现不同态势,表层陆源有机物含量在湾中部海域最低,而底层则呈现出自湾内向湾口增加的趋势,主要受控于离岸距离和珠江冲淡水、粤东沿岸上升流输送的影响。     

厦门湾上屿附近海域悬浮颗粒物中若干元素的时空分布特征

本文测定了在厦门湾上的屿附近海域定点站６个航次所采集悬浮颗粒物中Ｆｅ,Ｍｎ,Ａｌ,Ｔｉ,Ｂａ和Ｃａ６种金属元素的含量,并结合相关要素,探讨了该海域悬浮颗粒物的化学组成及其生物地球化学特性。对悬浮颗粒物中Ｆｅ,Ｍｎ,Ａｌ,Ｔｉ,Ｂａ和Ｃａ等元素的垂直分布与时间变异研究发现,它们多数与悬浮颗粒物关系密切,沉积物再悬浮作用是控制水体尤其是底层水悬浮颗粒物时空变化的主要因素。     

Variation of reactivity of particulate and sedimentary organic matter along the Zhujiang River Estuary

To investigate organic matter source and reactivity in the Zhujiang River (Pearl River)Estuary and its adjacent areas, particulate organic carbon (POC), particulate hydrolysable amino acids (PHAA), and Chl a during two cruises in July 1999 and July 2000 were measured. The highest POC and PHAA concentration was observed in the waters with maximum Chl a. The spectra distribution,relative content (dry weight in milligram per gram), PHAA-C% POC and other indicators such as the ratios of amino acids vs. amino sugars (AA/AS) and glucosamine vs. galactosamine (Glum/Gal) suggested that particulate amino acids in the water column and sediments in the Zhujiang River Estuary were mainly derived from biogenic processes rather than transported from terrestrial erosion. In inner estuary where high turbidity was often observable, organic matter was mainly contributed by re-suspension of bottom sediments with revealed zooplankton, microbial reworked characteristics, which suggest that these organic matters were relatively “old“. In the estuarine brackish region, organic matter in water column is mainly contributed by relatively fresh, easily degradable phytoplankton derived organic matter.During physical - biological processes within the eastuary, organic matter derived from phytoplankton was subjected to alteration by zooplankton grazing and bacterial reworking.     

Potential source and diagenetic signatures of oceanic dissolved and particulate organic matter as distinguished by lipid biomarker distributions

Potential biogenic sources of ultrafiltered dissolved and suspended particulate organic matter (UDOM and POM, respectively) from the Sargasso Sea (SS) and North Central Pacific (NCP) Ocean were investigated using lipid biomarker compounds. Organic carbon (OC) concentrations were ~ 20–40 times greater in UDOM than POM and decreased with depth. However, total OC-normalized lipid concentrations were 2–3 orders of magnitude higher in POM than in UDOM. Particulate total lipids decreased 3–10-fold with depth, compared to 10–20% for dissolved total lipids. Total fatty acids (FA), the most abundant lipids, showed similar patterns as total lipids, comprising ~ 62–88% of the total lipids analyzed in UDOM and ~ 57–84% in POM.FA were dominated by straight-chain saturated compounds followed by monounsaturated, polyunsaturated, and branched FA. Polyunsaturated FA were enriched in POM vs. UDOM and in surface vs. deep waters for both UDOM and POM, likely reflecting the algal origins and greater reactivity of surface-derived materials. In both UDOM and POM, sterols of planktonic origin dominated, including cholest-5-en-3β-ol (C₂₇Δ⁵), 24-methylcholesta-5,24(28)E-dien-3β-ol (C₂₈Δ^5,24(28)) and 24-ethylcholest-5-3β-ol (C₂₉Δ⁵), with varying contributions from cholesta-5,22E-3β-ol (C₂₇Δ^5,22), 24-methylcholesta-5,22E-3β-ol (C₂₈Δ^5,22) and 24-ethylcholesta-5,22E-3β-ol (C₂₉Δ^5,22).Factor analysis of lipid biomarkers showed major differences between the UDOM and POM pools and for each pool as a function of depth, but not between the SS and NCP. While UDOM and POM biomarkers were both dominated by autochthonous sources, differences between the two pools suggest potential effects from some combination of source and diagenetic factors. The lipid biomarker data are further evaluated relative to previous studies of radiocarbon (¹⁴C) and elemental (C:N:P) characteristics of UDOM and POM in the SS and NCP.     

Vertical and seasonal differences in biogenic silica dissolution in natural seawater in Suruga Bay, Japan: Effects of temperature and organic matter

Vertical and seasonal characteristics of biogenic silica (BSi) dissolution in seawater were investigated by multiple dissolution experiments using seawater collected from surface and mesopelagic layers in Suruga Bay during the period 2002–2004. The dissolution rate coefficients calculated based on temporal changes of BSi concentration varied with the season of sample collection. They ranged from 0.023–0.057 day^− 1 for surface samples and 0.0018–0.0025 day^− 1 for mesopelagic samples for temperatures approaching in situ conditions. Experiments at various temperatures confirmed that BSi dissolution depends on temperature in natural seawater. Dissolution rate coefficient (day^− 1) of BSi correlated significantly with temperature (°C), and Q₁₀ was 2.6. Addition of bioavailable organic matter to low-bioactivity seawater enhanced the protease activity and abundance of bacteria, and increased BSi dissolution rate by a factor of 1.4–2.0. There is clear evidence that BSi dissolution is accelerated by bacterial activity and potentially limited by bioavailable organic matter in natural seawater. Dissolution rates and total decreases of BSi concentration were lower during experiments using mesopelagic samples than in those using surface samples. This suggests that dissolution of BSi varies with depth and that BSi in the mesopelagic water is more resistant to the dissolution than that in the surface water. This lower dissolution rate was caused by lower temperature and lower bacterial activity due to less bioavailable organic matter in mesopelagic water. Our results provide a mechanistic understanding of variations in silica cycling within the seasonally and vertically differing marine environment.     

近百年来大亚湾沉积物有机质的沉积记录及对人为活动的响应

通过对沉积物中粒度组成、总有机碳（TOC）、总氮（TN）、碳氮比（TOC/TN）和碳、氮稳定同位素丰度（δ13C、δ15N）等的分析,结合沉积年代学信息与端元混合模型结果,解析了百年尺度下大亚湾沉积物中不同来源有机质的演变过程及控制因素。结果表明,大亚湾沉积物特性在20世纪70年代末至80年代初发生了显著改变:在此之前,TOC、TN、δ13C和δ15N表现稳定,陆源与海源有机碳的比例维持在3∶7,而自此之后,TOC与TN含量显著升高,TOC/TN持续下降,在1980—2000年和2010年至今都出现了陆源有机碳比例升高,海源有机碳比例降低的现象。上述显著变化表明大亚湾海洋环境自20世纪70年代末至80年代初已经发生了重大变化。近20年来GDP与沉积柱中TN和δ15N呈现出的显著正相关,与TOC/TN呈现出的显著负相关,表明沿岸经济的迅猛增长,水产养殖业的快速发展,周边人口的急速增加等人为活动,是造成大亚湾生态环境变化的重要原因。未来的研究应更密切关注人为活动对海湾生态环境的影响,通过法律法规约束行为,加强海湾生态环境保护与修复治理工作。     

普里兹湾水体悬浮颗粒物天然15N

本文研究了南极普里兹湾海域悬浮颗粒物中的天然15N丰度,并就δ15N与POC、PON等生化要素之间的相关性进行了讨论,对δ15N含量分布特征的形成机制及其与物理、生物学过程的耦合进行了探讨,给出了南极普里兹湾悬浮颗粒物中的δ15N与POC、PON含量呈负相关关系;表层水中δ15N、POC和PON的分布和δ15N的垂直分布可能与涡流有关.     

海南儋州湾红树林区沉积有机质来源及碳储量

本文测定了海南儋州湾南岸柱状沉积物的粒度、总有机质参数(TOC、C/N和 δ13C)和类脂生物标志物含量,并通过端元混合模型使用红树植物特征标志物蒲公英萜醇含量、长链正构烷烃含量和δ13C值半定量区分了海南儋州湾南岸沉积有机质来源,尤其是红树林的贡献.另外,通过估算沉积物的有机碳储量来评估儋州湾红树林区域的储碳能力.在...     

The decomposition rate of the organic carbon content of suspended particulate matter in the tropical seagrass meadows

In terms of downward transport, suspended particulate matter(SPM) from marine or terrigenous sources is an essential contributor to the carbon cycle. Within mesoscale environments such as seagrass ecosystems, SPM flux is an essential part of the total carbon budget that is transported within the ecosystem. By assessing the total SPM transport from water column to sediment, potential carbon burial can be estimated. However, SPM may decompose or reforming aggregate during transport, so estimating the vertical flux without knowing the decomposition rate will lead to over-or underestimation of the total carbon budget. Here this paper presents the potential decomposition rate of the SPM in seagrass ecosystems in an attempt to elucidate the carbon dynamics of SPM. SPM was collected from the seagrass ecosystems located at Sikka and Sorong in Indonesia. In situ experiments using SPM traps were conducted to assess the vertical downward flux and decomposition rate of SPM. The isotopic profile of SPM was measured together with organic carbon and total nitrogen content. The results show that SPM was transported to the bottom of the seagrass ecosystem at a rate of up to(129.45±53.79)mg/(m~2·h)(according to carbon). Considering the whole period of inundation of seagrass meadows, SPM downward flux reached a maximum of 3 096 mg/(m~2·d)(according to carbon). The decomposition rate was estimated at from 5.9 μg/(mg·d)(according to carbon) to 26.6 μg/(mg·d)(according to carbon). Considering the total downward flux of SPM in the study site, the maximum decomposed SPM was estimated 39.9 mg/(m~2·d)(according to carbon) and 82.6 mg/(m~2·d)(according to carbon) for study site at Sorong and Sikka, respectively.The decomposed SPM can be 0.6%–2.7% of the total SPM flux, indicating that it is a small proportion of the total flux. The seagrass ecosystems of Sorong and Sikka SPM show an autochthonous tendency with the primary composition of marine-end materials.     

Significance of oxides and particulate organic matter in controlling trace metal partitioning in a contaminated estuary

The sediment–water partitioning of radiolabelled Cd, Hg and Zn has been investigated along an estuarine salinity gradient using samples from the Mersey Estuary, UK. Partitioning was studied using untreated particles, and particles that had been extracted using either a reducing agent (NH₂OH.HCl–HOAc) or an oxidising agent (H₂O₂) in order to qualitatively evaluate the relative roles of Fe–Mn oxides and particulate organic matter (POM), respectively, on metal uptake. The extent of Cd partitioning between sediment and water, parameterised in terms of the distribution coefficient, K_D, exhibited a reduction with increasing salinity, regardless of whether or not particles had been digested. However, the magnitude of K_D decreased significantly following either chemical treatment, suggesting that both oxides and organic matter are important sorbents for Cd. The K_D for Hg in the presence of untreated particles increased with increasing salinity, and chemical reduction of the particles enhanced the uptake of Hg and reinforced this trend. Particle oxidation led to a significant reduction in the K_D for Hg, and uptake by the particles decreased with increasing salinity. These observations suggest that POM is considerably more important than Fe–Mn oxides in the removal of aqueous Hg, and that its presence is a prerequisite for enhanced sorption (or salting out) at elevated salinities. The salinity dependence of K_D for Zn displayed characteristics of both Cd (below salinities of about 5) and Hg (at greater salinities). However, the magnitude of K_D for Zn uptake was relatively insensitive to either chemical treatment, suggesting that oxides, POM, and residual phases contribute to the overall sorption of Zn by estuarine particles. Regression analyses of the metal partition data suggest that sorption to oxides and POM is nonadditive, and that the salinity dependence of metal partitioning results mainly from salinity-controlled interactions between metal and organic matter. Sequential extraction of metals bound to untreated and chemically treated particles in the partitioning experiments indicated that the exchangeability or lability of all metals increased on removal of either oxides or POM. This implies that sorption sites of relatively high energy are destroyed (or become less accessible), or sorption sites of relatively low energy are created (or become more accessible) on chemical treatment. These observations support a conceptual model for the particle surface whose integrity and binding properties are only maintained by the coexistence of and interaction between oxides and organic matter.     

Surface associations of enzymes and of organic matter: Consequences for hydrolytic activity and organic matter remineralization in marine systems

The extent to which marine organic matter is associated with surfaces and the consequences of such associations for organic matter remineralization are the focus of considerable attention. Since extracellular enzymes operating outside microbial cells are required to hydrolyze organic macromolecules to sizes sufficiently small for substrate uptake, the effects of surface interactions–on enzymes as well as on substrates–for hydrolytic activity also require investigation. We used a simplified laboratory system consisting of a free (dissolved) polysaccharide (pullulan) and the same polysaccharide tethered to agarose beads to restrict mobility, plus the corresponding free enzyme (pullulanase) and the same enzyme sorbed to montmorillonite (Mte), to investigate systematically the consequences of surface associations of enzymes and of substrates on hydrolytic activity. Changes in substrate molecular weight were monitored with time to measure the course of enzymatic hydrolysis. Although hydrolysis of free substrate was nearly complete after 2 min incubation with the free enzymes, the sorbed enzymes also effectively hydrolyzed free substrate, and the data suggest that they retained activity longer in solution compared to the free enzymes. Sorbed enzymes progressively hydrolyzed the free substrate from > 50 kD to lower molecular weights during a 24 h incubation, with a final product distribution on average showing only 1.4% and 10.3% of substrate still in the > 50 kD and 10 kD size classes, while 46.6%, 29.3%, and 12.5% of substrate was in the 4 kD, monomer, and free tag size classes, respectively. This product distribution was very similar to that of the free substrate/free enzyme experiment. Tethering the substrate to agarose beads led to lower substrate release (2–3% of total substrate after 98 h incubation) into solution compared to the free substrate case. For tethered substrates, the state of the enzyme (free or sorbed) measurably affected the molecular weight distribution of the hydrolysis products, with free enzymes producing a higher fraction of high molecular weight hydrolysis products (28.7 ± 5.4% of substrate > 50 kD at the end of the incubation) compared to sorbed enzymes (11.6 ± 2.8% of substrate > 50 kD at the end of the incubation.) Tethered substrates were also hydrolyzed in a sediment slurry from surface sediments from Cape Lookout Bight, North Carolina; 0.1% of total substrate was released by enzymes naturally present in 1 cm³ of sediment after 144 h incubation, demonstrating that the enzymes naturally present in marine sediments are also capable of accessing tethered substrates. These investigations suggest that surface associations of enzymes in marine systems may extend the active lifetime of such enzymes, providing an opportunity for hydrolysis over longer periods of time and producing a different size spectrum of hydrolysis products relative to free enzymes. Furthermore, in well-mixed systems, surface-associated enzymes can hydrolyze substrates whose mobility is restricted, highlighting the importance of processes such as resuspension and bioturbation on organic matter remineralization.     

Trace element and molecular markers of organic carbon dynamics along a shelf–basin continuum in sediments of the western Arctic Ocean

Molecular organic biomarkers together with trace element composition were investigated in sediments east of Barrow Canyon in the western Arctic Ocean to determine sources and recycling of organic carbon in a continuum from the shelf to the basin. Algal biomarkers (polyunsaturated and short-chain saturated fatty acids, 24-methylcholesta-5,24(28)-dien-3β-ol, dinosterol) highlight the substantial contribution of organic matter from water column and sea-ice primary productivity in shelf environments, while redox markers such as acid volatile sulfide (AVS), Mn, and Re indicate intense metabolism of this material leading to sediment anoxia. Shelf sediments also receive considerable inputs from terrestrial organic carbon, with biomarker composition suggesting the presence of multiple pools of terrestrial organic matter segregated by age/lability or hydrodynamic sorting. Sedimentary metabolism was not as intense in slope sediments as on the shelf; however, sufficient labile organic matter is present to create suboxic and anoxic conditions, at least intermittently, as organic matter is focused towards the slope. Basin sediments also showed evidence for episodic delivery of labile organic carbon inputs despite the strong physical controls of water depth and sea-ice cover. Principal components analysis of the lipid biomarker data was used to estimate fractions of preserved recalcitrant (of terrestrial origin) and labile (of marine origin) organic matter in the sediments, with ranges of 12–79%, 14–45%, and 37–66% found for the shelf, slope, and basin cores, respectively. On average, the relative preserved terrestrial organic matter in basin sediments was 56%, suggesting exchange of organic carbon between nearshore and basin environments in the western Arctic.     

桑沟湾及附近海域表层沉积物碳氮同位素分析及有机质来源

Naturally existing stable carbon and nitrogen isotopes are important in the study of sedimentary organic matter sources. To identify the sources of sedimentary organic matter in Sanggou Bay and its adjacent areas, which is characterized by high-density shellfish and seaweed aquaculture, the grain size, organic carbon(OC), total nitrogen(TN), carbon and nitrogen isotopic composition(δ13C and δ15N) of organic matter in the surface sediment were determined. The results showed that, in August, sedimentary OC and TN ranged from 0.17% to 0.76% and 0.04% to 0.14%, respectively. In November, OC and TN ranged from 0.23% to 0.87% and 0.05% to 0.14%, respectively. There was a significant positive correlation between OC and TN(R=0.98, P0.0001), indicating that OC and TN were homologous. In August, the δ13C and δ15N of organic matter varied from-23.06‰ to-21.59‰ and 5.10‰ to 6.31‰, respectively. In November, δ13C and δ15N ranged from-22.87‰ to-21.34‰ and 5.13‰ to 7.31‰, respectively. This study found that the major sources of sedimentary organic matter were marine shellfish biodeposition, seaweed farming, and soil organic matter. Using a three-end-member mixed model, we estimated that the dominant source of sedimentary organic matter was shellfish biodeposition, with an average contribution rate of 65.53% in August and 43.00% in November. Thus, shellfish farming had a significant influence on the coastal carbon cycle.     

Sources and distributions of terrigenous organic matter in a mangrove fringed small tropical estuary in South China

The sources and distributions of terrigenous organic matter (OM) were investigated in a small tropical estuary in the Hainan Island, South China. Plants, suspended particulate matter (SPM), and surface sediments samples in the estuary and coast were collected. Bulk properties [organic carbon (OC%), total nitrogen (TN%), stable carbon isotope (δ13C) and grain size] and lignin phenol concentrations were measured. OC% of mangrove plants was (43.4 ± 2.1)%, which is similar to the values reported for mangrove plants in other regions. OC% of sediment samples ranged from 0.07% to 1.42%, and they were related to the sediment texture. Lignin phenols in the sediment ranged from 5.16 mg/100 mg OC in the uppermost station to 0.51mg/100mg OC in the coast. The molar ratio of organic carbon to total nitrogen (C/N) (～7) and δ 13 C (～-31.1×10-3 ) of riverine SPM revealed that the major OM sources of riverine SPM were aquatic OM (phytoplankton and/or bacteria). Moreover, the lower lignin concentration (Λ8) and higher (Ad/Al)v of lignin phenols suggest that terrestrial OM in riverine SPM were mainly from soil. Furthermore, C/N ratio, δ13C and lignin phenols reveal that mangrove plants were the predominant OM sources of mangrove surface sediment. Based on the δ13C and lignin phenols, it can be concluded that the major OM sources in estuarine and coastal surface sediments were marine phytoplankton, riverine SPM and mangrove surface sediment. In addition, the higher (Ad/Al)v of lignin phenols in those coastal sediments indicate that seagrass might be a potential OM source in coastal sediments, however, the lower (Ad/Al)v in the estuarine sediments in turn suggests that seagrass could not be transported to the mangrove fringed region. A three-end-member model which is based on lignin concentrations and δ13C was applied to evaluate the contribution of mangroves to the organic matter preserved in the surface sediments. Around the mangrove fringed region, mangrove could contribute more than 50% to the sedimentary OM, and this value is much higher than riverine OM. Nevertheless, mangrove OM could not be efficiently transported to the coastal region. Our study suggests that mangrove forest is an important OM source in this small estuary.