Effects of natural organic matter from sediments on the growth of marine gas hydrates

Sediments recovered from 0 to 27 + meters below the seafloor (mbsf) of a gas-hydrate and gas-venting active area in the Gulf of Mexico were added to a hydrate growth test cell to determine the influence of the organic and inorganic sedimentary components on hydrate induction times and formation rates. Induction times were sixteen times shorter in the presence of sediment from approximately 18 mbsf (relative to sediment from 1 mbsf), and remained stable in the presence of sediment from 18 to 27 mbsf. Formation rates increased by a factor of 2.5 in the presence of sediments from approximately 18 mbsf and decreased somewhat in the presence of sediment from 18 to 27 mbsf. Selected samples (surface, 18 and 27 mbsf) were density fractionated and subjected to bulk elemental and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) analysis. XPS revealed the presence of iron in various chemical environments at depths of 18 and 27 mbsf. High Resolution Magic Angle Spinning Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (HR-MAS NMR) was used to characterize the organic component of sediments from selected depths. The discovery of intact proteinaceous material in the surface sediment was surprising due to the labile nature of these biopolymers, and potentially reflects microbial activity in these surface layers. This material was less abundant in sediment from increasing depths, where more lipid-like compounds were prominent. The results suggest that hydrate growth is inhibited by the presence of proteinaceous material but enhanced by lipid-like compounds associated with iron-bearing mineral surfaces.     

Emanation of radon-222 from marine sediments

The behavior of radon in the sea-floor region provides a useful test of theories which describe mass transport in sediments. We have made measurements of Rn-222 and Ra-226 in near-bottom waters and near-surface sediments at the same location. The distribution of radon in sediments can be described by a simplified diagenetic equation when advection, adsorption, and bioturbation are ignored. Sediment measurements show a radon deficit relative to radium emanation. A reasonable balance is found between integrated radon deficit in sediment and radon surplus in the overlying water.In most cores radium increased with depth in the top 10 cm of sediment. This implies that bioturbation and other mixing processes do not homogenize the radium concentration in the zone of diffusive radon loss, and that radium is diffusing out of the sediments.Radon leakage is less than that predicted by previous authors. Radon leakage depends upon the physical distribution of radium in marine sediments. We present a model that predicts leakage of 30–40% for normal deep-sea sediments, in agreement with measured values.Radon surplus in near-bottom waters depends upon the radium distribution, radon leakage, and effective diffusion coefficients. These in turn depend on the properties of the sediment, such as composition, accumulation rate, and porosity. As we learn how these factors interact we may be able to infer sedimentary features from measurements of radon in overlying waters.     

Acoustic impedance of marine sediments

A heavy walled steel tube has been used as an impedance tube for measuring the acoustic impedance of marine sediments. The acoustic characteristics of the water filled tube were found to be satisfactory for the measurements. Values of acoustic velocity and attenuation in the sediments were determined from the acoustic impedance measurements and found to agree with previously published data.     

Grain-size parameters of marine sediments

In their average grain-size parameters (K _d , K _dl), recent sediments of the northern Caspian Sea and the Barents Sea shelf are similar, while the sediments of the Norwegian Sea are closer to their counterparts of the World Ocean. Seaward, the content of the subcolloidal fraction increases against the background of the decreasing proportions of coarse-and medium-grained pelite matter.     

Small perturbation method of high-frequency bistatic volumescattering from marine sediments

The first-order small perturbation method (Born approximation), as frequently applied to high-frequency scattering from marine sediments, is critically reviewed, tested for accuracy and extended. The sediment is modeled as an acoustic-fluid half space with random fluctuations in density and compressibility. Several cases of volume scattering from typical marine sand and mud sediments are presented to illustrate the effects of two important assumptions: (1) the effects of assuming the density and compressibility fluctuations are proportional, and (2) half-space effects. By relaxing the assumption that the sediment density and compressibility are proportional, the bistatic scattering cross section is significantly altered. The effects of properly modeling the sediment as a random half space (as opposed to an infinite continuum) are also discussed. In the context of first-order perturbation theory, half-space effects manifest themselves as a “modified” spectra for density and compressibility fluctuations. It is shown that, for lossy sediments and for scattering near the specular direction, half-space effects are significant and cannot be neglected. This result is significant because current models of sediment volume scattering do not include half-space effects. In addition to the theoretical model, exact numerical simulations are used to evaluate the accuracy of the perturbation model for a limited number of cases     

北极海洋沉积物中可培养细菌及其多样性分析

利用Zobell 2216E培养基和涂布平板法对北极海洋沉积物中可培养细菌进行分离纯化,并利用16SrRNA基因进行分子鉴定与系统发育分析。根据菌落形态学特征,从59个站点的沉积物样品中共分离纯化获得570株细菌;基于16SrRNA基因的分子鉴定与系统发育分析表明,分离到的可培养细菌分别属于细菌域的4个门,5个纲,12个目,23个科,47个属,102个种,其中γ-Proteobactria占绝大多数;有14株菌株与模式菌株的16SrRNA基因序列相似性小于97%,为6个潜在的新种。北极海域的海洋沉积物中存在着丰富的微生物种质资源,为开发新型生物活性物质和特殊功能基因打下了基础。     

Interlaboratory calibration results from chlorinated hydrocarbon analyses in marine sediments

The reliability of chlorinated hydrocarbon measurements in natural marine sediments is assessed statistically for the various sample treatments and quantitation techniques used by ten laboratories. For polychlorinated biphenyls, a standard deviation within ±25% of the mean can be expected. Methodology and spectral analysis are the major factors responsible for the variability. Extraction from dry sediment gives the greatest recovery, and measurement of chlorobiphenyl concentrations by homologs alleviates the effect of internal component changes.     

Heterotrophic euglenids from marine sediments of cape tribulation, tropical australia

This paper presents new data on free-living heterotrophic euglenids (Euglenozoa, Protista) that occurred in the marine sediments at Cape Tribulation, Queensland, Australia. Twenty-nine species from 9 genera are described with uninterpreted records based on light microscopy, including one new taxon:Notosolenus capetribulationi n. sp. There was little evidence for endemism because the majority of heterotrophic euglenid species encountered here have been reported or were found from other habitats.     

南麂岛海域沉积物中海洋放线菌的分离研究

采用稀释涂板法研究了南麂岛海域沉积物中海洋放线菌的分离技术,分析了真空干燥处理、热处理、海水浓度、培养基种类等因素对分离效果的影响;首次将羧甲基纤维素钠(CMC)溶液应用于海洋沉积物样品的预处理,探讨了不同浓度的CMC对海洋沉积物样品中放线菌分离结果的影响。结果表明:海洋沉积物经干燥处理、50℃热处理20 min均能有效地减少细菌数量,利于海洋沉积物中放线菌的分离;60%的海水配制的培养基对海洋放线菌的分离效果优于纯海水所配培养基,并且培养基中添加海泥浸出液能有效地增加海洋放线菌的出菌率;以质量浓度为2 g/L的CMC为分散剂时,不仅能良好地分散沉积物样品中的放线菌孢子,而且能明显地增加海洋放线菌的检出量及稀有放线菌的数量。     

The consolidation of soft marine sediments

This paper outlines the governing relationships of nonlinear finite strain consolidation. A short review of current literature is presented. Nonlinear finite strain consolidation theory is applied to the analysis of the slow deposition of Gulf of Mexico Holocene sediments. It is shown that the conventional means of calculating rates of sediment accumulation are highly inaccurate. It is further shown that the state of effective stress and excess pore-water pressure, as calculated by nonlinear finite strain theory, is substantially different than when calculated by conventional Terzaghi-Frohlich theory.     

Influence of salinity on permeability characteristics of marine sediments

Abstract

Laboratory tests were conducted on compacted marine sediments to study the effect of salt concentration of permeating fluid on its permeability characteristics. Deep sea sediment samples were collected from water depths varying from 3700 to 4500 m off Mauritius coast. Liquid limit and plasticity index varied widely from 45 to 75 and 10 to 35, respectively. Permeability was found at different void ratios with distilled water and 0.2, 0.4, and 0.8 N NaCl solutions as permeating fluid. It was found that permeability increases with an increase in salt concentration for a given void ratio. This is explained by diffused double layer theory. Also, the rate of increase in permeability decreases with increase in salt concentration. The effect of salt concentration seemed to be less at higher void ratios.     

中国周边太平洋海底沉积物中分离的嗜温异养菌株的自养潜能

Microbial carbon fixation is a paramount process in the ocean especially below the photic zone both in water and sedimentary ecosystems. Autotrophic microbes that fix carbon dioxide are renowned. However, the question whether heterotrophs can also fix carbon is intriguing. Ten heterotrophically grown, identified bacterial isolates from the Sino-Pacific marine sediments were tested for autotrophic uptake potential with and without addition of electron donors. Nine of the ten isolates showed carbon uptake capacity without addition of any substrate at very low rates in the order of 10~(-8) to 10~(-4) fmol/(cell·h). The addition of manganese and ammonium at 1 mmol/L final concentration enhanced the uptake potential. Addition of 1 mmol/L final concentrations of reduced iron(10~(-6) to10~(-5) fmol/(cell·h) and sulfide(10~(-5) fmol/(cell·h) decreased the uptake potential significantly at p0.1. Bacterial tolerance to formaldehyde suggested propensities of anaplerotic chemical reactions that form metabolic intermediates of C-1 metabolism pathways. The isolates displayed high metabolic flexibility. With the changes in electron donors, the isolates metabolically toggled between relatively anoxic reductive iron/sulfur cycles and the oxidative cycles of manganese/ammonium and vice-versa. This property makes these microbes successful survivors in the highly dynamic Sino-Pacific sediments.     

Diagenetic sulfate reduction in marine sediments

The importance of interstitial pore water as a vehicle for transport of dissolved ions between sediment at depth and the overlying ocean reservoir may be overestimated. The major cause of this overestimation is the assumption that the rate of ionic diffusion through the sediment is of a similar magnitude to the rate of reaction occurring within the sediment column. Examples are given to indicate that the above assumption may not be correct, at least for diagenetic sulfate reduction. Closed-system modeling, although approximate, is shown to be consistent, both qualitatively and isotopically, with measured changes that are observed for several sedimentary environments.     

盐酸、温度、时间及粒径对海洋沉积物碳酸盐去除的影响

通过南海北部表层沉积物相同体积不同盐酸浓度(0.1和1.0 mol.L-1)、不同温度(23和60℃)、不同时间(6、12和24h)和不同颗粒粒径样品(<160μm和<32μm)的交叉条件实验,利用各条件实验后样品的总碳含量及稳定碳同位素组成分析结果,研究了盐酸、温度、时间及颗粒粒径对碳酸盐去除的影响。结果表明,从提高沉积物碳酸盐盐酸酸解反应速率和效率及获取稳定可靠的TOC、δ13C有机质等参数的角度出发:(1)盐酸用量及浓度是最重要的影响因素;(2)升高反应温度是不必要的,升高反应温度既会抑制反应的进行,又会导致盐酸浓度下降并加速有机质分解,从而对沉积物总有机碳含量及其δ13C等的准确分析产生不利影响;(3)在1.0 mol.L-1盐酸过量的条件下,碳酸盐的大量分解在6h之前已基本完成;(4)颗粒粒径愈小,愈有利于样品的均匀混合及反应的进行,相应的分析结果离散度亦愈小。     

Distribution of oxygen-containing functional groups and elements in humic acids from marine sediments

The elemental composition and oxygen-containing functional groups contents in the marine humic acids from the five sediment samples from Sagami Bay and Suruga Bay were determined. Kumada's method of classification of soil humic acids was applied to the marine humic acids. The carbon, nitrogen, hydrogen, oxygen and sulfur contents of the marine humic acids were, on average, 52.96, 5.12, 5.79, 34.99 and 1.13%, respectively, without wide variation. In comparison with terrestrial humic acids, the marine ones had relatively lower carbon content and higher hydrogen and nitrogen contents. It is suggested that the marine humic acids have more aliphatic and less aromatic character, as expected from their possible origins, e.g., phytoplankton. The total acidity, carboxyl, phenolic and alcoholic hydroxyl, carbonyl and methoxyl group contents in the marine humic acids were, on average, 5.80, 3.27, 2.53, 2.53, 3.09 and 0.41 milliequivalents per gram of dry ash-free humic acid (me g^–1), respectively. From quantitative data on the elemental composition and functional groups of the average marine humic acid, its empirical formula was calculated to be C₁₀₇H₁₃₈O₂₀(COOH)₉(OH)₇ ^phenolic (OH)₇ ^alcoholic (CO)₉(OCH)₃N₁₀S. The marine humic acids were similar to the so-called B type of soil humic acids with regard to the distribution of functional groups and spectroscopic properties.     

Measurement of volatile fatty acids in pore water from marine sediments by HPLC

Lower molecular weight volatile fatty acids are important intermediates in the anaerobic degradation of organic matter in marine sediments. The analysis of these compounds at the low in situ concentrations, however, still presents difficulties. A new derivatization procedure for the analysis of these compounds, coupled with high-performance liquid chromatography, has been modified for the analysis of volatile fatty acids in marine pore water to cover a linear calibration range from 0·5 μm to 10 mm. The modifications resulted in the detection of concentrations 40 times lower than in the original method and in good recoveries of fatty acid standards added to pore water (mean 101%). This modified procedure was then used to analyse fatty acids in pore water from sediments along a gradient of organic enrichment. The relative ratios of the individual acids were 1:0·1:0·02:0·01:0·02:0·01 for acetate, propionate, n-butyrate 2-methylbutyrate, iso-valerate and n-valerate. There was a tendency for the concentration of the more reduced acids to increase (propionate and n-butyrate) as organic enrichment increased. Several fatty acids were found that have not commonly been reported in marine pore water. These include 2-methylbutyrate, which is a specific anaerobic degradation product of iso-leucine, which, to the authors' knowledge, has not been previously found in marine pore water.     

一株群体感应抑制活性海洋放线菌的筛选与鉴定 *

群体感应抑制剂(Quorum Sensing Inhibitors, QSIs)可以通过干扰群体感应(Quorum Sensing, QS)而有效降低病菌的感染性和毒力, 并且不会胁迫致病菌使其产生耐药性, 是具有前景的抗生素替代品。海洋微生物是新型QSIs的潜在来源。本研究利用紫色杆菌(Chromobacterium violaceum 026, CV026)模型评价QS抑制活性, 在来源于南海中西部和印度洋深海沉积物样品的放线菌中筛选QS抑制活性菌株, 并且根据形态学特征和16S rRNA基因序列鉴定活性菌株。通过筛选获得了菌株SCSIO 53717, 其提取物在CV026模型中能够显著降低指示菌株的紫色菌素产量, 并且在0~1000mg·mL^-1的有效浓度范围内不影响紫色杆菌的生长。菌株SCSIO 53717被鉴定为Kocuria属, 是首次报道的具有QS抑制活性的Kocuria属菌株, 因而具有进一步深入研究的价值。     

海洋沉积物粒度参数3种计算方法的对比研究

海洋沉积物粒度参数是反映沉积物物质来源及水动力条件的敏感性指标。目前国内对海洋沉积物粒度参数计算方法并不完全统一,制约了粒度数据的整合和使用。利用长江口外近海348个表层沉积物粒度数据,分别使用Folk和Ward的图解法公式、Collias等的矩法公式和McManus的矩法公式进行了粒度参数的计算。运用相关分析和基本统计分析等方法,讨论了不同方法计算结果间的差异和影响因素。结果显示:图解法与矩法计算的平均粒径和分选系数分别呈显著线性相关,且不受沉积物物质来源的影响。对于偏态和峰态,3种不同方法计算结果的相关性较低,甚至表现为不相关。不同方法计算的沉积物粒度参数的差异性均与沉积物类型和频率曲线分布形态有关。当物质组成均匀、频率曲线近正态分布时,不同方法计算的粒度参数的相关性显著提高。当沉积物较粗或较细时,粒度分布偏离正态且具有明显尾部特征,用不同方法计算结果的差异会随之增大。对3种不同公式综合对比认为Collias等的矩法公式反映沉积物粒度分布特征更加灵敏、可靠,建议在进行资料整合时采用。     

Sulfate reduction in deep coastal marine sediments

Sulfate reduction rates in sediments of four deep stations in the Saguenay Fjord and the Laurentian Trough, Gulf of St. Lawrence, are among the lowest reported for the coastal environment. Maximum rates were 0.4–7.0 nmol cm⁻³ day⁻¹. The low rates are due to relatively low sedimentation rates and continuously low temperatures. Regional differences in both integrated and maximum sulfate reduction rates in the sediment correlate with sediment trap measurements of sedimentation rate and organic carbon flux.Sulfate reduction accounts for the degradation of 5–26% of the estimated downward flux of organic matter to these sediments. Unlike the absolute rate of sulfate reduction, the relative proportion of the carbon flux that is degraded via sulfate reduction is not directly correlated with the sedimentation rate but is a function of organic matter composition, intensity of bioturbation, and the abundance of sub-oxic electron acceptors. Thus, the lowest proportion of carbon degradation via sulfate reduction occurred at a Gulf site, where a combination of low sedimentation and bioturbation rates allowed a long residence time for organic matter near the sediment surface and, in consequence, a low flux of labile carbon into the sulfate reduction zone. The highest proportion was observed at a station with a similar organic carbon flux but with higher rates of sedimentation and bioturbation. At a third site, with the highest rates of sulfate reduction as well as the highest rates of sedimentation and bioturbation, the contribution of sulfate reduction to organic matter degradation was only intermediate. This is attributable to the exhaustion of the supply of porewater sulfate. In deep coastal environments the proportion of organic matter degraded via sulfate reduction can be highly variable both spatially and temporally.