A comparison of non-hydrolytic methods for extracting amino acids and proteins from coastal marine sediments

Advances in analytical techniques now allow for the potential analysis of intact peptides and proteins isolated from marine sediments. However, there is no established technique for the extraction of macromolecular materials from marine sediments. Six different methods for extracting the amino acid component from coastal marine sediments were compared to the standard hot acid hydrolysis technique for their percent recovery and amino acid composition. The standard hot acid hydrolysis on dried, whole sediments released the greatest concentration of total amino acids (PS-THAA; 3.52 mg gdwt^− 1 ± 10% (SMD)), yet this only accounted for 22% of the total nitrogen in Puget Sound sediments (Washington, USA). Repeated hydrolysis of the same samples did not improve the recovery of nitrogen by more than an additional 10%. Base extraction (0.5 N NaOH) was the second best method for recovering amino acid nitrogen, releasing 60% of the Puget Sound total hydrolyzable amino acids (PS-THAA) (corresponding to 13% of the total sedimentary nitrogen), and has the advantage that it does not rely on peptide hydrolysis to free the nitrogenous component from the sediment matrix. The amino acid distribution of the 0.5 N NaOH extract was not significantly different than the initial THAA. Other non-hydrolyzing methods released lower yields of amino acids (Triton X-100 ≥ hot water > 50 mM NH₄HCO₃ > HF), but might prove to be of use to investigators interested in specific fractions of sedimentary organic nitrogen because these four methods had distinctly different amino acid compositions (enrichments in basic amino acids and depletions in acidic amino acids). Treatments with HF both before and after traditional hydrolysis and/or extractions with base did not release any more of the sedimentary nitrogen. Our results are consistent with the hypothesis that a large fraction of the sedimentary nitrogen (TN) is protected within an organic matrix.     

Isotopic signatures of organic matter in sediments of the continental shelf facing the Orinoco Delta: Possible contribution of organic carbon from savannas

The ⁸⁷Sr, ¹³C, and ¹⁵N isotopic signatures of organic matter in sediments from the continental shelf facing the Orinoco Delta were measured to determine the contribution of sediments transported from the Amazon River by the coastal Guayana current and the sediments transported by the Orinoco River. Box core samples between 60 and 300 m water depth collected along 4 transects located eastwards to the Orinoco Delta were analyzed. Carbon and nitrogen concentrations decreased with depth under water on the shelf, and were strongly correlated indicating homogeneity of organic matter composition. Phosphorus content was also associated to organic matter in most samples, but some of them revealed deposition of P-enriched sediments. The ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratios showed a strong continental signature averaging 0.7117, therefore, limiting the possible carbon and nitrogen sources associated with these sediments to C3 trees, C4 grasses, or freshwater phytoplankton. The δ¹³C values were relatively high averaging −21‰, above values reported for sediments on the Amapá shelf and the Amazon River in Brazil. Average δ¹³C values did not differ significantly among transects. High δ¹³C values point to the influence of organic matter transported from the C4-plants dominated savannas in the northern fringe of the Orinoco River. δ¹⁵N values were positive and averaged 5‰, being within the range of values measured in the Marajo island (Amazon River) and the estuary of the Pará River. The δ¹⁵N values differed significantly among transects (4.9–5.2‰), lowest values corresponding to the northernmost transect near the coast of Trinidad, and the highest values corresponding to the transect located at the southernmost position.     

东海外陆架残留沉积中硫复铁矿的发现及其油气指示意义

1994～1995年间在东海外陆架获取370个柱状样,每个样长约为2～4m.对其底部沉积物作了磁性测试,发现局部地区存在SIRM异常高现象.由磁参数推断导致SIRM异常的矿物为硫复铁矿.将磁性异常地区沉积物作矿物磁选,对磁选所得矿物做扫描电镜、电子探针和能谱、X衍射及穆斯堡尔谱测试,证实了次生硫复铁矿的存在.结合本区新生代油气构造圈闭和残留沉积物可溶铁Fe3+/Fe2+比值异常的分布,用油气渗漏解释了SIRM异常及硫复铁矿的成因,从而认为SIRM异常对深部油气藏具有指示意义.     

Description of the small plastics fragments in marine sediments along the Alang-Sosiya ship-breaking yard, India

This study aimed to assess the accumulation of small plastic debris in the intertidal sediments of the world's largest ship-breaking yard at Alang-Sosiya, India. Small plastics fragments were collected by flotation and separated according to their basic polymer type under a microscope, and subsequently identified by FT-IR spectroscopy as polyurethane, nylon, polystyrene, polyester and glass wool. The morphology of these materials was also studied using a scanning electron microscope. Overall, there were on average 81 mg of small plastics fragments per kg of sediment. The described plastic fragments are believed to have resulted directly from the ship-breaking activities at the site.     

长江口及邻近陆架区沉积物和间隙水中铁及其与细菌的关系探讨

本文通过对长江口及邻近陆架区12个站位的柱状沉积物、间隙水和细菌资料分析,指出了研究区沉积物和间隙水中铁的分布特征,并与细菌、地质资料对比研究、从生物地球化学角度对间隙水中铁的来源及其控制因素作了初步探讨。资料研究表明,沉积物中铁主要赋存于细粒沉积物中,腐植酸中铁由河口向陆架减少。间隙水中铁主要来自沉积物中高价铁,在弧菌科(Vibrionaceae)和假单孢菌属(Pseudomonas)细菌的媒介下,参加了沉积物中某些有机物的降解反应,接收了有机物的电子后被还原,其含量和分布主要受控于参加媒介作用的细菌。     

Seasonal variation in the concentrations of nutrients in two green macroalgae and nutrient levels in sediments in the Rías Baixas (NW Spain)

Seasonal monitoring of the levels of carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus in two green macroalgae (Ulva and Enteromorpha) was carried out at 22 sampling sites in four embayments (rías) on the northwest coast of Spain. Sediments were also analysed to determine the concentrations of these elements as well as organic matter, organic carbon, iron and texture. In addition, accumulations of Ulva were monitored. Nitrogen levels in algae were similar to those found in comparable studies, whereas carbon concentrations were generally higher and those of phosphorus were lower. As a result the macroalgae were relatively enriched by carbon and nitrogen compared with phosphorus. Seasonal variations in algal tissue nitrogen and phosphorus followed the usual pattern for temperate zones, with minimum levels in summer and maximum levels in winter. Variations in carbon concentrations were much less accentuated. The low levels of P in the algae appear to indicate limitation by this element, however, comparison of the monthly changes in nitrogen and phosphorus in Ulva with the critical concentrations of these elements suggests dual nutrient limitation in this alga in summer. By contrast, the sediments were more enriched by phosphorus; high retention of this element by the sediment may explain the low levels in algae. The highest accumulations of Ulva occurred in spring and summer; hydrodynamic factors appeared to be important in determining the extent of these accumulations.     

应力-应变过程中海底沉积物微结构变化对其声速的影响

阐述了对海底沉积物样品在应力-应变过程中进行同步声学测量的实验工具及方法,分析了采自南海45个站位的海底沉积物样品的实验数据资料,结果表明,沉积物颗粒越粗、孔隙越小、无侧限抗压强度越大,声速越高.沉积物样品在受力应变过程中,声速具有明显的随应力而变化的特征.进一步探讨了不同应变阶段沉积物的声学特征以及应力所导致沉积物微结构变化对其声速的影响过程,这一研究将在石油地质测井和海底工程基底稳定性评价等方面具有重要应用意义.     

楚科奇海与白令海表层沉积中的钙质和硅质微体化石研究

通过对北冰洋楚科奇海和令海41个表层沉积样品中的有孔虫、介形类等钙质微体化石和硅藻、放射虫、海绵骨针等硅质微体化石的定量分析，发现表层沉积中浮游有孔虫几乎缺失，这可能与该区表层生产力相对低、碳酸盐溶解作用较强有关，而底栖有孔虫和硅质微体化石的丰度分布则明显受表层沉积物类型、表层初级生物生产力和碳酸盐溶解作用所控制。其中，北冰洋楚科奇海陆架区有孔虫丰度和分异度低，含少量浅水介形类，放射虫在陆架浅水区缺失，但含有较多硅藻和海绵骨针等其它硅质微体化石，反映该区由于海冰、表层海水温度较冷而导致表歧初级生产力相对低。白令海陆坡区底栖有孔虫丰度比较科奇海高一个数量级，底栖有孔虫分异度也相对高，硅藻、放射虫、海绵骨针等硅质微体化石的丰度与钙质化石一样，其丰度比楚科奇海明显高，反映表层初级生产力相对高。根据白令海陆坡区底栖有孔虫和硅质微体化石丰度、底栖有孔虫胶结质壳比值的水深变化，推测该区碳酸盐溶跃层和补偿深度（CCD）相对浅，分别位于水深2000m和3800m处。     

Dissolved silica concentrations and reactions in pore waters from continental slope sediments offshore from Cape Hatteras, North Carolina, USA

The pore water concentrations of dissolved silica in sediment cores from the continental slope offshore from Cape Hatteras, North Carolina, varied from 150 to almost 700 μ,M with depth in the top 40 cm of sediment. Sediment cores from 630 to 2010 m depth had very similar profiles of dissolved silica in their pore waters, even though these cores came from regions greatly different in slope, topography, sedimentation rate, and abundance of benthic macrofauna. Cores from 474 to 525 m were more variable, both with respect to pore water dissolved silica profiles, and with respect to sediment texture. Experiments indicate that both the rate of dissolution of silica and the saturation concentration decrease as sediment depth below the sediment-seawater interface increases. These data are consistent with depletion of a reactive silica phase in surface sediment, which may be radiolarian tests, or the alteration of biogenic silica to a less reactive form over time. Experimental results suggest that the pore water dissolved silica concentration in sediments below the top few centimeters may be higher than the sediments could now achieve. The flux of dissolved silica out of these sediments is estimated to be 15 μmoles cm⁻² yr⁻¹.     

台州湾海域表层沉积物中多环芳烃的浓度水平、富集规律及来源

研究了台州湾海域海水和表层沉积物中15种多环芳烃(PAHs) 的浓度水平,评价了表层沉积物对多环芳烃的富集规律,探讨其可能来源.结果表明,表层沉积物中 PAHs 的浓度范围为85.4～167.6 ng / g,平均值为138.62 ng/g,总多环芳烃的最大值是椒江码头.表层沉积物中二环、三环、四环、五环和六环多环芳烃占总多环芳烃的百分含量平均值分别为7.8 %,42.1 %,33.3 %,9.6 % 和 7.2 %,三环多环芳烃的含量最高;表层沉积物对多环芳烃的富集系数为 532.7～1 068.9,平均值为 807.5,单组分菲的富集系数最高为 122.7,最小的是苯并(a) 芘为 2.7;台州湾表层沉积物中的多环芳烃主要来源于燃煤污染,部分来源于石油烃类物质的直接污染.