过去一百年济州岛西南泥质区有机质来源变化的多参数指标研究

C/N是一种传统的区分海洋沉积有机质来源的指标,基于总有机碳与总有机氮的比值。BIT(Branched andIsoprenoid Tetraether index)和TMBR(Terrestrial and Marine Biomarker Ratio)是近年提出的用于指示陆源有机质相对贡献的新指标,二者具有明确的陆源及海源端元值。BIT指标是基于陆地土壤厌氧细菌生标Branched GDGTs与泉古菌生标Crenarchaeol的比值,TMBR指标是基于陆源高等植物生标和海源藻类生标的比值。本文利用C/N、BIT和TMBR指标,对济州岛西南泥质区DH11站位过去一百年以来陆源有机质和海源有机质的相对贡献进行了定量评估。总有机碳(TOC)、陆源和海源生物标志物的分析结果显示:近50a来,该站位的总有机质、海源有机质和陆源有机质的沉积通量(Mass Accumulation Rates,MARs)一直在增加。C/N指标通过二元混合模型的计算结果显示陆源有机质占总沉积有机质的比例在0.22～0.30之间,BIT与TMBR指示的陆源有机质贡献分别在0.05～0.11,0.08～0.22之间,所得相对贡献的差异主要是由不同指标的指示意义不同造成的。3种指标的结果表明该研究海域海源有机质在沉积有机质中占据主导地位。另外,从1950s开始陆源有机质的相对贡献呈现下降趋势,这说明海源有机质沉积通量增加的比例大于陆源有机质,这可能是由东亚季风、黑潮、河流输入、大气沉降和人类活动等多重因素引起的。     

Sedimentary ladderane core lipids as potential indicators of hypoxia in the East China Sea

Anammox (anaerobic ammonium oxidation) is an important process in many suboxic to anoxic marine environments for converting fixed nitrogen to N₂, and has a major impact on the marine nitrogen cycle. Ladderane core lipids have been utilized as an indicator of the contribution of anammox to the marine nitrogen cycles. However, such studies have not been reported for the China seas and little is known about the importance of anammox within the nitrogen cycle of these marginal seas. In the research reported here, the ladderane core lipid contents of 17 surface sediment samples from the East China Sea are reported, and their spatial distribution is investigated. C₁₈ -[5]-ladderane FAME, C₂₀-[5]-ladderane FAME and C₂₀-[3]-ladderane FAME have all been detected, suggesting that the anammox bacteria are widely present within the study area. The total contents of the three ladderane lipids (ΣFAMEs) range from 24–355 ng/g (weight of dry sediments), with higher contents occurring in the Minzhe Mud Zone and broadly coincident with the spatial distribution of hypoxia. It is suggested that the sedimentary ladderane core lipids are mainly produced in the water column and their sedimentary contents can be used as indicators of water column hypoxia.     

珠江口沉积柱中厌氧氨氧化活动的梯烷脂记录

为了反演珠江口过去环境的厌氧氨氧化活动状况,本文分析了来自珠江口3个站位的柱状沉积物中梯烷脂的含量,在所有的样品中均检测到了梯烷脂,表明珠江口地区存在厌氧氨氧化活动。P03沉积柱的梯烷脂总含量为0.16~4.13μg/g,L1为0.15~1.3μg/g,C2T为0.07~2.19μg/g。梯烷脂的垂直分布特征表明3个沉积柱中厌氧氨氧化细菌的来源可能不同,P03沉积柱中梯烷脂可能主要来源于沉积物中的厌氧氨氧化细菌,而L1梯烷脂可能来自上层水体和沉积物,C2T的厌氧氨氧化活动可能主要发生在底层缺氧水体中。将梯烷脂与总有机碳(TOC)作相关性分析,结果显示在TOC含量高的柱状样中,两者相关性好,TOC校准后的梯烷脂与原梯烷脂的分布趋势的一致性,表明梯烷脂含量能够指示厌氧氨氧化活动。对珠江口过去的厌氧氨氧化活动的重建表明P03站位沉积物中厌氧氨氧化活动自1970—1990增强,L1站位的厌氧氨氧化活动近十年来亦逐年增强,C2T站位上覆水体的厌氧氨氧化活动则呈现近几年快速增强的趋势。虽然本研究仅初步探讨了近些年来珠江口厌氧氨氧化活动的变化规律,但为进一步研究珠江口氮循环过程提供了良好的基础。