Degradation rates of organic matter in the sediment of Mikawa Bay

Sedimentary core samples were collected from Mikawa Bay and analyzed for organic C, N and P, carbohydrate and protein including amino acids. Sedimentation rates for each of the core samples were found to lie in the range of 0.21–0.24 g cm^–2yr^–1 by the²¹⁰Pb method. Degradation rate constants of organic C, N and P, carbohydrate and protein including amino acids had ranges of 3.8–5.5, 4.7–5.9, 6.3–7.4, 5.7–6.8 and 3.9–6.8×10^–2yr^–1, respectively. The rate of degradation of organic matter in the sediment was also calculated and is discussed in relation to the flux of particulate organic matter to the surface of the sediment.