Biogeochemistry of sedimentary organic matter in the Yongjiang River estuary in the southern part of Hangzhou Bay,China,since the Late Pleistocene

A sediment core(YJK19-02)collected from the southern outlet of Hangzhou Bay near the Yongjiang River estuary in East China was analyzed for grain size,lignin,bulk elemental composition,stable carbon isotope,and rare earth elements(REEs)to determine the sources and diagenesis of sedimentary organic matter(OM)of the estuary and adjacent areas since the Late Pleistocene.δ^(13)C values(-24.80‰–-23.60‰),total organic carbon/total nitrogen(TOC/TN)molar ratios(8.00–12.14),and light rare earth element/heavy rare earth element ratios(LREE/HREE=8.34–8.91)revealed the predominance of terrestrial sources of OM,mainly from the Changjiang(Yangtze)River.The lignin parameters of syringyl/vanillyl(S/V=0.20–0.73)and cinnamyl/vanillyl(C/V=0.03–0.19)ratios indicate the predominance of nonwoody angiosperms,and the vanillic acid/vanillin ratios[(Ad/Al)_(V)=0.32–1.57]indicate medium to high degrees of lignin degradation.An increasing trend ofΛ(total lignin in mg/100-mg OC)values from ca.14500 a BP to ca.11000 a BP reflected the increase in temperature during the Late Pleistocene.However,a time lag effect of temperature on vegetation abundance was also revealed.The relatively higher and stableΛvalues correspond to the higher temperature during the mid-Holocene from ca.8500 a BP to ca.4500 a BP.Λvalues decreased from ca.4000 a BP to the present,corresponding to historical temperature fluctuations during this time.Our results show that the vegetation abundance in the Yongjiang River Basin since the Late Pleistocene was related to the temperature fluctuation duo to climate change.

Distribution and sources of sedimentary organic matter in different aquaculture areas of northeastern Zhanjiang Bay using stable carbon and nitrogen isotopes

Zhanjiang Bay is a major aquaculture area in China with many types of mariculture products(such as oysters,fish,and shrimp).The culture area and shrimp output in Zhanjiang Bay are ranked first in China.We investigated the total organic carbon(TOC),total nitrogen(TN),TOC/TN ratio,and stable isotopes(δ^(13)C and δ^(15)N) of the fish and shrimp feed,fish and shrimp feces,and sedimentary organic matter(SOM) in and around different aquaculture areas of northeastern Zhanjiang B ay to study the impact of aquaculture activities on SOM.The average TOC contents of fish and shrimp feed were 39.20%±0.91% and 39.29%±0.21%,respectively.The average TOC content in the surface sediments of the oyster culture area,the mixed(fish and shrimp) culture area,and the cage fish farm area were 0.66%,0.88%±0.10%,and 0.58%±0.19%,respectively,which may indicate that mixed culture had a greater impact on SOM.The relatively high TOC and TN contents and relatively low TOC/TN ratios,and δ^(15)N values in the upper layer of the core sediment in the mixed culture area could also support the significant influence of mixed culture.The average δ^(13)C and δ^(15)N values of fish and shrimp feed were -20.6‰±2.2‰ and 1.8‰±1.2‰,respectively,which were different from the isotopic values of SOM in the study area.δ^(13)C and δ^(15)N values for SOM in different aquaculture areas were different from those of nearby reference stations,probably reflecting the influence of aquaculture.The δ^(13)C and δ^(15)N values in the oyster culture area(-25.9‰ and6.0‰,respectively) seemed to have reduced δ^(13)C and enriched δ^(15)N relative to those of the reference station(-24.6‰ and 5.8‰,respectively).This may reflect the influence of organic matter on oyster culture.The δ^(15)N value of the station in the mixed culture area(7.1‰±0.4‰) seemed to be relatively enriched in δ^(15)N relative to that of the reference station(6.6‰).Sedimentation and the subsequent degradation of organic matter from mixed cultures may have contributed to this phenomenon.The surface sediment at the cage fish farm area seemed to be affected by fish feces and primary production based on the indication of δ^(13)C and δ^(15)N values.The sediment core at the mixed culture region(NS6) had lower TOC/TN ratios and more positive δ^(13)C and δ^(15)N values than the sediment core at the oyster culture area,suggesting a higher proportionate contribution of marine organic matter in the mixed culture area.In summary,oyster culture,mixed culture,and cage fish culture in northeastern Zhanjiang Bay had a certain degree of impact on SOM,and mixed culture had more significant influences on SOM based on the high TOC contents and the significant vertical variations of TOC/TN ratio and δ^(15)N value in the sediment of this area.This study provides new insights into the impact of aquaculture activities on SOM content.

Lateral downslope transport and tentative sedimentary organic carbon box model in the southern Yap Trench,western Pacific Ocean

Sediment collapse and subsequent lateral downslope migration play important roles in shaping the habitats and regulating sedimentary organic carbon(SOC)cycling in hadal trenches.In this study,three sediment cores were collected using a human-occupied vehicle across the axis of the southern Yap Trench(SYT).The total organic carbon(TOC)and total nitrogen(TN)contents,δ13C,radiocarbon ages,specific surface areas,and grain size compositions of sediments from three cores were measured.We explored the influence of the lateral downslope transport on the dispersal of the sediments and established a tentative box model for the SOC balance.In the SYT,the surface TOC content decreased with water depth and was decoupled by the funneling effect of the V-shaped hadal trench.However,the sedimentation(0.0025 cm/a)and SOC accumulation rates(∼0.038 g/(m^(2)·a)(in terms of OC))were approximately 50%higher in the deeper hadal region than in the abyssal region(0.0016 cm/a and∼0.026 g/(m^(2)·a)(in terms of OC),respectively),indicating the occurrence of lateral downslope transport.The fluctuating variations in the prokaryotic abundances and the SOC accumulation rate suggest the periodic input of surficial sediments from the shallow region.The similar average TOC(0.31%–0.38%),TN(0.06%–0.07%)contents,and SOC compositions(terrestrial OC(11%–18%),marine phytoplanktonic OC(45%–53%),and microbial OC(32%–44%))of the three sites indicate that the lateral downslope transport has a significant mixing effect on the SOC composition.The output fluxes of the laterally transported SOC(0.44–0.56 g/(m^(2)·a)(in terms of OC))contributed approximately(47%–73%)of the total SOC input,and this proportion increased with water depth.The results of this study demonstrate the importance of lateral downslope transport in the spatial distribution and development of biomes.

Source and composition of sedimentary organic matter in the head of Three Gorges Reservoir: a multiproxy approach using δ^(13)C,lignin phenols, and lipid biomarker analyses

A multiproxy approach including bulk organic carbon, δ^(13) C, lignin phenols, and lipid biomarker analyses were applied to characterize the source and composition of sedimentary organic matter in the head part of Three Gorges Reservoir. OM consisted of both natural(autochthonous and allochthonous) and anthropogenic inputs.The natural OM included input from vascular plants,especially non-woody angiosperms. The allochthonous input included plankton and microbial production, likely due to localized eutrophication. Anthropogenic inputs likely derived from petroleum input and/or urban activities.Other anthropogenic inputs were untreated sewage waste.These influences were concluded to be regionally specific point sources of pollution based on relative distributions and on the fact that molecular characteristics of sedimentary OM were not distributed smoothly along a gradient.

Distribution, sources and burial fl ux of sedimentary organic matter in the East China Sea

Distribution of total organic carbon(TOC),total nitrogen(TN),stable isotope ratio of organic carbon and nitrogen(δ13 C andδ15 N)in 31 surface sediments were examined to quantitatively discriminate the source and burial of sedimentary organic matter(SOM)in the East China Sea(ECS).Results show that high content of TOC and TN occurred in the southern inner shelf and the northeast area due to the transport of organic matter(OM)from the Changjiang(Yangtze)River southwards by the Zhejiang Fujian Coastal Current(ZFCC)and the delivery from the old Huanghe(Yellow)River estuary by the Subei Coastal Current(SbCC),respectively.The signifi cant relationship of TOC to clay provided evidence that the fi ne-grained sediment was the primary carrier for SOM from the inner shelf to open sea.The TN varied proportionally to the TOC with the neglected intercept,suggesting that most of nitrogen measured was related to the SOM and the infl uence of the sorption of inorganic nitrogen was insignifi cant.The seaward enrichment ofδ13 C and seaward depletion of C/N andδ15 N illustrated the decrease of terrestrial OM(TOM)and the increase of marine OM(MOM).The close of average C/N ratio to the Redfi eld ratio indicated the minor role of terrestrial plant debris in the SOM.Distribution of bulk OM properties was ascribed to the terrestrial and marine input by the shelf circulation and phytoplankton with the contributions of 76.1%MOM and 23.9%TOM to SOM,respectively.The burial fl ux of OC ranged within 0.34–7.56 mg/(cm 2∙a)(averaged 2.80 mg/(cm 2∙a))and enriched along the shore and in the fi ne-grained area,manifesting the signifi cant input of the land-based sources and the eff ect of shelf mud depositional process on the fate of SOM.The sharp seaward decrease of burial fl uxes of terrestrial and marine OC gave evidences that the majority of organic carbon were settled in the inner shelf with the small fraction of them further transported eastwards.

Synchronous response of sedimentary organic carbon accumulation on the inner shelf of the East China Sea to the water impoundment of Three Gorges and Gezhouba Dams

Coastal seas,located between continents and the open ocean,are an important active carbon pool.The sedimentary total organic carbon(TOC)in these areas is a mixture of terrestrial and marine sources,and can be a powerful proxy for tracing natural processes and human activities.In this study,one fine-grained sediment core(DH5-1) from the inner shelf of the East China Sea was systematically analyzed for TOC and black carbon(BC) contents and TOC stable carbon isotope ratios(d13 C).By combining these data with 210~Pb dating,an improved carbon correction model and a two end-member mixing model,we reconstructed century-scale high-resolution sequences of corrected TOC,terrestrial TOC and marine TOC contents and identified two carbon depletion events in the DH5-1 record.The two events,shown as two minima in the TOC profiles,correspond temporally to 1985-1987 AD and 2003-2006 AD,which exactly matches the water impoundment of the Gezhouba Dam and Three Gorges Dam,respectively.In addition,the variations in TOC contents and δ^(13)C values before,during or after the minima demonstrate a relationship between the depletion events and water impoundment of the dams on the Changjiang River.The TOC reductions may represent synchronous responses of sedimentary TOC and resultant ecological ef fects on the inner shelf of the East China Sea to the water impoundment of the dams.These new TOC records reflect the interaction between natural and anthropogenic processes and,accordingly,provide a deep insight and important references for assessing marine ecological ef fects resulting from water impoundment of largescale dams.

The Distribution of Sedimentary Organic Matter and Implication of Its Transfer from Changjiang Estuary to Hangzhou Bay, China

In this study, a comparison was made between the Changjiang Estuary and the Hanghzou Bay, in terms of the sources and diagenesis of the sedimentary organic matter (OM). To achieve this purpose, surface sediments from the estuary and bay were analyzed for lignin-derived phenols, stable carbon isotope and TOC/TN (total organic carbon/total nitrogen) molar ratio. The signal of land-derived OM decreased, and the vanillic acid to vanillin ratio, (Ad/Al)v, increased with increasing distance from the Changjiang Estuary and the Hangzhou Bay. These results corresponded with the contribution of the terrigenous OM from the rivers to the coastal zone, and the predominance of marine OM farther offshore, and that the land-derived OM underwent decomposition during transport along the estuary and bay. It should be noted that besides the Qiantang River, Hangzhou Bay is also receiving more than half of its materials from Changjiang Estuary, which flows into the Hangzhou Bay at the north, and leaves via the southern part of the bay. This important aspect of the hydrological cycle in Hangzhou Bay corresponded to higher Λ (total lignin in mg/100 mg OC), higher TOC and C/N ratios and more elevated (Ad/Al)v and (Ad/Al)s values in the bay than the Changjiang Estuary, thus, rendering the bay as a site for the accumulation and rapid cycling of terrigenous OM.

Formation and distribution of coal measure source rocks in the Eocene Pinghu Formation in the Pinghu Slope of the Xihu Depression,East China Sea Shelf Basin

The Xihu Depression in the East China Sea Shelf Basin is a large petroliferous sedimentary depression,in which oil and gas reservoirs were mainly discovered in the Pinghu Slope and the central inversion zone.The oil-gas source correlation in the Xihu Depression was analyzed by hydrocarbon generating thermal simulation data via gold-tube pyrolysis experiments.The results indicated that the oil and gas in the Xihu Depression were mainly derived from coal measure source rocks of the Eocene Pinghu Formation.Therefore,the identification of coal seams is extremely crucial for evaluating coal measure source rocks in the Pinghu Formation in the Xihu Depression.Geochemical and petrological characterization pointed to input of terrigenous organic matter and redox conditions of the depositional environment as factors that govern the ability of the coal measure source rocks in hydrocarbon generation in the Xihu Depression.In this regard,the sedimentary organic facies in the Pinghu Formation were classified into four predominantly terrigenous and one mixed-source subfacies,which all varied in carbon and hydrogen content.The coal measure source rocks in the carbon-and hydrogen-rich tidal flat-lagoon exhibited the highest hydrocarbon generation potential,whereas the mudstone in the neritic facies was the poorest in its hydrocarbon yield.These results suggested that the coal measure source rocks in the Pinghu Formation likely developed in the Hangzhou Slope and the Tiantai Slope,both representing promising sources for oil and gas exploration.

Sediment transport and carbon sequestration characteristics along mangrove fringed coasts

Mangroves play an important role in sequestering carbon and trapping sediments. However, the effectiveness of such functions is unclear due to the restriction of knowledge on the sedimentation process across the vegetation boundaries. To detect the effects of mangrove forests on sediment transportation and organic carbon sequestration, the granulometric and organic carbon characteristics of mangrove sediments were investigated from three vegetation zones of four typical mangrove habitats on the Leizhou Peninsula coast. Based on our results, sediment transport was often ＂environmentally sensitive＂ to the vegetation friction. A transition of the sediment transport mode from the mudflat zone to the interior/fringe zone was often detected from the cumulative frequency curve. The vegetation cover also assists the trapping of material, resulting in a significantly higher concentration of organic carbon in the interior surface sediments. However, the graphic parameters of core sediments reflected a highly temporal variability due to the sedimentation process at different locations. The sediment texture ranges widely from sand to mud, although the sedimentary environments are restricted within the same energy level along the fluvial-marine transition zone. Based on the PCA results, the large variation was mainly attributed to either the mean grain size features or the organic carbon features. A high correlation between the depth and δ13C value also indicated an increasing storage of mangrove-derived organic carbon with time.

The effect of iron on the preservation of organic carbon in marine sediments and its implications for carbon sequestration

Marine sediments are the most significant reservoir of organic carbon(OC)in Earth′s surface system.Iron,a crucial component of the marine biogeochemical cycle,has a considerable impact on marine ecology and carbon cycling.Understanding the effect of iron on the preservation of OC in marine sediments is essential for comprehending biogeochemical processes of carbon and climate change.This review summarizes the methods for characterizing the content and structure of iron-bound OC and explores the influencing mechanism of iron on OC preservation in marine sediments from two aspects:the selective preservation of OC by reactive iron minerals(iron oxides and iron sulfides)and iron redox processes.The selective preservation of sedimentary OC is influenced by different types of reactive iron minerals,OC reactivity,and functional groups.The iron redox process has dual effects on the preservation and degradation of OC.By considering sedimentary records of iron-bound OC across diverse marine environments,the role of iron in long-term preservation of OC and its significance for carbon sequestration are illustrated.Future research should focus on identifying effective methods for extracting reactive iron,the effect of diverse functional groups and marine sedimentary environments on the selective preservation of OC,and the mediation of microorganisms.Such work will help elucidate the influencing mechanisms of iron on the long-term burial and preservation of OC and explore its potential application in marine carbon sequestration to maximize its role in achieving carbon neutrality.

Distribution, burial fluxes and carbon sink effect of sedimentary organic carbon in the eastern China seas

The ocean is the largest active carbon reservoir on Earth. Organic carbon(OC), as the primary species of carbon sequestration in the ocean, plays an important role in the global carbon cycle through its deposition and burial. In this study,sedimentary OC data from 5796 stations, together with relevant geochemical and sedimentological parameters in the Bohai Sea,Yellow Sea, and East China Sea(BYES) were used to summarize and elucidate the distribution and burial patterns of sedimentary OC, and assess carbon sink effect of sedimentary OC burial. The results show that the OC content in the sediments of the BYES ranges from 0.00% to 2.12%, with an average content of 0.47%±0.26%. OC content is significantly correlated with finegrained sediments, with an average OC content in mud areas being 39% higher than that in non-mud areas. Modern OC buried in the BYES are mainly deposited in 7 major mud areas, with a total sedimentary OC burial flux of approximately 8.20 Mt C yr^(–1).Among them, the burial flux of biospheric OC is 6.92 Mt C yr^(–1), equivalent to the OC consumption amount of silicate weathering of the 9 major river basins in the eastern China. In its natural state, the annually sequestered OC in the sediments of the eastern China seas is equivalent to 25.37 Mt of atmospheric CO_(2), indicating a significant carbon sink effect. The distribution and burial of terrigenous OC in the BYES are mainly influenced by the large river inputs and complex marine hydrodynamic environment,while human activities such as dam construction have significantly altered the OC burial in these coastal mud areas.