Diatom distribution of surface sediment in the Bering Sea and Chukchi Sea

Diatoms from surface sediment samples in the Bering and Chukchi seas were analyzed to reveal the distribution patterns and their relationship with the ocean environment. A low abundance was found to the north of the Arctic Sea ice Minimum （ASIMin）, indicating that diatom growth is strongly inhibited by perennial sea ice. Between the ASIMin and the Arctic Sea Ice Maximum （ASIMax） which experiences seasonal sea ice, the sea ice related diatoms （mainly Fragilariopsis oceanica and Fragi- lariopsis cylindrus） were dominant, thereby confirming that sea ice is an important influencing factor. The Chaetoceros resting spores were more abundant in the Chukchi Sea, which corresponds well with the active phytoplankton distribution in the water column, and is possibly attributed to the stronger hydrodynamic conditions present in the Bering Sea. The abundances of Chaeto- ceros resting spores were the lowest on the northeast Bering Shelf, possibly because of lower water depth, stronger coastal cur- rents, river influx, coarser particle sizes and stronger winds and bottom currents. The Arctic Diatom Group （dominated by Bac- terosira bathyomphala, Thalassiosira antarctica v. borealis and Thalassiosira antarctica resting spores） was more abundant in the Bering Basin and the areas central of and to the north of Chukchi Plateau, while the Coastal Benthic Diatoms （including Paralia sulcata and Delphineis surirella） were mainly found on the northeast Bering Shelf and nearby Cape Lisburne in the Chukchi Sea. Thalassiosira nordenskioeldii was found to be the most abundant around the Bering Strait, while Neodenticula seminae was only found in the Bering Sea and mainly distributed in the Bering Basin, indicating its close correlation with the Pacific waters

Foraminifera in surface sediments of the Bering and Chukchi Seas and their sedimentary environment

Based on a quantitative analysis of foraminifera in 39 surface samples of the Bering andChukchi Seas, the nearly absence of planktonic foraminifera in the surface sediments can be related to the low surface primary productivity and strong carbonate dissolution in the study area. It has been revealed that the surface primary productivity, and carbonate dissolution and properties of water masses related to the water depth mainly control the distribution of benthic foraminifera. The shelf of the Chukchi Sea is dominated by the Elphidium spp. assemblage and Nonionella robusta assemblage with low foraminiferal abundance and diversity, which is controlled by the coastal water mass of the Arctic Ocean. The slope of the Bering Sea is dominated by the Uvigerina peregrina - Globobulimina affinis assemblage with abundant N. robusta, and relatively high foraminiferal abundance and diversity, which is controlled by the intermediate and deep water masses of the Pacific Ocean. However, the Bering Sea has relatively shallow carbonate lysocline and compensation depth (CCD) , at about 2 000 and 3 800 m, respectively. In addition, there exists Stetsonia arctica in the surface sediments of the upper slope in the Bering Sea, which is a typical deep-sea benthic foraminiferal species of the slope in the Arctic Ocean. This indicates that the deep water of the two seas beside the Bering Strait had ever exchanged.

Composition and distribution of diatom assemblages in the surface sediments of the Bering Sea

Diatoms collected from the top 1 cm of the surface sediment layer at seven Bering Sea stations during the Fourth Chi- nese National Arctic Research Expedition （4th CH1NARE-Arctic） in 2010 were studied. In total, 101 taxa belonging to 38 genera were found. The species were divided into four groups： eurythermal species, boreal-temperate species, polar species, and sea-ice species. The diatom assemblages at the stations in the southwestern basin area were primarily composed of boreal-temperate species, such as Neodenticula seminae, Thalassiosira trifulta, Rhizosolenia hebetata f. hiemalis, and Actinocyclus curvatulus. The northeastern shelf stations were dominated by polar species, including Fragilariopsis oceanica, Thalassiosira antarctica spora, Thalassiosira nordensldoeldii, and Thalassiosira hyalina. The overall abundance was highest at the basin stations with 3.7 ×10^6 cells·g^-1 of wet sediment, whereas the eastern shelf stations had the lowest abundance of 0.7×10^6 cells·g^-1 of wet sediment （excluding the resting spores of Chaetoceros spp.）. The relationship between the distribution of the surface sediment diatom assemblages and the environment is discussed.

Variations in organic carbon loading of surface sediments from the shelf to the slope of the Chukchi Sea,Arctic Ocean

The content of organic carbon （OC） normalized to the specific surface area （SSA） of sediment is widely used to trace variations in OC loading （OC/SSA）. This study presents observations of OC/SSA of surface sediments collected in the Chukchi Sea, a typical Arctic marginal sea. Shelf sediments exhibit much higher OC/SSA values than slope sediments in the study area. Compared with OC/SSA values reported from the East Siberian Shelf and Mackenzie River, the slope sediments possess lower OC loading. This abrupt decrease in OC/SSA is mostly related to the lower primary production on slope as well as possible oxidization processes. The results of linear regression analysis between OC and SSA indicate a sedimentary source rock for the OC in the Chukchi Sea sediments. Moreover, shelf sediments with low SSA possess a larger rock OC fraction than slope sediments do. The dataset of the present study enables a more thorough understanding of regional OC cycling in the Chukchi Sea.

Spatial variation in grain-size population of surface sediments from northern Bering Sea and western Arctic Ocean: Implications for provenance and depositional mechanisms

In general,sediments in nature comprise populations of various diameters.Accurate information regarding the sources and depositional mechanisms of the populations can be obtained through their temporal and spatial comparisons.In this study,the grain size distribution of surface sediments from the Bering Sea and western Arctic Ocean were fitted and partitioned into populations using a log-normal distribution function.The spatial variations in the populations indicate differences in their sources and deposition mechanisms.The sediments on most of the Bering Sea Shelf originated from the Yukon River,and were transported westward by waves and currents.However,the presence of a coarser population outside Anadyr Bay was the result of Anadyr River transport.Additionally,a northward transport trend of fine suspended particles was observed on the west side of the Bering Sea Shelf.The sediments in Hope Valley in the south Chukchi Sea also originated from the Yukon River.The coarser population on the central Chukchi Sea Shelf originated from coast of Alaska to the east,not the Yukon River,and was transported by sea ice and bottom brine water.The populations of sediments from the Chukchi Basin and the base of the Chukchi Sea Slope are the result of sea ice and eddy action.Surface sediments from the western high Arctic Ocean predominantly comprised five populations,and two unique populations with mode diameters of 50–90μm and 200–400μm,respectively,were ubiquitous in the glacial and interglacial sediments.It was difficult to distinguish whether these two populations originated from sea ice or icebergs.Therefore,caution should be exercised when using either the>63μm or>250μm fractions in sediments as a proxy index for iceberg and ice sheet variation in the high Arctic Ocean.

Diatom assemblages in surface sediments from the South China Sea as environmental indicators

We studied diatom distribution from 62 samples from the uppermost 1 cm of sedimem in the South China Sea （SCS）, using grabs or box corers in three cruises between 2001-2007. Fifty six genera, 256 species and their varieties were identified. Dominating species included Coscinodiscus africanus, Coscinodiscus nodulifer, Cyclotella stylorum, Hemidiscus cuneiformis, Melosira sulcata, Nitzschia marina, Roperia tesselata, Thalassionema nitzschioides, Thalassiosira excentrica, and Thalassiothrix longissima. Most surface sediments in the SCS were rich ill diatoms, except for a few coarse samples. Average diatom abundance in the study area was 104 607 valve/g. In terms of the abundance, ecology, and spatial distribution, seven diatom zones （Zones 1-7） were recognized. Zone 1 （northern continental shelf） is affected by warm currents, SCS northern branch of the Kuroshio, and northern coastal currents; Zone 2 （northwestern continental shelf） is affected by intense coastal currents; Zone 3 （Xisha Islands sea area） is a bathyal environment with transitional water masses; Zone 4 （sea basin） is a bathyal-to-deep sea with stable and uniform central water masses in a semi-enclosed marginal sea; Zone 5 （Nansba Islands marine area） is a pelagic environment with relatively high surface temperature; Zone 6 （northern Sunda Shelf） is a tropical shelf environment; and Zone 7 （northern Kalimantan Island shelf area） is affected by warm waters from the Indian Ocean and coastal waters. The data indicate that these diatom zones are closely related to topography, hydrodynamics, temperature, nutrients and especially the salinity. Better understanding of the relationship between diatom distribution and the oceanographic factors would help in the reconstruction of the SCS in the past.

First record of genera Rutilaria and Trigonium(Bacillariophyta) and 11 diatom taxa(species and varieties) in South China Sea

Diatom taxa in samples collected from the uppermost 1-cm sediment of the South China Sea （SCS） during cruises in 2000, 2001, and 2007 were investigated. Among them, two genera, Rutilaria and Trigoniurn, and 11 marine taxa （species and varieties） were described for the first time in China. The 11 taxa, Rutilaria radiata, Asterolampra grevillei, Biddulphia turrigera, Cocconeis cyclophora var. decora, Cocconeis ocellata, Dictyoneis rnarginata, Entogonia davyana, Tryblionella campechiana, Plagiogramma kinkeri, Plagiogramma nankoorense and Trigonium cf. contumax, were mainly extant species, although Rutilaria radiata and Entogonia davyana are fossils. Available data show that these species are mainly present in the eastern and western Pacific Ocean and the Indian Ocean. A large number of taxa newly recorded in this study were previously reported in the Philippines. The presence of these taxa in both locations is likely a result of seawater exchange in the SCS through the Bashi Channel Taxonomic descriptions, habitats, and distributions of each diatom taxon are provided herein.

REE geochemistry of surface sediments in the Chukchi Sea

Analyses of rare earth elements (REEs) in 26 surface sediment samples obtained from the Chukchi Sea were conducted using ICP-MS. In general, REEs are relatively rich in fine-grained sediments and deplete in coarse-grained sediments in the Chukchi Sea although REEs have large concentration spans in different types of sediments. Except that a few samples have weak en-richments of light or heavy REEs?most samples exhibit flat shale-normalized REE pattern, indi-cating that surface sediments in the Chukchi Sea are composed dominantly of terrigenous com-ponents experiencing weak chemical weathering. In terms of REE concentrations and other char-acteristic parameters, we inferred that sediments on the eastern and western sides of the Chukchi Sea are derived from landmasses of Alaska and Siberia, respectively; the midsouth sediments are possibly related to northward dispersion of the Yukon River materials. The Herald Shoal in the center of the study area is covered with relict sediment, which has large ratios of light-to-heavy REEs (ΣCe/ΣY ratio) and lacks evident negative Ce anomaly; cerium enrichment is possibly re-lated to manganese transfer under oxidizing conditions in early diagenesis.

Latitudinal distribution of iodine in sediments in the Chukchi Sea and the Bering Sea

Iodine is an important trace element associated closely with human being, and it will influence human’s normal growth if lacking it. Meanwhile, iodine is an important catalyzer, and is important in atmospheric chemistry study. In nature, iodine is rich mainly in marine organism and sediment, and marine sediment has the largest storage of iodine. The analysis results of sediment samples obtained by the First Chinese National Arctic Research Expedition indicate that iodine contents in sediments in the Chukchi Sea and the Bering Sea are 98.1x10-6 and 73.8x10-6, respec-tively, which are higher than those in sediments of Chinese marginal seas and the southern Pacific Ocean, and show the trend of increase from low latitude to high latitude. This paper proposes a pattern of iodine latitudinal distribution on the basis of the distribution characteristic of iodine and its enrichment mechanism in sediments of the Chukchi Sea and the Bering Sea.

白令海和楚科奇海表层沉积硅藻分布特征

对中国第二次和第三次北极科学考察在白令海和楚科奇海获取的部分表层沉积物样品进行了详细的硅藻分析,旨在了解白令海和楚科奇海表层沉积硅藻的主要分布情况。研究发现海冰对北极硅藻有着显著的影响,在最小冰边缘线以北海域,由于常年被海冰覆盖,表层沉积物中的硅藻数量极少甚至缺失,而在此范围以南海域,硅藻含量则甚为丰富。白令海和楚科奇海表层沉积物中最主要的硅藻种类及组合有:角毛藻休眠孢子(Chaetoceros restingspores)、海冰硅藻组合(以Fragilariopsis oceanica和Fragilariopsis cylindrus为代表)、极地硅藻组合(优势种有Bacterosi-ra bathyomphla,Thalassiosira antarctic v.borealis及其休眠孢子)、沿岸底栖硅藻组合(主要有Paralia sulcata和Delphe-neis surirella)、诺氏海链藻(Thalassiosira nordenskioeldii)和塞米新细齿藻(Neodenticula seminae)等。上述硅藻种类及组合具有显著的空间分布差异性,并与现代海洋环境因素密切相关,因此对于白令海和楚科奇海古海洋环境研究具有重要意义。

东海表层沉积硅藻组合与环境关系研究

对东海表层沉积硅藻分析研究 ,共发现有 10 3种和变种 ,根据其中分布特征和规律 ,结合因子负荷变化曲线 ,把东海表层沉积划分为六个硅藻组合和分布区 ,并探讨影响硅藻分布的环境因素 。

北冰洋西部表层沉积物粘土矿物分布及环境指示意义

楚科奇海及邻近的北冰洋深水区表层沉积物中粘土矿物的分布受源区母岩和海区环流结构所制约。来自加拿大马更些河的物质富含高岭石和伊利石,对研究区东北部和北部沉积物的影响较大;来自阿拉斯加西北部的河流和海岸带物质富含绿泥石,高岭石含量变化较大,对阿拉斯加西北部近海沉积物的影响明显;来自西伯利亚的物质富含绿泥石,对研究区西部沉积物的影响较为明显。自白令海峡进入的太平洋水携带富含蒙皂石的育空河物质横穿楚科奇海陆架向北扩散,导致楚科奇海中部沉积物中的蒙皂石含量高;同时,粘土矿物自身的粒度分异在某种程度上也促使蒙脱石在离岸距离较远的中部海区富集。

白令海和楚科奇海表层沉积中的有孔虫及其沉积环境

通过对白令海和北冰洋楚科奇海 39个表层沉积样品中有孔虫的定量分析 ,发现表层沉积中浮游有孔虫稀少可能与该区表层生产力低、碳酸盐溶解作用较强有关 ,而底栖有孔虫的分布则主要受表层初级生产力以及与水深相关的碳酸盐溶解作用和水团性质所控制 ,其中北冰洋楚科奇海陆架区有孔虫以Elphidiumspp .组合和Nonionellarobusta组合为主 ,丰度和分异度低 ,受北冰洋沿岸水团控制 ;白令海陆坡区有孔虫以Uvigerinaperegrina -Globobuliminaaffinis组合为主 ,含N .robusta较多 ,丰度和分异度相对高 ,受太平洋中层和深层水团控制 ,但该区碳酸盐溶跃层和补偿深度 (CCD)相对浅 ,约分别位于 2 0 0 0和 380 0m处 .此外 ,白令海陆坡上部表层沉积中含有北冰洋陆坡区典型深水底栖有孔虫种Stetsoniaarctica ,说明白令海峡两侧的海区曾有深部水交流 .

白令海表层沉积物中放射虫的深度分布特征及其海洋学意义

中国首次北极科学考察在白令海高生产力的“白令海绿带”下方采取的表层沉积物样品中放射虫组合的研究显示,这一放射虫组合的优势种为Stylochlamydiumvenustum,Spongotrochusglacialis和Antarctissa?sp.,三者的总和超过放射虫总数的50%。放射虫含量的深度分布表明,大部分属种在100—500m的深度明显增加,显然是对陆坡至陆架边缘上部水体中高生产力的“白令海绿带”的响应。并由此推断,Stylochlamydiumvenustum,Spongotrochusglacialis,Ceratospyrisborealis和Actinommaboreale等属种主要生活于500m以上水域,并与高生产力的“白令海绿带”相关,可以作为表层生产力的替代物。而Siphocampearachnea,Cycladophoradavisiana,Stylatractuspyriformis和Pseudodictyophimusgracilipes等主要生活于500m以下冷的中层水至深层水中,可以作为中层水和深层水的替代物。白令海陆坡上部至陆架边缘高的有机碳、蛋白石含量和硅质微体化石丰度指示了高的表层生产力,是“白令海绿带”的替代物,为研究“白令海绿带”的变化及其地质历史提供了可靠依据。

楚科奇海附近表层沉积物中类脂生物标志物的分布特征和意义

多参数生物标记物法已被广泛用于重建浮游植物生产力和种群结构，研究了2003年夏季我国二次北极考察时采集的楚科奇海表层沉积物样品中浮游植物生物标志物的比例变化及其作为浮游植物种群结构替代指标的潜力。观测海区表层沉积物中菜子甾醇、甲藻甾醇、长链烯酮的总含量为20～3149ng／g，平均值为1010ng／g，生物标志物总量分布表明南部的楚科奇陆架海域生产力明显高于北部海台区，不同站位的菜子甾醇和甲藻甾醇相对比例有明显变化，但都显示菜子甾醇占优势，楚科奇海陆架的站位中都是硅藻为主，菜子甾醇占生物标志物总量的比例为42％～74％，甲藻甾醇占生物标志物总量的比例为17％～37％，在海台区仍然是硅藻占优势，但是甲藻和颗石藻的比例有了很大的提高，加拿大海盆的4个站位中以甲藻和颗石藻为主，硅藻并非加拿大海盆的优势种群。这与用显微镜下鉴定得到的硅藻和甲藻分布趋势相似。研究结果为生物标志物作为浮游植物种群结果替代指标并为利用柱状样中的生物标志物研究古生态提供现代依据。

楚科奇海—加拿大海盆表层沉积物中的氨基酸

对2003年中国第二次北极科学考察所获得的部分表层沉积物样品进行了总水解氨基酸(THAA)、氨基糖(HA)的测定。不同区域氨基酸主要成分不同,楚科奇海站位的氨基酸主要成分为甘氨酸(Gly)、谷氨酸(Glu),位于加拿大海盆的B80、B11、P27站THAA的主要成分为丝氨酸(Ser)。沉积物的总有机碳(TOC)、总氮(TN)、THAA、HA含量等特征随区域不同有较大差别,白令海峡的BS11站TOC、HA含量最低,加拿大海盆的B80站THAA、TN含量最低。楚科奇海R03站TOC、TN为最高,THAA在R11含量达最大值,HA在楚科奇海台的P11站最高。初步讨论了楚科奇海—加拿大海盆表层沉积物中氨基酸的空间分布,根据氨基酸选择性降解和主成份分析结果引入DI"指标,并对七个站位表层沉积物有机质新鲜程度进行了比较,新鲜度由大至小顺序为C15>BS11>R11>S11>P11>R03>B80,这与表层沉积物来源、水动力条件等有关,由此推测楚科奇海陆架、白令海峡沉积物有机质较楚科奇海台、加拿大海盆较为新鲜。

楚科奇海与加拿大海盆表层沉积物表观特征及其环境指示

通过对中国首次和第二次北极科学考察采集的表层沉积物的观察,根据沉积物的颜色和气味、砾石分布、底栖生物及贝壳分布特征的分析,探讨了该海区表层沉积物表观特征变化与有机质输入、沉积物的氧化还原状态的关系、底栖生物分布范围、冰筏碎屑的分布区域及与海流的关系,指出在研究区软体动物生长的北界位于73.5°N,比浮游动物的北界约低2个纬度。冰筏碎屑的北界可作为融冰水的北界或永久冰区的南界,位置在77°24′N附近。通过对沉积物表观特征的综合分析,结合研究区的海流特征,指出研究区的海流分布对沉积物分布有重要影响,尤其是两股不同性质的海流相遇,对西南部与东部两个区域的沉积物组成及性质具有较强的控制作用。

南海某些表层沉积硅藻的分布及其古环境意义

本文通过对南海表层沉积物样品的硅藻分析,试图揭示南海某些表层沉积硅藻的分布规律,以便为南海古海洋学研究提供科学依据。研究发现,Thalassionema nitzshioides 为南海地区表层沉积硅藻的优势种,且其百分含量无明显的区域差异,体现了南海与周围海洋水体交换相对较弱的特征。除此之外,南海表层沉积硅藻的分布主要受到海洋环流的影响,表现在黑潮暖流、印度洋暖水的入侵以及沿岸流对南海表层沉积硅藻分布的影响。其中,Nitzshia marina, Azpeitia neocrenulata, Azpeitia africana, Rhizosolenia bergonii 等暖水硅藻可作为黑潮暖流及印度洋暖水入侵南海强度的指标种。而Cyclotella stylorum, Cyclotella striata, Diploneis bombus, Traychneis as pera, Tabularia tabulata 等则可看作判断沿岸流对南海水体影响强度的标志种。