scholarly journals Traces of sunlight in the organic matter biogeochemistry of two shallow subarctic lakes

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marttiina V. Rantala ◽  
Carsten Meyer-Jacob ◽  
E. Henriikka Kivilä ◽  
Tomi P. Luoto ◽  
Antti. E. K. Ojala ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Organic Matter ◽  
Organic Carbon ◽  
Lake Sediments ◽  
Lake Water ◽  
Human Impacts ◽  
Global Environmental Change ◽  
Carbon Export ◽  
Subarctic Lakes ◽  
Carbon Regulation ◽  
In Situ Experiments

AbstractGlobal environmental change alters the production, terrestrial export, and photodegradation of organic carbon in northern lakes. Sedimentary biogeochemical records can provide a unique means to understand the nature of these changes over long time scales, where observational data fall short. We deployed in situ experiments on two shallow subarctic lakes with contrasting light regimes; a clear tundra lake and a dark woodland lake, to first investigate the photochemical transformation of carbon and nitrogen elemental (C/N ratio) and isotope (δ13C, δ15N) composition in lake water particulate organic matter (POM) for downcore inferences. We then explored elemental, isotopic, and spectral (inferred lake water total organic carbon [TOC] and sediment chlorophyll a [CHLa]) fingerprints in the lake sediments to trace changes in aquatic production, terrestrial inputs and photodegradation before and after profound human impacts on the global carbon cycle prompted by industrialization. POM pool in both lakes displayed tentative evidence of UV photoreactivity, reflected as increasing δ13C and decreasing C/N values. Through time, the tundra lake sediments traced subtle shifts in primary production, while the woodland lake carried signals of changing terrestrial contributions, indicating shifts in terrestrial carbon export but possibly also photodegradation rates. Under global human impact, both lakes irrespective of their distinct carbon regimes displayed evidence of increased productivity but no conspicuous signs of increased terrestrial influence. Overall, sediment biogeochemistry can integrate a wealth of information on carbon regulation in northern lakes, while our results also point to the importance of considering the entire spectrum of photobiogeochemical fingerprints in sedimentary studies.

scholarly journals Organic matter mineralization and trace element post-depositional redistribution in Western Siberia thermokarst lake sediments

2011 ◽  
Vol 8 (11) ◽  
pp. 3341-3358 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Audry ◽  
O. S. Pokrovsky ◽  
L. S. Shirokova ◽  
S. N. Kirpotin ◽  
B. Dupré
Keyword(s):  
Trace Elements ◽  
Organic Matter ◽  
Organic Carbon ◽  
Lake Sediments ◽  
Water Column ◽  
Western Siberia ◽  
Ecosystem Development ◽  
Thermokarst Lake ◽  
Fe And Mn ◽  
The Impact

Abstract. This study reports the very first results on high-resolution sampling of sediments and their porewaters from three thermokarst (thaw) lakes representing different stages of ecosystem development located within the Nadym-Pur interfluve of the Western Siberia plain. Up to present time, the lake sediments of this and other permafrost-affected regions remain unexplored regarding their biogeochemical behavior. The aim of this study was to (i) document the early diagenesic processes in order to assess their impact on the organic carbon stored in the underlying permafrost, and (ii) characterize the post-depositional redistribution of trace elements and their impact on the water column. The estimated organic carbon (OC) stock in thermokarst lake sediments of 14 ± 2 kg m−2 is low compared to that reported for peat soils from the same region and denotes intense organic matter (OM) mineralization. Mineralization of OM in the thermokarst lake sediments proceeds under anoxic conditions in all the three lakes. In the course of the lake development, a shift in mineralization pathways from nitrate and sulfate to Fe- and Mn-oxyhydroxides as the main terminal electron acceptors in the early diagenetic reactions was suggested. This shift was likely promoted by the diagenetic consumption of nitrate and sulfate and their gradual depletion in the water column due to progressively decreasing frozen peat lixiviation occurring at the lake's borders. Trace elements were mobilized from host phases (OM and Fe- and Mn-oxyhydroxides) and partly sequestered in the sediment in the form of authigenic Fe-sulfides. Arsenic and Sb cycling was also closely linked to that of OM and Fe- and Mn-oxyhydroxides. Shallow diagenetic enrichment of particulate Sb was observed in the less mature stages. As a result of authigenic sulfide precipitation, the sediments of the early stage of ecosystem development were a sink for water column Cu, Zn, Cd, Pb and Sb. In contrast, at all stages of ecosystem development, the sediments were a source of dissolved Co, Ni and As to the water column. However, the concentrations of these trace elements remained low in the bottom waters, indicating that sorption processes on Fe-bounding particles and/or large-size organo-mineral colloids could mitigate the impact of post-depositional redistribution of toxic elements on the water column.

scholarly journals Pulsed carbon export from mountains by earthquake-triggered landslides explored in a reduced-complexity model

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (4) ◽  
pp. 823-844
Author(s):  
Thomas Croissant ◽  
Robert G. Hilton ◽  
Gen K. Li ◽  
Jamie Howarth ◽  
Jin Wang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Organic Matter ◽  
Organic Carbon ◽  
Annual Runoff ◽  
Transport Processes ◽  
Mountain Range ◽  
Biogeochemical Processes ◽  
Organic Matter Degradation ◽  
Carbon Export ◽  
Model Framework ◽  
Mountain Ranges

Abstract. In mountain ranges, earthquakes can trigger widespread landsliding and mobilize large amounts of organic carbon by eroding soil and vegetation from hillslopes. Following a major earthquake, the landslide-mobilized organic carbon can be exported from river catchments by physical sediment transport processes or stored within the landscape where it may be degraded by heterotrophic respiration. The competition between these physical and biogeochemical processes governs a net transfer of carbon between the atmosphere and sedimentary organic matter, yet their relative importance following a large landslide-triggering earthquake remains poorly constrained. Here, we propose a model framework to quantify the post-seismic redistribution of soil-derived organic carbon. The approach combines predictions based on empirical observations of co-seismic sediment mobilization with a description of the physical and biogeochemical processes involved after an earthquake. Earthquake-triggered landslide populations are generated by randomly sampling a landslide area distribution, a proportion of which is initially connected to the fluvial network. Initially disconnected landslide deposits are transported downslope and connected to rivers at a constant velocity in the post-seismic period. Disconnected landslide deposits lose organic carbon by heterotrophic oxidation, while connected deposits lose organic carbon synchronously by both oxidation and river export. The modeling approach is numerically efficient and allows us to explore a large range of parameter values that exert a control on the fate of organic carbon in the upland erosional system. We explore the role of the climatic context (in terms of mean annual runoff and runoff variability) and rates of organic matter degradation using single pool and multi-pool models. Our results highlight the fact that the redistribution of organic carbon is strongly controlled by the annual runoff and the extent of landslide connection, but less so by the choice of organic matter degradation model. In the context of mountain ranges typical of the southwestern Pacific region, we find that model configurations allow more than 90 % of the landslide-mobilized carbon to be exported from mountain catchments. A simulation of earthquake cycles suggests efficient transfer of organic carbon out of a mountain range during the first decade of the post-seismic period. Pulsed erosion of organic matter by earthquake-triggered landslides is therefore an effective process to promote carbon sequestration in sedimentary deposits over thousands of years.

Humus transformation at the bank filtration water plant

1994 ◽  
Vol 30 (10) ◽  
pp. 179-187 ◽  
Author(s):  
I. T. Miettinen ◽  
P. J. Martikainen ◽  
T. Vartiainen
Keyword(s):  
Organic Matter ◽  
Surface Water ◽  
Organic Carbon ◽  
Chemical Oxygen Demand ◽  
Total Organic Carbon ◽  
Lake Water ◽  
Oxygen Demand ◽  
Bank Filtration ◽  
Water Plant

Transformations in the amount and quality of organic matter (humus) during bank filtration of surface water were studied by analyzing the changes in total organic carbon (TOC), non-purgeable organic carbon (NPOC), chemical oxygen demand (COD), color of water, and UV absorbing humus fractions. The amount of organic matter expressed as TOC, NPOC, and COD depended on temperature and filtration distance from lake water. The color of water and the UV absorbing humus peaks presenting different humus molecule fractions decreased more effectively than other parameters measuring the amount of organic matter in water. The ratio of COD to TOC decreased when the filtration distance of water increased. Our observations indicated that bank filtration of humus-rich lake water changed more the quality of organic matter than its total amount.

scholarly journals Dose-dependent regulation of microbial activity on sinking particles by polyunsaturated aldehydes: Implications for the carbon cycle

2015 ◽  
Vol 112 (19) ◽  
pp. 5909-5914 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bethanie R. Edwards ◽  
Kay D. Bidle ◽  
Benjamin A. S. Van Mooy
Keyword(s):  
Organic Matter ◽  
Organic Carbon ◽  
Carbon Cycle ◽  
Bacterial Community Composition ◽  
Bioactive Molecules ◽  
Nutrient Regeneration ◽  
Carbon Export ◽  
Sinking Particles ◽  
Polyunsaturated Aldehydes ◽  
Open Question

Diatoms and other phytoplankton play a crucial role in the global carbon cycle, fixing CO2into organic carbon, which may then be exported to depth via sinking particles. The molecular diversity of this organic carbon is vast and many highly bioactive molecules have been identified. Polyunsaturated aldehydes (PUAs) are bioactive on various levels of the marine food web, and yet the potential for these molecules to affect the fate of organic carbon produced by diatoms remains an open question. In this study, the effects of PUAs on the natural microbial assemblages associated with sinking particles were investigated. Sinking particles were collected from 150 m in the water column and exposed to varying concentrations of PUAs in dark incubations over 24 h. PUA doses ranging from 1 to 10 µM stimulated respiration, organic matter hydrolysis, and cell growth by bacteria associated with sinking particles. PUA dosages near 100 µM appeared to be toxic, resulting in decreased bacterial cell abundance and metabolism, as well as pronounced shifts in bacterial community composition. Sinking particles were hot spots for PUA production that contained concentrations within the stimulatory micromolar range in contrast to previously reported picomolar concentrations of these compounds in bulk seawater. This suggests PUAs produced in situ stimulate the remineralization of phytoplankton-derived sinking organic matter, decreasing carbon export efficiency, and shoaling the average depths of nutrient regeneration. Our results are consistent with a “bioactivity hypothesis” for explaining variations in carbon export efficiency in the oceans.

Characteristics of Sediment and Organic Carbon Export from Pristine Boreal Forest Watersheds

1982 ◽  
Vol 39 (12) ◽  
pp. 1699-1718 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert J. Naiman
Keyword(s):  
Organic Matter ◽  
Organic Carbon ◽  
Boreal Forest ◽  
Particulate Organic Matter ◽  
Terrestrial Ecosystems ◽  
Dry Weight ◽  
Carbon Export ◽  
Watershed Area ◽  
First Choice ◽  
Spring Freshet

Estimates of the amount of material moving annually from terrestrial ecosystems to the ocean are largely based on an incomplete understanding of events occurring throughout the hydrologic year, and only a vague comprehension of in-stream processes controlling that export. Discharge, suspended sediment, particulate organic matter (POM; > 0.5 μm), dissolved organic carbon (DOC; <0.5 μm diameter), and the percentage of organic matter were measured from 1979 to 1981 in five pristine Quebec streams: First Choice Creek (1st order; watershed area: 0.25 km2), Beaver Creek (2nd order; 1.83 km2), Muskrat River (5th order; 204 km2), Matamek River (6th order; 673 km2), and the Moisie River (9th order; 19 871 km2). All streams, with the exception of First Choice Creek, have a strong spring freshet when 43–55% of the annual discharge occurs. By describing sediment and organic carbon export throughout the annual hydrologic cycle, 1 showed that during the 2-mo spring freshet 71–92% of the annual sediment load is exported but only 59–65% of the annual POM load, and only 47–51% of the annual DOC load. Sediment yield is relatively constant between watersheds (1.5–7.6 g∙m−2∙yr−1), as is POM export (1.0–6.7 g ash-free dry-weight [AFDW]∙m−2∙yr−1); however, export DOC varies from 3.1 g C∙m−2∙yr−1 in First Choice Creek to 48.4 g C∙m−2∙yr−1 in Beaver Creek. There appears to be rapid loading of carbon between 1st- and 2nd-order streams in boreal forests, followed by biological and physical processing as watershed area increases. Thus, for the Moisie River watershed, export of total organic carbon (TOC) is reduced to only 4.7 g C∙m−2∙yr−1. Export of coarse particulate organic matter (> 1 mm) is negligible (normally < 0.1 mg∙L−1), as is oxidation of the suspended load (< 0.5%∙d−1). Effects of summer storms, natural diel variations, and depth of sample from the water column are shown to have a minimal influence on concentrations. Rating curves (kg∙d−1 vs. discharge) are developed to estimate the annual yield of sediment, POM, and DOC, and to evaluate long-term variations. From the results I suggest that in-stream processing and retention devices exert considerable control over the quantity and nature of suspended organic material. Physical processes such as the discharge regime and stream power are relatively less important in determining organic concentrations, but more important in determining sediment concentrations.Key words: seston, carbon, sediment, boreal forest, watershed, river, stream, export

scholarly journals Carbon sources supporting benthic mineralization in mangrove and adjacent seagrass sediments (Gazi Bay, Kenya)

2004 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 311-333 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Bouillon ◽  
T. Moens ◽  
F. Dehairs
Keyword(s):  
Organic Matter ◽  
Organic Carbon ◽  
Bacterial Communities ◽  
Carbon Sources ◽  
Mangrove Ecosystem ◽  
Community Respiration ◽  
Seagrass Beds ◽  
Carbon Export ◽  
Organic Matter Pool ◽  
Gazi Bay

Abstract. The origin of carbon substrates used by in situ sedimentary bacterial communities was investigated in an intertidal mangrove ecosystem and in adjacent seagrass beds in Gazi bay (Kenya) by δ13C analysis of bacteria-specific PLFA (phospholipid fatty acids) and bulk organic carbon. Export of mangrove-derived organic matter to the adjacent seagrass-covered bay was evident from sedimentary total organic carbon (TOC) and δ13CTOC data. PLFA δ13C data indicate that the substrate used by bacterial communities varied strongly and that exported mangrove carbon was a significant source for bacteria in the adjacent seagrass beds. Within the intertidal mangrove forest, bacterial PLFA at the surface layer (0-1 cm) typically showed more enriched δ13C values than deeper (up to 10 cm) sediment layers, suggesting a contribution from microphytobenthos and/or inwelled seagrass material. Under the assumption that seagrasses and mangroves are the dominant potential end-members, the estimated contribution of mangrove-derived carbon to benthic mineralization in the seagrass beds (16-74%) corresponds fairly well to the estimated contribution of mangrove C to the sedimentary organic matter pool (21-71%) across different seagrass sites. Based on these results and a compilation of literature data, we suggest that allochtonous carbon trapped in seagrass beds may often represent a significant fraction of the substrate for benthic mineralization - both in cases where seagrass C dominates the sediment TOC pool and in cases where external inputs are significant. Hence, it is likely that community respiration data systematically overestimate the role of mineralization in the overall seagrass C budget.

scholarly journals Organic matter mineralization and trace element post-depositional redistribution in Western Siberia thermokarst lake sediments

2011 ◽  
Vol 8 (4) ◽  
pp. 8845-8894
Author(s):  
S. Audry ◽  
O. S. Pokrovsky ◽  
L. S. Shirokova ◽  
S. N. Kirpotin ◽  
B. Dupré
Keyword(s):  
Trace Elements ◽  
Organic Matter ◽  
Organic Carbon ◽  
Lake Sediments ◽  
Water Column ◽  
Western Siberia ◽  
Ecosystem Development ◽  
Thermokarst Lake ◽  
Fe And Mn ◽  
The Impact

Abstract. This study reports the very first results on high-resolution sampling of sediments and their porewaters from three thermokarst (thaw) lakes representing different stages of ecosystem development located within the Nadym-Pur interfluve of the Western Siberia plain. Up to present time, the lake sediments of this and other permafrost-affected regions remain unexplored regarding their biogeochemical behavior. The aim of this study was to (i) document the early diagenesic processes in order to assess their impact on the organic carbon stored in the underlying permafrost, and (ii) characterize the post-depositional redistribution of trace elements and their impact on the water column. The estimated organic carbon (OC) stock in thermokarst lake sediments of 14 ± 2 kg m−2 is low compared to that reported for peat soils from the same region and denotes intense organic matter (OM) mineralization. Mineralization of OM in the thermokarst lake sediments proceeds under anoxic conditions in all the three lakes. In the course of the lake development, a shift in mineralization pathways was evidenced from nitrate and sulfate to Fe- and Mn-oxyhydroxides as the main terminal electron acceptors in the early diagenetic reactions. This shift was promoted by the diagenetic consumption of nitrate and sulfate and their gradual depletion in the water column due to progressively decreasing frozen peat lixiviation occurring at the lake's borders. Trace elements were mobilized from host phases (OM and Fe- and Mn-oxyhydroxides) and partly sequestered in the sediment in the form of authigenic Fe-sulfides. Arsenic and Sb cycling was also closely linked to that of OM and Fe- and Mn-oxyhydroxides. Shallow diagenetic enrichment of particulate Sb was observed in the less mature stages. As a result of authigenic sulfide precipitation, the sediments of the early stage of ecosystem development were a sink for water column Cu, Zn, Cd, Pb and Sb. In contrast, at all stages of ecosystem development, the sediments were a source of dissolved Co, Ni and As to the water column. However, the concentrations of these trace elements remained low in the bottom waters, indicating that sorption processes on Fe-bounding particles and/or large-size organo-mineral colloids could mitigate the impact of post-depositional redistribution of toxic elements on the water column.

scholarly journals Pulsed carbon export from mountains by earthquake-triggered landslides explored in a reduced-complexity model

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas Croissant ◽  
Robert G. Hilton ◽  
Gen Li ◽  
Jamie Howarth ◽  
Jin Wang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Organic Matter ◽  
Organic Carbon ◽  
Annual Runoff ◽  
Transport Processes ◽  
Mountain Range ◽  
Biogeochemical Processes ◽  
Organic Matter Degradation ◽  
Carbon Export ◽  
Model Framework ◽  
Mountain Ranges

Abstract. In mountain ranges, earthquakes can trigger widespread landsliding and mobilise large amounts of organic carbon by eroding soil and vegetation from hillslopes. Following a major earthquake, the landslide-mobilised organic carbon can be exported from river catchments by physical sediment transport processes, or stored within the landscape where it may be degraded by heterotrophic respiration. The competition between these physical and biogeochemical processes governs a net transfer of carbon between the atmosphere and sedimentary organic matter, yet their relative importance following a large landslide-triggering earthquake remains poorly constrained. Here, we propose a model framework to quantify the post-seismic redistribution of soil-derived organic carbon. The approach combines predictions based on empirical observations of co-seismic sediment mobilisation, with a description of the physical and biogeochemical processes involved after the earthquake. Earthquake-triggered landslide populations are generated by randomly sampling a landslide area distribution, a proportion of which is initially connected to the fluvial network. Initially disconnected landslide deposits are transported downslope and connected to rivers at a constant velocity in the post-seismic period. Disconnected landslide deposits lose organic carbon by heterotrophic oxidation, while connected deposits lose organic carbon synchronously by both oxidation and river export. The modelling approach is numerically efficient and allows us to explore a large range of parameter values that exert a control on the fate of organic carbon in the upland erosional system. We explore the role of the climatic context (in terms of mean annual runoff and runoff variability) and rates of organic matter degradation using single and multi-pool models. Our results highlight that the redistribution of organic carbon is strongly controlled by the annual runoff and the extent of landslide connection, but less so by the choice of organic matter degradation model. In the context of mountain ranges typical of the southwest Pacific region, we find that model configurations allow for more than 90 % of the landslide-mobilized carbon to be exported from mountain catchments. A simulation of earthquake cycles suggests efficient transfer of organic carbon out of a mountain range during the first decade of the post-seismic period. Pulsed erosion of organic matter by earthquake-triggered landslides therefore offers an effective process to promote carbon sequestration in sedimentary deposits over thousands of years.

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