scholarly journals Investigation of sewage contamination using steroid indexes in sediments of the Guajará Estuary (Amazon coast, Brazil)

2015 ◽  
Vol 63 (4) ◽  
pp. 501-510 ◽  
Author(s):  
Heyde Gonçalves Gomes ◽  
Silvia Keiko Kawakami ◽  
Satie Taniguchi ◽  
Pedro Walfir Souza Filho ◽  
Rosalinda Carmela Montone
Keyword(s):  
Organic Matter ◽  
Organic Carbon ◽  
Total Organic Carbon ◽  
Surface Sediments ◽  
Brazilian Amazon ◽  
Aquatic Systems ◽  
Grain Sizes ◽  
Coastal Process ◽  
Sewage Contamination ◽  
Intertidal Surface

Abstract Amazonian aquatic systems are usually associated with pristine waters, however, irregular urban occupation of the hydrographic basins and sewerage deficiencies may lead to point and diffuse contamination. Sewage contamination in intertidal surface sediments from the Guajará Estuary, Brazilian Amazon coast, was evaluated using a set of steroids as biomarkers. Sediments collected along the urbanized margin were also analyzed for chlorophyll a, total organic carbon and grain sizes. Coprostanol, the main fecal sterol, was found at concentrations varying from 0.06 to 7.93 µg g-1 dry sediment, following the sequence Tucunduba > Ver-o-Peso > Porto da Palha > Tamandaré > Icoaraci > Miramar. Mixed sources of organic matter and coastal process probably concurred to produce weak correlations among the parameters. Plant derived sterols, including n-C30 alcohol and β-amyrinyl alkanoates, were clearly abundant, but they did not preclude the use of other steroid signals to the assessment of sewage contamination. High values of the steroid indexes involving 5α and 5β stanols and stanones highlighted sewage contamination at the sites with the lowest absolute coprostanol concentrations. The predominance of 5β stanols indicated a chronically sewage contamination of the area.

scholarly journals Total organic carbon and its environmental significance for the surface sediments in groundwater recharged lakes from the Badain Jaran Desert, northwest China

2017 ◽  
Vol 77 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Shipei Dong ◽  
Zhuolun Li ◽  
Qiujie Chen ◽  
Zhiqiao Wei
Keyword(s):  
Organic Matter ◽  
Organic Carbon ◽  
Total Organic Carbon ◽  
Lake Sediments ◽  
Surface Sediments ◽  
Northwest China ◽  
Wave Activity ◽  
Badain Jaran Desert ◽  
Lake Area ◽  
Autochthonous Organic Matter

Total organic carbon (TOC) content in lake sediments is typically used for the reconstruction of paleoenvironments. It remains uncertain, however, whether these sediment variables in lakes supplied by groundwater in the hinterland of the Badain Jaran Desert are applicable. Moreover, it is still uncertain whether the TOC content in these lakes can be used as a proxy to identify past climatic change and environmental evolution studies. In this study, the spatial distributions of the TOC contents and C/N ratios were analyzed for 109 surface sediment samples collected from five lakes without runoff recharge. The results revealed that the TOC content of the lake surface sediments was extremely low (0.03% - 1.01%) and consisted of both allochthonous organic matter carried by wind, as well as autochthonous organic matter generated in the lakes. Within a lake, spatial differences in the amount of TOC found in surface sediments may be caused by several processes including bathymetry topography and wind-induced wave activity. In addition, wind-induced wave activity produces a higher TOC content, which is more pronounced in larger lakes (>0.21 km2) with longer fetches. By contrast, in smaller lakes, organic matter accumulates in the deeper waters, but can be affected by many factors. It is therefore necessary to consider lake area when applying the TOC content of lake sediments for the reconstruction of a paleolake evolution. Furthermore, because the TOC content of lake sediments in hyper-arid regions is extremely low, and the organic matter may have a multiple and varied sources, a single proxy (TOC) cannot be used to reconstruct lake evolution.

scholarly journals Sources and accumulation of organic carbon in the Pearl River Estuary surface sediment as indicated by elemental, stable carbon isotopic, and carbohydrate compositions

2010 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
pp. 2889-2926 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. He ◽  
M. Dai ◽  
W. Huang ◽  
Q. Liu ◽  
H. Chen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Organic Matter ◽  
Organic Carbon ◽  
Surface Sediments ◽  
River Estuary ◽  
Pearl River Estuary ◽  
Outer Shelf ◽  
Pearl River ◽  
Terrestrial Organic Matter ◽  
The Pearl River Estuary ◽  
The Pearl River

Abstract. Organic matter in surface sediments from the upper reach of the Pearl River Estuary and Lingdingyang Bay, as well as the adjacent northern South China Sea shelf was characterized by a variety of techniques, including elemental (C and N), stable carbon isotopic (δ 13C) composition, as well as molecular-level analyses. Total organic carbon (TOC) content was 1.61±1.20% in the upper reach down to 1.00±0.22% in Lingdingyang Bay and to 0.80±0.10% on the inner shelf and 0.58±0.06% on the outer shelf. δ13C values ranged from −25.11‰ to −21.28‰ across the studied area, with a trend of enrichment seaward. The spatial trend in C/N ratios mirrored that of δ13C, with a substantial decrease in C/N ratio from 10.9±1.3 in the Lingdingyang Bay surface sediments to 6.5±0.09 in the outer shelf surface sediments. Total carbohydrate yields ranged from 22.1 to 26.7 mg (100 mg OC)−1, and typically followed TOC concentrations in the estuarine and shelf sediments, suggesting that the relative abundance of total carbohydrate was fairly constant in TOC. Total neutral sugars as detected by the nine major monosaccharides (lyxose, rhamnose, ribose, arabinose, fucose, xylose, galactose, mannose, and glucose) yielded between 4.0 and 18.6 mg (100 mg OC)−1 in the same sediments, suggesting that a significant amount of carbohydrates were not neutral aldoses. The bulk organic matter properties, isotopic composition and C/N ratios, combined with molecular-level carbohydrate compositions were used to assess the sources and accumulation of terrestrial organic matter in the Pearl River Estuary and the adjacent northern South China Sea shelf. Results showed a mixture of terrestrial riverine organic carbon with in situ phytoplankton organic carbon in the areas studied. Using a two end-member mixing model based on δ13C values and C/N ratios, we estimated that the terrestrial organic carbon contribution to the surface sediment TOC was ca. 57±13% for Lingdingyang Bay, 19±2% for the inner shelf, which decreased further to 4.3±0.5% on the outer shelf. The molecular composition of the carbohydrate in surface sediments also suggested that the inner estuary was rich in terrestrial-derived carbohydrates but that the contribution of terrestrial-derived carbohydrates decreased offshore. Terrestrial organic carbon accumulation flux was estimated as 1.37±0.92×1011 g yr−1 in Lingdingyang Bay, which accounted for 37±25% of the terrestrial organic carbon transported to the Bay. The burial efficiency of terrestrial organic matter was markedly lower than that of suspended particulate substance (~71%) suggesting that the riverine POC undergoes significant degradation and replacement during transportation through the estuary.

scholarly journals Characterization of organic matter from a stratigraphic sequence intercepted by the Nemo-1X well, Mozambique: Potential for hydrocarbon generation

2018 ◽  
Vol 36 (5) ◽  
pp. 1157-1171
Author(s):  
Agostinho Mussa ◽  
Deolinda Flores ◽  
Joana Ribeiro ◽  
Ana MP Mizusaki ◽  
Mónica Chamussa ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Organic Matter ◽  
Organic Carbon ◽  
Total Organic Carbon ◽  
Hydrocarbon Exploration ◽  
Published Data ◽  
Organic Carbon Content ◽  
Hydrocarbon Generation ◽  
Offshore Area ◽  
Type Iii ◽  
Kerogen Type

The Mozambique Basin, which occurs onshore and offshore in the central and southern parts of Mozambique, contains a thick sequence of volcanic and sedimentary rocks that range in age from the Jurassic to Cenozoic. This basin, along with the Rovuma basin to the north, has been the main target for hydrocarbon exploration; however, published data on hydrocarbon occurrences do not exist. In this context, the present study aims to contribute to the understanding of the nature of the organic matter of a sedimentary sequence intercepted by the Nemo-1X exploration well located in the offshore area of the Mozambique Basin. The well reached a depth of 4127 m, and 33 samples were collected from a depth of 2219–3676 m ranging in age from early to Late Cretaceous. In this study, petrographic and geochemical analytical methods were applied to assess the level of vitrinite reflectance and the organic matter type as well as the total organic carbon, total sulfur, and CaCO3 contents. The results show that the total organic carbon content ranges from 0.41 to 1.34 wt%, with the highest values determined in the samples from the Lower Domo Shale and Sena Formations, which may be related to the presence of the solid bitumens that occur in the carbonate fraction of those samples. The vitrinite random reflectances range from 0.65 to 0.86%Rrandom, suggesting that the organic matter in all of the samples is in the peak phase of the “oil generation window” (0.65–0.9%Rrandom). The organic matter is mainly composed of vitrinite and inertinite macerals, with a minor contribution of sporinite from the liptinite group, which is typical of kerogen type III. Although all of the samples have vitrinite reflectances corresponding to the oil window, the formation of liquid hydrocarbons is rather limited because the organic matter is dominated by gas-prone kerogen type III.

scholarly journals Radiocarbon Dating of Individual Fatty Acids as a Tool for Refining Antarctic Margin Sediment Chronologies

Radiocarbon ◽  
2003 ◽  
Vol 45 (1) ◽  
pp. 17-24 ◽  
Author(s):  
Naohiko Ohkouchi ◽  
Timothy I Eglinton ◽  
John M Hayes
Keyword(s):  
Fatty Acids ◽  
Organic Matter ◽  
Organic Carbon ◽  
Radiocarbon Dating ◽  
Inorganic Carbon ◽  
Surface Sediments ◽  
Ross Sea ◽  
Dissolved Inorganic Carbon ◽  
Accumulation Rate ◽  
Sea Surface

We have measured the radiocarbon contents of individual, solvent-extractable, short-chain (C14, C16, and C18) fatty acids isolated from Ross Sea surface sediments. The corresponding 14C ages are equivalent to that of the post-bomb dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC) reservoir. Moreover, molecular 14C variations in surficial (upper 15 cm) sediments indicate that these compounds may prove useful for reconstructing chronologies of Antarctic margin sediments containing uncertain (and potentially variable) quantities of relict organic carbon. A preliminary molecular 14C chronology suggests that the accumulation rate of relict organic matter has not changed during the last 500 14C yr. The focus of this study is to determine the validity of compound-specific 14C analysis as a technique for reconstructing chronologies of Antarctic margin sediments.

scholarly journals Sources and export of particle-borne organic matter during a monsoon flood in a catchment of northern Laos

2015 ◽  
Vol 12 (4) ◽  
pp. 1073-1089 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. Gourdin ◽  
S. Huon ◽  
O. Evrard ◽  
O. Ribolzi ◽  
T. Bariac ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Organic Matter ◽  
Organic Carbon ◽  
Total Organic Carbon ◽  
Particulate Organic Matter ◽  
Rainy Season ◽  
Overland Flow ◽  
Specific Yield ◽  
Main Stream ◽  
Δ13c And Δ15n ◽  
Suspended Organic Matter

Abstract. The yields of the tropical rivers of Southeast Asia supply large quantities of carbon to the ocean. The origin and dynamics of particulate organic matter were studied in the Houay Xon River catchment located in northern Laos during the first erosive flood of the rainy season in May 2012. This cultivated catchment is equipped with three successive gauging stations draining areas ranging between 0.2 and 11.6 km2 on the main stem of the permanent stream, and two additional stations draining 0.6 ha hillslopes. In addition, the sequential monitoring of rainwater, overland flow and suspended organic matter compositions was conducted at the 1 m2 plot scale during a storm. The composition of particulate organic matter (total organic carbon and total nitrogen concentrations, δ13C and δ15N) was determined for suspended sediment, soil surface (top 2 cm) and soil subsurface (gullies and riverbanks) samples collected in the catchment (n = 57, 65 and 11, respectively). Hydrograph separation of event water was achieved using water electric conductivity and δ18O measurements for rainfall, overland flow and river water base flow (n = 9, 30 and 57, respectively). The composition of particulate organic matter indicates that upstream suspended sediments mainly originated from cultivated soils labelled by their C3 vegetation cover (upland rice, fallow vegetation and teak plantations). In contrast, channel banks characterized by C4 vegetation (Napier grass) supplied significant quantities of sediment to the river during the flood rising stage at the upstream station as well as in downstream river sections. The highest runoff coefficient (11.7%), sediment specific yield (433 kg ha−1), total organic carbon specific yield (8.3 kg C ha−1) and overland flow contribution (78–100%) were found downstream of reforested areas planted with teaks. Swamps located along the main stream acted as sediment filters and controlled the composition of suspended organic matter. Total organic carbon specific yields were particularly high because they occurred during the first erosive storm of the rainy season, just after the period of slash-and-burn operations in the catchment.

scholarly journals Development of Upwelling during the Sedimentary Period of the Organic-Rich Shales in the Wufeng and Longmaxi Formations of the Upper Yangtze Region and Its Impact on Organic Matter Enrichment

2019 ◽  
Vol 7 (4) ◽  
pp. 99 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shao-Ze Zhao ◽  
Yong Li ◽  
Hua-Jun Min ◽  
Tong Wang ◽  
Zhou Nie ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Organic Matter ◽  
Organic Carbon ◽  
Total Organic Carbon ◽  
Biogenic Silica ◽  
Vertical Direction ◽  
Burial Depth ◽  
Mineral Component ◽  
Longmaxi Formation ◽  
Component Content ◽  
Upwelling Intensity

This study uses logging data, mineral component content, total organic carbon (TOC) content, and microscopic characteristics of the organic-rich shales in the Wufeng and Longmaxi Formations, as well as data reported by other researchers, to demonstrate that upwelling has played an important role in the organic matter enrichment. The results show that (1) the organic-rich shales of Well N211 in the Upper Yangtze region are located in the Wufeng Formation and the lower Longmaxi Formation, with a burial depth between 2308–2357 m. (2) The organic-rich shales are enriched in biogenic silica. (3) Based on paleogeographic location and characteristics of organisms, this study determines that upwelling occurred during the deposition of the organic-rich shales in the Wufeng and Longmaxi Formations, promoting the enrichment of organic matter in the shales. (4) The upwelling intensity gradually increased from the sedimentary period of the organic-rich shales in the mid-lower Wufeng Formation to the sedimentary period of the Guanyinqiao Member, and then decreased gradually from the sedimentary period of the Guanyinqiao Member to the sedimentary period of the organic-rich shales in the Longmaxi Formation, and leads to the different enrichment of organic matter in the vertical direction. The different developments of upwelling led to the coexistence of both high and low TOC contents in the Guanyinqiao Member along the vertical direction.

Carbon Isotope Ratios of Particulate Organic Matter in the Gulf of St. Lawrence

1979 ◽  
Vol 36 (6) ◽  
pp. 678-682 ◽  
Author(s):  
F. C. Tan ◽  
P. M. Strain
Keyword(s):  
Organic Matter ◽  
Surface Water ◽  
Organic Carbon ◽  
Carbon Isotope ◽  
Particulate Organic Matter ◽  
Surface Sediments ◽  
Isotope Ratios ◽  
Lawrence Estuary ◽  
Carbon Isotope Ratios ◽  
Surface Samples

Sixteen offshore surface samples within the Gulf of St. Lawrence show low δ13C values and are similar to eight offshore surface samples collected seaward of the Gulf of St. Lawrence. The δ13C surface values are consistent with δ13C values in plankton produced at the temperature found in the euphotic zone in the study area. Higher values are observed in four surface samples from the mouth of the St. Lawrence Estuary and probably result from high carbon demand during periods of high biological productivity. Lower values found in seven deep POC samples indicate changes in the nature of the POC caused by biological degradation of the organic matter. Significant differences (2–6‰) between the uniformly high δ13C values of the organic carbon in surface sediments and the low values of near-bottom water POC have been observed. The similarity between the δ13C values of surface water POC and the surface sediments suggest that surface water POC is an important source of organic carbon in surface sediments. Several observations of large vertical δ13C gradients in deep water POC suggest the presence of resuspended sediments 30–60 m above the sediment–water interface. Key words: particulate organic matter, carbon isotope ratios, isotope fractionation, sediment resuspension, sediment sources, Gulf of St. Lawrence

scholarly journals Short-Term Changes in Fertility Attributes and Soil Organic Matter Caused by the Addition of EM Bokashis in Two Tropical Soils

2015 ◽  
Vol 2015 ◽  
pp. 1-9
Author(s):  
Carlos Eduardo Pacheco Lima ◽  
Mariana Rodrigues Fontenelle ◽  
Luciana Rodrigues Borba Silva ◽  
Daiane Costa Soares ◽  
Antônio Williams Moita ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Organic Matter ◽  
Soil Organic Matter ◽  
Organic Carbon ◽  
Total Organic Carbon ◽  
Poultry Manure ◽  
Principal Component ◽  
Tropical Soils ◽  
Randomized Design ◽  
Completely Randomized Design ◽  
Chemical Attributes

The present work aimed to evaluate the behavior of ten fertility attributes of soil organic matter physical fractions and total organic carbon upon addition of three EM Bokashis to a Rhodic Ferralsol (FRr) and a Dystric Cambisol (CMd). An experiment was carried out in greenhouse in which the soils were placed into plastic trays and cultivated with tomato. A completely randomized design was used with four repetitions and factorial scheme of 2 × 3 + 2, consisting of two soils (FRr and CMd), three EM Bokashis (Poultry Manure Bokashi (BPM); CNPH Bokashi (BC); and Cattle Manure Bokashi (BCM)), and two controls (both soils without addition of Bokashi). The following fertility attributes were evaluated: pH, Ca2+, Mg2+, K+, Na+, P, SB, H + Al, CEC, andV. Particulate organic carbon (POC) and mineral-associated organic carbon (MOC) and total organic carbon (TOC) were also investigated. Finally, the Principal Component Analysis was conducted in order to identify possible patterns related to soils when fertilized with EM Bokashi. The addition of EM Bokashi increased the soil fertility and contents of POC. Different EM Bokashi presents distinguished effects on each soil. The PCA suggests that BPM presents higher capacity to modify the analyzed chemical attributes.

scholarly journals Evidence for the priming effect in a planktonic estuarine microbial community

2015 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrew Decker Steen ◽  
Lauren N. M. Quigley ◽  
Alison Buchan
Keyword(s):  
Alkaline Phosphatase ◽  
Organic Matter ◽  
Organic Carbon ◽  
Priming Effect ◽  
Coastal Ocean ◽  
Aquatic Systems ◽  
Residence Times ◽  
Labile Organic Carbon ◽  
Recalcitrant Organic Matter

The "priming effect", in which addition of labile substances changes the remineralization rate of recalcitrant organic matter, has been intensively studied in soils, but is less well-documented in aquatic systems. We investigated the extent to which additions of nutrients or labile organic carbon could influence remineralization rates of 14C-labeled, microbially-degraded, phytoplankton-derived organic matter (OM) in microcosms inoculated with microbial communities drawn from Groves Creek Estuary in coastal Georgia, USA. We found that amendment with labile protein plus phosphorus increased remineralization rates of degraded, phytoplankton-derived OM by up to 100%, whereas acetate slightly decreased remineralization rates relative to an unamended control. Addition of ammonium and phosphate induced a smaller effect, whereas addition of ammonium alone had no effect. Counterintuitively, alkaline phosphatase activities increased in response to the addition of protein under P-replete conditions, indicating that production of enzymes unrelated to the labile priming compound may be a mechanism for the priming effect. The observed priming effect was transient: after 36 days of incubation roughly the same quantity of organic carbon had been mineralized in all treatments including no-addition controls. This timescale is on the order of the typical hydrologic residence times of well-flushed estuaries suggesting that priming in estuaries has the potential to influence whether OC is remineralized in situ or exported to the coastal ocean.

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