Application of Organic Carbon and Nitrogen Stable Isotope and C/N Ratios as Source Indicators of Organic Matter Provenance in Estuarine Systems: Evidence from the Tay Estuary, Scotland

Abstract

The source of particulate organic matter (POM) in lacustrine and estuarine sediments from the Tay River catchment has been evaluated using stable carbon and nitrogen isotope and elemental C/N ratios. The δ13C, δ15N and C/N compositions of POM from the two environments (respectively -25·4 to -28·0%, 0·2 to 4·0%, 12·17 to 19·5 and -23·2 to -26·6%, 2·6 to 10·6%, 9·03 to 15·71) were statistically distinct, enabling, by use of a simple two component mixing equation, assessment of the ability of each tracer to estimate the terrigenous flux to the estuarine organic matter pool. Estuarial mixing of terrigenous, indigenous estuarine and marine derived organics, recorded by δ13C data, was only partly confirmed by equivalent δ15N and C/N compositions which reflected greater control by organic matter diagenesis and biological processing. Limited data indicate sewage derived contributions are insignificant. Of the three tracers employed, only δ13C ratios are reliable as provenance indicators. Both δ15N and C/N ratios are limited because the original POM source signature may be lost or overprinted by biochemical alteration prior to and/or soon after deposition. The simultaneous application of these tracers provides substantially more information regarding the source, quality and turnover of sedimentary POM in these contrasting systems than could be achieved using one technique alone.