Composition and bioavailability of dissolved organic matter in different water masses of the East China sea

Abstract

The degradation of dissolved organic matter (DOM) is affected by ocean currents, but this influence is poorly understood in the East China Sea (ECS), a dynamic shallow continental shelf characterized by several discrete water masses. This study investigates dissolved organic carbon (DOC), nitrogen (DON) and total dissolved amino acids (TDAA) in different water masses of the ECS. Bioassay experiments were also conducted to determine the labile fraction of DOM. Carbon-normalized yields of TDAA [TDAA (%DOC)] as well as the degradation index (DI) was used to investigate the diagenetic state of organic matter in different water masses. Generally, DOM concentration decreased from the Coastal Current Water (CCW), to the Shelf Mixed Water (SMW), to the Taiwan Warm Current Water (TWCW), and to the Kuroshio Current Water (KCW). DOM in CCW is relatively labile due to inputs from phytoplankton production, while that in the TWCW exhibits low bioavailability, which may be related to nutrient limitation leading to low productivity. The long residence time of the KCW resulted in a high degree of biodegradation associated with nutrient regeneration. Intrusion of nutrient-rich KCW may contribute to the high primary productivity in shelf water, while complex hydrodynamic processes and stratification may control DOM availability in SMW.