Origin and alteration of sinking and resuspended organic matter on a benthic nepheloid layer influenced continental shelf

Abstract

Understanding the biogeochemical transformations that particulate organic matter (POM) undergoes from production in surface waters to deposition on the seafloor is fundamental for interpreting the paleoceanographic record preserved in sediments. Here we use compound-specific N isotope analysis of amino acids (δ15NAA) from two sediment traps (deployed at 150 m and 250 m water depth) and underlying push-core sediments to investigate temporal and depth related changes in the export flux on a continental shelf basin influenced by a prominent benthic nepheloid layer (BNL). Despite apparent isotopic similarities between traps, molecular data show distinct patterns between the shallower (150 m) and deeper (250 m) sediment traps – specifically, depth-related differences in the relative contributions of particles with different processing histories. The export flux in the shallower trap is dominated by animal sources rather than phytodetritus. Significant microbial degradation in the deeper trap and sediments emphasizes the key roles of resuspension-deposition cycles that are mainly (but not exclusively) facilitated by a thick year-around BNL in the region. The BNL acts as a ‘microbial reactor’ reworking sinking POM before its ultimate deposition, and also diluting exported material with previously deposited surface sediments. This heavy modification of POM during its passage through and residence in the BNL opens potentially important questions for our current understanding of OC preservation and interpretations of proxy δ15N records in BNL-influenced areas.