7-days of FREE Audio papers, translation & more with Prime
7-days of FREE Prime access
7-days of FREE Audio papers, translation & more with Prime
7-days of FREE Prime access
https://doi.org/10.1016/0278-4343(89)90025-3
Copy DOIJournal: Continental Shelf Research | Publication Date: Mar 1, 1989 |
Citations: 68 |
Sediments from 12 sites in the Gulf of Maine were sampled for sulfate reduction rates and interstitial water solute profiles. The profiles of redox sensitive solutes confirmed that sulfate reduction was probably the major mechanism of organic matter oxidation below the upper 2 cm of sediments. Sulfate reduction rates were assessed using 35S-sulfate tracer conversion to reduced sulfur in both the acid volatile sulfide fraction and the chromate reducible sulfur fraction. Rates, integrated over the upper 30 cm, decreased exponentially with water column depth from 20,000 to 1800 pmol sulfate cm −2 h −1 between 50 and 300 m. For the entire Gulf, the areal mean rate of carbon oxidation by sulfate reduction was 20.4 g C m −2 y −1. Based on the relationship from other regions of sediment trap carbon flux to water depth and primary productivity ( Betzer et al., 1984, Deep-Sea Research, 31, 1–11), the carbon flux to the sediments would be 47.0 g C m −2 y −1. Because the Gulf of Maine is a semi-enclosed sea, little export of organic carbon to the adjacent continental slope is expected. With estimated rates of oxygen consumption, denitrification, and carbon burial of 22.7, 4, and 5 g C m −2 y −1, the sediment respiration and burial rates, totaling 52.1 g C m −2 y −1, closely balanced the carbon input indicating no significant export of organic material. In contrast, a similar analysis of published data from the narrow exposed Washington state continental shelf showed that the carbon input (264 g C m −2 y −1) greatly exceeded the sediment respiration and burial rate (99.5 g C m −2 y −1), indicating between 22 and 50% of the primary production may have been exported. These and previous results from the New York Bight, the Bering Sea, and the Peru shelf suggest that shelf ecosystems may differ considerably in the proportion of shelf production which escapes seaward. Although only a fraction of the exported carbon may accumulate in slope sediments, shelf export may be important in redistributing organic carbon in particular geographic regions.
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.