Bulk Sediment Research Articles

Integration of palaeo-and-modern food webs reveal slow changes in a river floodplain wetland ecosystem

Large rivers, including the Murray River system in southeast Australia, are disturbed by many activities. The arrival of European settlers to Australia by the mid-1800s transformed many floodplain wetlands of the lower Murray River system. River impoundment and flow regulation in the late 1800s and, from the 1930s, resulted in species invasion, and elevated nutrient concentrations causing widespread eutrophication. An integrated palaeoecology, and palaeo-and-modern food web approach, incorporating mixing models, was undertaken to reveal changes in a regulated wetland (i.e. Kings Billabong). The lack of preserved sediment suggests the wetland was naturally intermittent before 1890. After this time, when used as a water retention basin, the wetland experienced net sediment accumulation. Subfossil cladocerans, and δ13C of Daphnia, chironomid, and bulk sediment, all reflected an early productive, likely clear water state and shifts in trophic state following river regulation in the 1930s. Food web mixing models, based on δ13C and δ15N in subfossil and modern Daphnia, fish, and submerged and emergent macrophytes, also indicated a shift in the trophic relationships between fish and Daphnia. By the 1970s, a new state was established but a further significant alteration of nitrogen and carbon sources, and trophic interactions, continued through to the early 2000s. A possible switch from Daphnia as a prey of Australian Smelt could have modified the food web of the wetland by c. 2006. The timing of this change corresponded to the expansion of emergent macrophytes possibly due to landscape level disruptions. The evidence of these changes suggests a need for a broader understanding of the evolution of wetlands for the management of floodplains in the region.

Environmental evolution of the East China Sea inner shelf and its constraints on pyrite sulfur contents and isotopes since the last deglaciation

To better understand the depositional constraints on the sulfate reduction process, we present a set of sulfur isotope data for hand-picked pyrites (δ34Spyr) from the coarse fraction (63–250 μm) of bulk sediments, coupled with the contents of carbonate, total organic carbon (TOC) and nitrogen (TN), as well as δ13C values of the TOC, from sediments of core EC2005 on the inner shelf of the East China Sea (ECS) since 16.4 ka. Our results show that core sediments were deposited in a terrestrial environment before 13.1 ka (stage I) when pyrite rarely occurred. During stages II (13.1–12.3 ka) and III (12.3–12.1 ka) seawater began to influence the core location, forming a tidal flat environment where abundant pyrites are well preserved. Then the inner shelf of the ECS was fully flooded, and two intervals with high (stage IV:12.1–6.0 ka; stage VI: 5.2–1.5 ka) and low sedimentation rate (stage V: 6.0–5.2; stage VII: 1.5 ka-present) are identified respectively. When compared with previous δ34S values of chromium-reducible sulfur (δ34SCRS) derived from the bulk sediments, δ34Spyr values are usually higher, indicating the macroscopic pyrites form in the later stages of sedimentary diagenesis when ongoing sulfate reduction has distilled porewater sulfate to a high degree. Considering the wide occurrence of biogenic shallow gas (dominated by CH4) in these sediments, sulfate-driven anaerobic oxidation of methane (SO4-AOM) and organoclastic sulfate reduction (OSR) are expected to be two competitive pathways for sulfate reduction. We propose that the changes in sedimentation rate controls the pace of migration of the sulfate methane transition zone (SMTZ). When sedimentation rate is low, the SMTZ may be fixed in a certain depth (e.g., sediments deposited in stage III and V), where H2S is produced by SO4-AOM. In contrast, when sedimentation rate is very high (> 1 cm/yr), the SMTZ would be deep, and H2S is mostly produced by OSR. Further, our results imply that sulfur diagenesis in recent (since 1.5 ka) ECS mud sediments might be influenced by physical reworking (e.g., typhoon) and/or biological activity (bioturbation), resulting in partial reoxidation of pyrite crystals in fluid mud. Our findings therefore demonstrate that pyrite sulfur isotope compositions (bulk δ34SCRS & hand-picked δ34Spyr) are sensitive to local environmental evolution and the combined use of these two indicators can provide new insights into pathway of sulfate reduction in unsteady environments.

Palynology, mineralogy and geochemistry of sediments in Tondè locality, northern part of Douala sub-basin, Cameroon, Central Africa: implication on paleoenvironment

A multi-proxy study, including mineralogy, whole rock geochemistry and palynology analyses, was conducted on 79 samples (64 bulk sediment and 10 pyrite samples) from two sites (ES and DA) located in the Tonde area, Douala sub-basin (Cameroon) to unravel the paleoenvironmental and paleoclimatic conditions prevailing in recent continental deposits. Lithologies of this locality mainly consist of pyriteous claystones (grey and red) and unconsolided sandstones. Encountered pyrite is euhedral (isolated and clusters crystals) and massive with diverse morphologies and sizes. In both sections, major and trace elements show that the clayey materials result from weathering of an intermediate source rock, probably from the surrounding basement (gneiss and micaschist), whereas the sandy materials appear to be recycled. Palynological data consists of a few index species such as Malvaceae and graminaceae which indicate Pleistocene-Holocene age deposits of continental origin (swampy bays of seaside and hinterland). This area was subjected to intense chemical alteration (high CIA values: 97.35–99.43%) as testified by the mineralogical phases, mainly consist of kaolinite, quartz and goethite. Mean annual precipitation (MAP = 221.1e0.0197(CIA-K); ±181 mm.y−1) and mean annual temperature (MAT = 46.9C + 4; ±0.6 °C) are 1575 ±181 mm.y−1 and 25.2 ± 0.6 °C for ES site and then 1566 ± 181 mm.y−1 and 20.3 ± 0.6 °C for DA, thus reflecting a subequatorial to equatorial climate. The pyrite geochemistry is characterized by a weak Al vs. ΣREE positive correlation (r2 = 0.02), a positive Eu anomaly relative to PAAS and a significant negative correlation between ΣREE and the Eu anomaly (r2 = −0.83). These results indicate that pyrite is a late diagenesis product formed by a secondary enrichment and coupled with precipitation under more reducing conditions, linked to the water table fluctuation.

Mercury and selenium loading in mountaintop mining impacted alkaline streams and riparian food webs

Coal is naturally enriched in trace elements, including mercury (Hg) and selenium (Se). Alkaline mine drainage from mountaintop mining valley fill (MTM-VF)—the dominant form of surface coal mining in Appalachia, USA—releases large quantities of Se into streams draining mined catchments, resulting in elevated bioaccumulation of Se in aquatic and riparian organisms. Yet, the release of Hg into these streams from MTM-VF has not yet been studied. We measured total Hg, methylmercury (MeHg), and Se in stream water, sediment, biofilm, cranefly larvae, and riparian spiders in alkaline streams (pH range 6.9–8.4) across a mining gradient (0–98% watershed mined) in central Appalachia. Hg concentrations ranged from below detection limit (BDL)-6.9 ng/L in unfiltered water, BDL-0.05 µg/g in bulk sediment, 0.016–0.098 µg/g in biofilm, 0.038–0.11 µg/g in cranefly larvae, and 0.046–0.25 µg/g in riparian spiders. In contrast to Se, we found that Hg concentrations in all environmental compartments were not related to the proportion of the watershed mined, suggesting that Hg is not being released from, nor bioaccumulating within, MTM-VF watersheds. We also did not find clear evidence for a reduction in Hg methylation or bioaccumulation under elevated Se concentrations: water, sediment, biofilm, and riparian spiders exhibited no relationship between Hg and Se; only cranefly larvae exhibited a negative relationship (p = 0.0002, r2 = 0.42). We suggest that the type of surface mining matrix rock, with resultant alkaline or acid mine drainage, is important for the speciation, mobility, and bioaccumulation of trace elements within watersheds affected by mining activities.

Organic carbon accumulation and productivity over the past 130 years in Lake Kawaguchi (central Japan) reconstructed using organic geochemical proxies

Organic matter in lake sediments contains information that can be used to reconstruct lake environmental histories over decades or centuries. In this study, we used organic geochemical proxies (i.e., total organic carbon [TOC], TOC/total nitrogen [TN] atomic ratios [C/N], stable carbon isotope ratios of TOC [δ13CTOC] and palmitic acid [δ13CC16:0], and nitrogen isotope ratios of bulk sediment [δ15Nbulk]) in sediments from Lake Kawaguchi, Japan, to reconstruct detailed histories of the organic matter accumulation and lake productivity over the past 130 years. Vertical profiles of the mass accumulation rate (MAR) of TOC in the eastern lake basin (core KAW14-7A) showed parallel increases with the C/N ratio from the 1960s to the 1980s, indicating an accelerated delivery of terrestrial organic matter via anthropogenic land-use change. In contrast, the C/N ratios in the western and central basins (cores KAW14-1A and KAW14-4B, respectively) were almost constant prior to the 1980s, suggesting that the increasing trends in the TOC MAR values in these cores are most likely attributable to the onset of eutrophication associated with rapid economic growth after the mid-1950s. On the other hand, the δ15Nbulk showed a gradual increase from the late 1870s, providing evidence for anthropogenic nitrogen input to the lake prior to the apparent eutrophication. After the 1960s–1970s, the δ15Nbulk values rapidly increased, demonstrating water deterioration associated with the direct nutrient discharge into the lake from domestic wastewater. The δ13CC16:0 profiles displayed similar increasing trends to δ15Nbulk from the mid-1960s, demonstrating a close relationship between lake productivity and anthropogenic nitrogen input in Lake Kawaguchi. Our geochemical records as a whole clearly show high algal productivity and enhanced deposition of organic matter in recent decades, suggesting that the amelioration of the lake water is a likely consequence of the transfer of nutrients to the sediment by enhanced productivity, rather than a decrease in the amount of nutrient inflow into the lake.

Surface water oxygenation and bioproductivity – A link provided by combined chromium and cadmium isotopes in Early Cambrian metalliferous black shales (Nanhua Basin, South China)

The intrinsic link between atmospheric oxygenation, surface seawater redox and bioproductivity in the upper water column of oceans offers to combine cadmium with chromium isotopes in marine archives to deduce information on past controls of biological metal and nutrient cycling. We here use a novel approach in combining chromium and cadmium isotope signatures in metalliferous and organic matter (OM) rich shales from the Early Cambrian Niutitang formation (south China) to reconstruct the surface water redox and cycling of bioessential metals, in a period directly following the Cambrian animal evolution. The inventory of authigenic Cd in the black shales is controlled by their sulfide abundance, whereas authigenic Cr is dominantly controlled by iron(oxy-)hydroxides and OM. Cadmium isotopes measured on bulk sediments and 3 N HNO3 leachates exhibit ε114Cd values from −1.5 to +4.5, with MoNi rich sulfidic shales revealing elevated values > + 2.5. Chromium isotopes define δ53Cr values from +0.4 to +1.7‰, with V-rich non-sulfidic shales yielding more positively fractionated signatures than MoNi rich sulfidic shales. The negative δ53Cr-ε114Cd correlation trend recorded in the black shales suggests a high-ε114Cd sulfide endmember of authigenic Cd preserved in anoxic bottom conditions. The other endmember is constituted by OM with the isotopically heavy Cr and light Cd signals reflecting efficient phytoplankton uptake in the photic zone. The endmembers constrain the Cd and Cr isotope signatures of surface waters in the Early Cambrian Nanhua Basin to ε114Cd of ~ +7 to +17, and to δ53Cr of ~ + 0.7 to +1.9‰. These values are compatible with those of modern ocean surface waters and attest to a Cambrian surface ocean water sustaining elevated primary bioproductivity in the aftermath of late Ediacaran snowball Earth glaciations. Our study emphasizes the potential of the CrCd double tracer in studies aimed at the reconstruction of paleoproductivity and (bio)geochemical metal cycling in marine paleo-basins.

Particle-size dependent magnetic properties of Scotia Sea sediments since the Last Glacial Maximum: Glacial ice-sheet discharge controlling magnetic proxies

The strong glacial–interglacial similarity between the magnetic susceptibility (MS) of Southern Ocean sediments and Antarctic ice core dust records has often been used to reconstruct Southern Hemisphere atmospheric variability. Although evaluation of various magnetic properties is essential for identifying the magnetic carriers linked to sedimentological variation, detailed magnetic studies are not sufficient in the Scotia Sea. Here we investigate the bulk and particle-size dependent magnetic properties of Scotia Sea sediments over the past ~22 kyr, to determine the main sediment transport mechanism driving bulk magnetic proxies including MS. In bulk sediments, MS is highest during the last glacial period and is accompanied by an increase in the concentration and grain size of ferrimagnetic and antiferromagnetic minerals. For magnetic mineral assemblages, coarse detrital magnetite is dominant. Of three particle-size fractions (>63, 16–63, and <16 μm), the coarse silt fraction (16–63 μm) is responsible for the magnetic properties of bulk glacial sediments. Such dominant contribution of coarse silts rules out a major input of dust, which is expected as finer silt and clay. The silt fraction exhibits a co-varying magnetic mineral concentration with that of the sand fraction (>63 μm) throughout the last deglaciation, indicating a close linkage between their input mechanisms. Thus, the sediment particles ranging from sand to coarse silt, which control the bulk glacial magnetic proxies, are most plausibly transported by iceberg-rafted debris (IRD). As hematite is relatively concentrated in the sand fraction, the hematite contribution in the bulk sediment can highlight IRD-related magnetic signals rather than magnetite. The bulk hematite contribution simultaneously varies with the deglacial influx of coarse IRD particles (>1 mm) in Scotia Sea sediments, although their glacial inconsistency possibly suggests a different IRD input mechanism during the advancement and retreat of the ice sheet. Consequently, the glacial increase in the bulk magnetic concentration indicates vigorous iceberg calving activity in the Scotia Sea and further suggests the coupled cryosphere–atmosphere system.

High Potency of Volcanic Contribution to the ∼400 kyr Sedimentary Magnetic Record in the Northwest Pacific

As the northwest Pacific has been subject to varying terrigenous input linked to paleoclimate change, the concentration of magnetic minerals in deep-sea sediments is often utilized as a proxy to reconstruct the past atmospheric circulation in the Northern hemisphere. Volcanic materials account for a significant portion of the terrigenous input, but their contribution to sedimentary magnetic properties has not been carefully investigated. This study reveals the magnetic contribution and characteristics of volcanic materials, based on particle-size specific magnetic measurements on sediments that span the last 400 kyr for five size-fractions, including ranges typically attributed to fine eolian ( 100 mT) magnetic minerals, showing an increased portion of 32–74%. From coercivity spectra analysis, the coarse volcanic fractions are characterized by an abundance of the ~100 mT coercivity minerals, which can result in an increased average coercivity of bulk sediments. Around the study area, magnetic susceptibility records show synchronized variations with volcanic proportions in terrigenous sediments, validating their close relationship. Consequently, our results indicate that volcanic materials have a high potency of magnetic concentration, which can control bulk sedimentary signals in the northwest Pacific.

The effects of a tailing dam failure on the sedimentation of the eastern Brazilian inner shelf

In the past several decades, anthropogenic changes throughout drainage basins have threatened physical, hydrological and ecological river-to-ocean continuum balances. Dams are one of these anthropogenic influences that can seriously affect sediment fluxes to the ocean. Here, we investigate the formation and dispersion of a high-concentration mud suspension (HCMS) at a river mouth due to a tailing dam failure. In November 2015, the Fundão dam (Mariana-MG, Southeast Brazil) failure released approximately 39.2 million m3 of tailings into the Doce River system. The slurry travelled 660 km down to the river mouth, reaching the Atlantic Ocean. Pre- and Post-dam failure surveys were used to investigate temporal and spatial changes in Suspended Particulate Matter (SPM) concentration, seabed sediment grain size and seabed sediment bulk density along the inner shelf. Results indicate that the combination of the tailing dam failure with an extremely dry seasonal condition led to the formation of a HCMS, altering, at least in a short term, the sedimentary processes along the inner shelf, leading to high sedimentation rates and low seabed sediment bulk density. Changes in particle size defined by an increase in clay content, a significant increase in SPM concentration in the inner shelf and a decrease in seabed sediment bulk density were observed as a result of the dam failure. SPM concentrations were higher near the seabed than at the surface, reaching up to 9000 mg/l. The highest SPM concentration measured during a major flood in January 2014 reached around 100 mg/l, The combination of a HCMS with tailings high clay content resulted in low values of seabed sediment bulk density and the formation of fluid mud along the inner shelf. In the first week after the tailings arrival, a 5 cm thick tailing fluid mud was observed. In this stage of bed formation, bed strength is lower, easing particle reentrainment by waves or currents. Thus, tailings could be advected, spreading the impact along the coast.

Bulk and Active Sediment Prokaryotic Communities in the Mariana and Mussau Trenches.

Surprisingly high rates of microbial respiration have recently been reported in hadal trench sediment, yet the potentially active microorganisms and specific microbe–microbe relationships in trench sediment are largely unknown. We investigated the bulk and active prokaryotic communities and co-occurrence interactions of different lineages in vertically sectioned sediment cores taken from the deepest points of the Mariana and Mussau Trenches. Analysis on species novelty revealed for the first time the high rate of novel lineages in the microbial communities of the hadal trenches. Using 95, 97, and 99% similarity as thresholds, averagely 22.29, 32.3, and 64.1% of total OTUs retrieved from sediments of the two trenches were identified as the potentially novel lineages, respectively. The compositions of the potentially active communities, revealed via ribosomal RNA (rRNA), were significantly different from those of bulk communities (rDNA) in all samples from both trenches. The dominant taxa in bulk communities generally accounted for low proportions in the rRNA libraries, signifying that the abundance was not necessarily related to community functions in the hadal sediments. The potentially active communities showed high diversity and composed primarily of heterotrophic lineages, supporting their potential contributions in organic carbon consumption. Network analysis revealed high modularity and non-random co-occurrence of phylogenetically unrelated taxa, indicating highly specified micro-niches and close microbial interactions in the hadal sediments tested. Combined analysis of activity potentials and network keystone scores revealed significance of phyla Chloroflexi and Gemmatimonadetes, as well as several potentially alkane-degrading taxa in maintaining microbial interactions and functions of the trench communities. Overall, our results demonstrate that the hadal trenches harbor diverse, closely interacting, and active microorganisms, despite the extreme environmental conditions.

Improving the reliability of bulk sediment radiocarbon dating

Radiocarbon dated chronologies are the most extensively applied dating technique when investigating the last ∼45,000 years. In lake and marine sediments, a single macrofossil or several microfossils are the preferred sample material because they have a 14C age that accurately reflects the time of deposition. However, absence of macro- or microfossils are a recurring challenge. Often, it is necessary to use bulk sediment samples for radiocarbon dating, but they frequently yield ages clearly exceeding the depositional timeframe due to occurrence of organic material of older origin. Until now, it has not been possible to assess if the dating result of a bulk sediment sample is reliable, or to adequately explain the mechanisms behind age disagreement between bulk and macro- and microfossils. In this study, we investigate the age offset between paired bulk and macrofossil ages in sediment cores from three lakes in SE and E Greenland. Furthermore, we distinguish three quantifiable main carbon sources in the samples: a) recent terrestrial organic fragments, b) recent aquatic organic matter, and c) reworked land-derived old carbon, through pyrolysis organic geochemistry, organic petrographic microscopy, and isotopic fractionization. Our results show that the offset between bulk (humic fraction) and macrofossil radiocarbon ages in three similar lakes range from 9 14C yr to 20.1 14C kyr. We observe a reduced age offset between bulk- and macrofossil ages, and thereby a higher reliability of bulk (humic fraction) ages, correlated with increased values of TOC, C/N ratio, and high CO2 release in pyrolysis (S3 value). We recommend that future studies presenting bulk sediment chronologies apply pyrolysis organic geochemistry, organic petrographic microscopy, and isotopic fractionization as demonstrated here, to select reliable sediment intervals for bulk dating and retrieve more robust results.

Contrasting Patterns in Diversity and Community Assembly of Phragmites australis Root-Associated Bacterial Communities from Different Seasons.

The common reed (Phragmites australis), a cosmopolitan aquatic macrophyte, plays an important role in the structure and function of aquatic ecosystems. We compared bacterial community compositions (BCCs) and their assembly processes in the root-associated compartments (i.e., rhizosphere and endosphere) of reed and bulk sediment between summer and winter. The BCCs were analyzed using high-throughput sequencing of the bacterial 16S rRNA gene; meanwhile, null-model analysis was employed to characterize their assembly mechanisms. The sources of the endosphere BCCs were quantitatively examined using SourceTracker from bulk sediment, rhizosphere, and seed. We observed the highest α-diversity and the lowest β-diversity of BCCs in the rhizosphere in both seasons. We also found a significant increase in α- and β-diversity in summer compared to that in winter among the three compartments. It was demonstrated that rhizosphere sediments were the main source (∼70%) of root endosphere bacteria during both seasons. Null-model tests indicated that stochastic processes primarily affected endosphere BCCs, whereas both deterministic and stochastic processes dictated bacterial assemblages of the rhizosphere, with the relative importance of stochastic versus deterministic processes depending on the season. This study suggests that multiple mechanisms of bacterial selection and community assembly exist both inside and outside P. australis roots in different seasons.IMPORTANCE Understanding the composition and assembly mechanisms of root-associated microbial communities of plants is crucial for understanding the interactions between plants and soil. Most previous studies of the plant root-associated microbiome focused on model and economic plants, with fewer temporal or seasonal investigations. The assembly mechanisms of root-associated bacterial communities in different seasons remain poorly known, especially for the aquatic macrophytes. In this study, we compared the diversity, composition, and relative importance of two different assembly processes (stochastic and deterministic processes) of bacterial communities associated with bulk sediment and the rhizosphere and endosphere of Phragmites australis in summer and winter. While we found apparent differences in composition, diversity, and assembly processes of bacterial communities among different compartments, season played important roles in determining BCCs and their diversity patterns and assemblages. We also found that endosphere bacteria mainly originated from the rhizosphere. The results add new knowledge regarding the plant-microbe interactions in aquatic ecosystems.

Constraining Millennial‐Scale Changes in Northern Component Water Ventilation in the Western Tropical South Atlantic

AbstractNegative excursions in the stable carbon isotopic composition (δ13C) at Atlantic intermediate to mid‐depths are common features of millennial‐scale events named Heinrich Stadials. The mechanisms behind these excursions are not yet fully understood, but most hypotheses agree on the central role played by the weakening of the Atlantic meridional overturning circulation. Marine records registering millennial‐scale negative δ13C excursions in the Atlantic are mostly restricted to the Heinrich Stadials of the last deglacial, while the Heinrich Stadials of the last glacial are poorly studied. Here, we constrain changes in bottom water ventilation in the western tropical South Atlantic mid‐depth during Heinrich Stadials of the last glacial and deglacial by investigating marine core M125‐95‐3. The concurrent decreases in benthic foraminifera δ13C and increases in bulk sediment sulfur indicate an increased Northern Component Water (NCW) residence time in the western tropical South Atlantic mid‐depth during Heinrich Stadials. Furthermore, a coherent meridional pattern emerges from the comparison of our new data to previously published mid‐depth records from the western South Atlantic. While our record shows the largest negative δ13C excursions during almost all Heinrich Stadials, the western equatorialAtlantic showed medium and the subtropical South Atlantic showed the smallest negative excursions. This meridional pattern supports the notion that during Heinrich Stadials, a reduction in the NCW δ13C source signal together with the accumulation of respired carbon at NCW depths drove the negative δ13C excursions. We suggest that the negative δ13C excursions progressively increase along the NCW southwards pathway until the signal dissipates/dilutes by mixing with Southern Component Water.

Late glacial and Holocene paleoenvironments in the midcontinent United States, inferred from Geneva Lake leaf wax, ostracode valve, and bulk sediment chemistry

Geneva Lake in Wisconsin, USA, is > 20,000 years old and contains a 30-m thick lacustrine sediment record of mid-continent North American climate and environmental change. Here we describe a sediment record from Geneva Lake spanning the past 14,500 years. From scanning X-ray fluorescence, organic C and N concentrations and isotopes, X-ray diffraction, magnetic susceptibility, and grain size of bulk sediments, we infer changes in sediment sources over time including: abrupt decline in inputs of remobilized loess ∼13,400 cal yr BP followed by a gradual transition to organic-rich marl deposition by ∼10,400 cal yr BP as the landscape stabilized following a period of permafrost thaw and vegetation development; deposition of a minerogenic unit at ∼8,200 cal yr BP that may record enhanced eolian activity during the widespread “8.2 ka event; ” and elevated zinc, lead, and arsenic from human activities following regional industrialization. Within the Holocene marl, we also use isotopic (δ18O and δ13C) and trace metal ratio (Sr/Ca and Mg/Ca) analyses of ostracode valves paired with concentrations and hydrogen isotopic composition (δ2H) of leaf wax n-alkanes to infer climate and hydrological change. Groundwater had a large but declining influence on lake water chemistry from 11,800 to 9,700 cal yr BP, precluding inferences of regional climate from our lacustrine proxies during this period. δ2H values of terrestrial n-C29 alkanes show little variability from 9,700 to present, indicating the average isotopic composition of local precipitation was relatively stable, reflecting stable condensation temperatures and source. In contrast, a gradual trend towards more δ18O- and δ2H-depleted lake water and lower lake water Sr/Ca from 9700 cal yr BP to present suggest decreasing evaporation of lake water and increasing precipitation amounts throughout the Holocene and resulting shorter lake water residence times. Lake water Mg/Ca variations over the past 9,700 years broadly parallel regional pollen-based reconstructions of summer temperatures. Neither Mg/Ca nor terrestrial leaf wax δ2H suggest long-term directional shifts in temperature at this site through the middle to late Holocene, as climate became wetter. It appears that precipitation isotopes did not track local temperatures on millennial timescales in this part of mid-continent North America through the Holocene, and instead may have covaried with changes in Northern Hemisphere latitudinal temperature gradients driven by large Arctic temperature changes.

Sediment Transit Time and Floodplain Storage Dynamics in Alluvial Rivers Revealed by Meteoric10Be

AbstractQuantifying the time scales of sediment transport and storage through river systems is fundamental for understanding weathering processes, biogeochemical cycling, and improving watershed management, but measuring sediment transit time is challenging. Here we provide the first systematic test of measuring cosmogenic meteoric Beryllium‐10 (10Bem) in the sediment load of a large alluvial river to quantify sediment transit times. We take advantage of a natural experiment in the Rio Bermejo, a lowland alluvial river traversing the east Andean foreland basin in northern Argentina. This river has no tributaries along its trunk channel for nearly 1,300 km downstream from the mountain front. We sampled suspended sediment depth profiles along the channel and measured the concentrations of10Bemin the chemically extracted grain coatings. We calculated depth‐integrated10Bemconcentrations using sediment flux data and found that10Bemconcentrations increase 230% from upstream to downstream, indicating a mean total sediment transit time of 8.4 ± 2.2 kyr. Bulk sediment budget‐based estimates of channel belt and fan storage times suggest that the10Bemtracer records mixing of old and young sediment reservoirs. On a reach scale,10Bemtransit times are shorter where the channel is braided and superelevated above the floodplain, and longer where the channel is incised and meandering, suggesting that transit time is controlled by channel morphodynamics. This is the first systematic application of10Bemas a sediment transit time tracer and highlights the method's potential for inferring sediment routing and storage dynamics in large river systems.

Nutrient enrichment increases size of Zostera marina shoots and enriches for sulfur and nitrogen cycling bacteria in root-associated microbiomes.

Seagrasses are vital coastal ecosystem engineers, which are mutualistically associated with microbial communities that contribute to the ecosystem services provided by meadows. The seagrass microbiome and sediment microbiota play vital roles in belowground biogeochemical and carbon cycling. These activities are influenced by nutrient, carbon and oxygen availability, all of which are modulated by environmental factors and plant physiology. Seagrass meadows are increasingly threatened by nutrient pollution, and it is unknown how the seagrass microbiome will respond to this stressor. We investigated the effects of fertilization on the physiology, morphology and microbiome of eelgrass (Zostera marina) cultivated over 4 weeks in mesocosms. We analyzed the community structure associated with eelgrass leaf, root and rhizosphere microbiomes, and of communities from water column and bulk sediment using 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing. Fertilization led to a higher number of leaves compared with that of eelgrass kept under ambient conditions. Additionally, fertilization led to enrichment of sulfur and nitrogen bacteria in belowground communities. These results suggest nutrient enrichment can stimulate belowground biogeochemical cycling, potentially exacerbating sulfide toxicity in sediments and decreasing future carbon sequestration stocks.

Geochemical and Stable Fe Isotopic Analysis of Dissimilatory Microbial Iron Reduction in Chocolate Pots Hot Spring, Yellowstone National Park

Chocolate Pots hot spring (CP) is an Fe-rich, circumneutral-pH geothermal spring in Yellowstone National Park. Relic hydrothermal systems have been identified on Mars, and modern hydrothermal environments such as CP are useful for gaining insight into potential pathways for generation of biosignatures of ancient microbial life on Earth and Mars. Fe isotope fractionation is recognized as a signature of dissimilatory microbial iron oxide reduction (DIR) in both the rock record and modern sedimentary environments. Previous studies in CP have demonstrated the presence of DIR in vent pool deposits and show aqueous-/solid-phase Fe isotope variations along the hot spring flow path that may be linked to this process. In this study, we examined the geochemistry and stable Fe isotopic composition of spring water and sediment core samples collected from the vent pool and along the flow path, with the goal of evaluating whether Fe isotopes can serve as a signature of past or present DIR activity. Bulk sediment Fe redox speciation confirmed that DIR is active within the hot spring vent pool sediments (but not in more distal deposits), and the observed Fe isotope fractionation between Fe(II) and Fe(III) is consistent with previous studies of DIR-driven Fe isotope fractionation. However, modeling of sediment Fe isotope distributions indicates that DIR does not produce a unique Fe isotopic signature of DIR in the vent pool environment. Because of rapid chemical and isotopic communication between the vent pool fluid and sediment, sorption of Fe(II) to Fe(III) oxides would produce an isotopic signature similar to DIR despite DIR-driven generation of large quantities of isotopically light solid-associated Fe(II). The possibility exists, however, for preservation of specific DIR-derived Fe(II) minerals such as siderite (which is present in the vent pool deposits), whose isotopic composition could serve as a long-term signature of DIR in relic hot spring environments.

Vertical transport of sediment-associated metals and cyanobacteria by ebullition in a stratified lake.

Bubbles adsorb and transport particulate matter both in industrial and marine systems. While methane-containing bubbles emitted from anoxic sediments are found extensively in aquatic ecosystems, relatively little attention has been paid to the possibility that such bubbles transport particle-associated chemical or biological material from sediments to surface waters of freshwater lakes. We quantified transport of particulate material from sediments to the surface by bubbles in Upper Mystic Lake, MA and in a 15 m tall experimental column. Vertical particle transport was positively correlated with the volume of gas bubbles released from the sediment. Particles transported by bubbles originated almost entirely in the sediment, rather than being scavenged from the water column. Concentrations of arsenic, chromium, lead, and cyanobacterial cells in bubble-transported particulate material were similar to those of bulk sediment, and particles were transported from depths exceeding 15 m, resulting in daily fluxes as large as 0.18 mg of arsenic m-2 and 2 × 104 cyanobacterial cells m-2 in the strongly stratified Upper Mystic Lake. While bubble-facilitated arsenic transport currently appears to be a modest component of total arsenic cycling in this lake, bubble-facilitated cyanobacterial transport could comprise as much as 17% of recruitment in this lake and may thus be of particular importance in large, deep, stratified lakes.

Ecosystem metabolism regulates seasonal bioaccumulation of metals in atyid shrimp (Neocaridina denticulata) in a tropical brackish wetland

Natural dissolved organic matter (DOM) forms the base of aquatic food webs and is a key environmental factor that affects the bioavailability of metals for aquatic organisms. Aquatic communities are naturally exposed simultaneously to environments containing a mixture of metals and varying DOM levels and compositions. However, the exact effect of DOM on metal bioaccumulation is difficult to predict due to temporal and spatial variations in sources, production, and consumption of DOM, and to interactions between DOM and metals. Ecosystem metabolism describes the process of organic carbon production and consumption and, therefore, the trophic status of ecosystems. However, whether and how ecosystem metabolism determines the seasonality of metal bioaccumulation remains unclear. The present study used in-situ water quality sondes and discrete field samplings to establish the relationship between the seasonality of ecosystem metabolism; related environmental and limnological regulators; the metal speciation and concentration in bulk water and sediments; and their metal bioaccumulation. The target population consisted of atyid shrimp (Neocaridina denticulata) in a brackish constructed wetland in tropical Taiwan was sampled between August 2014 and November 2015. Metal bioaccumulation displayed distinct seasonal patterns that peaked in summer (Cu, Cd, Cr, Zn, Mn, and Se) or winter (Pb and Ni). The in situ production (gross primary production) and heterotrophic consumption (ecosystem respiration) of organic matter significantly decreased with increasing waterborne DOM levels in this heterotrophic wetland. Both dissolved free metals bioavailable for respiratory surfaces (As, Zn, Cu, and Cr) and insoluble metals available for dietary intake (Mn and Ni) decreased with increasing DOM, as well as with decreasing gross primary production and ecosystem respiration. Seasonal variations of metal bioaccumulation also paralleled the transition in wetland trophic status, which reflected the effect of potential qualitative changes in the wetland DOM pool. Bioaccumulation of most metals displayed strong correlations with gross primary production, ecosystem respiration, and wetland trophic status. Our findings demonstrated that ecosystem metabolism can play a key mediating role in the seasonality of metal bioaccumulation in atyid shrimp, as it links the variation and interaction between DOM level/source, the speciation/bioavailability, and the uptake efficiency for metals by aquatic organisms. This study contributes to the temporal-specific risk assessment of aquatic metal exposure in regional environmental settings. It also reveals ecosystem-specific spectra in the context of changes in climate and environment.

Rapid range shifts and megafaunal extinctions associated with late Pleistocene climate change

Large-scale changes in global climate at the end of the Pleistocene significantly impacted ecosystems across North America. However, the pace and scale of biotic turnover in response to both the Younger Dryas cold period and subsequent Holocene rapid warming have been challenging to assess because of the scarcity of well dated fossil and pollen records that covers this period. Here we present an ancient DNA record from Hall’s Cave, Texas, that documents 100 vertebrate and 45 plant taxa from bulk fossils and sediment. We show that local plant and animal diversity dropped markedly during Younger Dryas cooling, but while plant diversity recovered in the early Holocene, animal diversity did not. Instead, five extant and nine extinct large bodied animals disappeared from the region at the end of the Pleistocene. Our findings suggest that climate change affected the local ecosystem in Texas over the Pleistocene-Holocene boundary, but climate change on its own may not explain the disappearance of the megafauna at the end of the Pleistocene.