Composition Of Particulate Organic Matter Research Articles

Primary Production and Decomposition Dynamics of Particulate Organic Matter in the Inner Part of Ariake Bay

In order to obtain the background information about characteristics of particulate organic matter (POM) in the inner part of Ariake Bay, oxygen consumption rate of bottom water including POM and primary production rate were investigated. Additionally, relationships between biochemical composition of POM and oxygen consumption capacity, controlling factor of primary production were examined. In summary, it was suggested that contribution of oxygen consumption by POM, especially originated from the marine phytoplankton, plays an important role for the formation of hypoxia in the inner part of Ariake Bay. Primary production rate were varied widely among observation dates and it was suggested that nitrogen is limiting nutrient in this are during summer.

Controls on the seasonal and interannual dynamics of organic matter stable carbon isotopes in mesotrophic Lake Holzmaar, Germany

We investigated the particulate organic matter (POM) flux and its stable carbon isotope composition in response to changes in phytoplankton primary production and abiotic environmental affects in mesotrophic Lake Holzmaar. POM fluxes were determined by sediment traps emptied biweekly from 1995 to 2004. Water chemical measurements and meteorological observations were done concurrently. POM fluxes within and directly below the lake’s epilimnion were relatively low during winter (<0.5 g m-2 d−1) and increased to 1.0–1.5 g m-2 d−1 during summer months because of enlarged phytoplankton production. In contrast, in the lake’s hypolimnion a much higher POM flux was observed during winter as result of resuspension of particulate material from the lake’s bottom. C:N (weight, total organic carbon : total nitrogen) ratios of settling organic matter vary around 8 at all three depths, indicating a predominant phytoplankton origin of POM. The annual epilimnic POM flux correlates with the epilimnic phosphate concentration early in the seasonal cycle, indicating that the supply of phosphate is the major control on the amount of algal biomass. A recurrent annual oscillation of the stable carbon isotope composition of POM with low δ13C values during winter and more positive values during summer is interpreted as the result of phytoplankton primary production. A close δ13CPOM-POM flux relationship was observed, testifying to the primary dependence of d13CPOM on lacustrine primary production. Contrary to POM flux, the epilimnic δ13CPOM signal is transferred to the lakes bottom notwithstanding sediment resuspension and microbial alteration. Our results demonstrate that sedimentary stable carbon isotopes are a valuable proxy for lacustrine paleo-productivity in Lake Holzmaar.

Seamounts and organic matter—Is there an effect? The case of Sedlo and Seine seamounts, Part 2. Composition of suspended particulate organic matter

Abstract The suspended particulate organic matter (sPOM) around two isolated NE Atlantic seamounts, Seine (33°46′N 14°21′W; summit at ∼170 m) and Sedlo (40°19′N 26°40′W; summit at ∼780 m), was studied over a period of 2 years during four 2–4-week oceanographic surveys. Elemental (C and N), chlorophyll a and lipid biomarker concentrations and N stable isotopic values were variable close to the surface (40–90 m), although some chlorophyll a enrichment above the summits was discerned sporadically. Results from near-surface waters showed a generally “fresh”, mainly phytoplankton signature in sPOM with some seasonality, which was more pronounced around Sedlo. sPOM concentrations and composition changed with depth, apparently controlled by seasonality and proximity to the seamounts. A few metres above the Seine summit, the suspended particulate organic carbon (sPOC) concentrations and labile polyunsaturated fatty acids (% of lipids) were higher than elsewhere at similar depths (∼200 m) in summer 2004. In the same season at Sedlo, polyunsaturated fatty acids were also relatively more abundant (up to 43% of total lipids) around the topographic feature throughout the water column, indicating supply of more labile sPOM, perhaps by advection, downwelling or passive sinking of locally produced phytoplankton and/or in situ production. The high-quality sPOM that seems to be present around the seamounts could provide an important food source to the biological community.

Biochemical composition and size distribution of organic matter at the Pacific and Atlantic time-series stations

Amino acids, neutral sugars and amino sugars were analyzed to investigate the chemical composition and diagenetic processing of suspended particulate organic matter (POM, > 100 nm), high-molecular-weight dissolved organic matter (HMW DOM, 1–100 nm) and low-molecular-weight dissolved organic matter (LMW DOM, < 1 nm) at the time-series stations near Bermuda (BATS) and Hawaii (HOT). Differences between BATS and HOT were principally related to location-specific biogeochemical processes and water mass ventilation ages. Concentrations of amino acids, neutral sugar and amino sugars in unfiltered seawater sharply declined with depth at both stations, indicating an upper ocean source and rapid turnover of these components. The size distribution of organic matter was heavily skewed to smaller molecular sizes. Depth comparisons showed that larger size classes of organic matter were more efficiently removed than smaller size classes. Carbon-normalized yields of amino acids, neutral sugars and amino sugars decreased rapidly with depth and molecular size. Together these biochemicals accounted for 55% of organic carbon in surface POM but only 2% of the organic carbon in LMW DOM in deep water. Chemical compositions showed distinct differences between organic matter size classes indicating the extent of diagenetic processing increased with decreasing molecular size. These findings are consistent with the size-reactivity continuum model for organic matter in which bioreactivity decreases with decreasing molecular size and diagenetic processes lead to the formation of smaller components that are resistant to biodegradation. The data also provided evidence for a size-composition continuum. Carbon-normalized yields of amino acids, neutral sugars and amino sugars were sensitive indicators of diagenetic alterations. Diagenetic indicators based on amino acid compositions revealed distinct patterns for the North Pacific and Sargasso Sea possibly indicating the influence of varying sources or diagenetic processing.

Use of lipids and their degradation products as biomarkers for carbon cycling in the northwestern Mediterranean Sea

Changes in phytoplankton composition and degradation of particulate organic matter (POM) in the northwestern Mediterranean Sea were studied using time-series sediment trap samples collected during the spring of 2003 at the DYFAMED station. Lipid biomarkers (pigments, fatty acids, sterols, acyclic isoprenoids, alkenones and n-alkanols) were used to identify the main contributors to the POM produced during two phytoplankton blooms, while the effects of photooxidation, autoxidation and biodegradation were differentiated using characteristic lipid degradation products. Traps collected material corresponding to pre-bloom, bloom and post-bloom periods. Pigment analyses in the integrated (0-200 m) water column samples indicated that diatoms dominated the initial stages of the bloom event, with smaller amounts of haptophytes and pelagophytes. During the second part of bloom event there was a switch to haptophyte dominance with significant contributions from diatoms and pelagophytes, and an increased contribution from cryptophytes. Fatty acid distributions in the trap samples reflected contributions from marine bacteria, phytoplankton and zooplankton. Photooxidation and autoxidation products of monounsaturated oleic, cis-vaccenic and palmitoleic acids were detected along with photooxidation products from the chlorophyll side-chain. The relatively good correlation between the variation of U 37 K ′ index and specific phytol autoxidation product percentage allowed us to attribute the alterations of U 37 K ′ observed during the pre-bloom period and in the deeper traps to the involvement of selective autoxidative degradation processes. A variety of sterol oxidation products formed by biohydrogenation, autoxidation and photooxidation were detected. Sterol degradation products appeared to be less suited than oxidation products of monounsaturated fatty acids for the precise monitoring of the degradation state of POM, but their stable functionalized cyclic structure constitutes a useful tool to estimate the part played by biotic and abiotic processes. In these waters, biotic degradation generally predominates, but abiotic degradation is not negligible and, as expected, the extent of biotic degradation increases with depth. To obtain a more complete picture of POM degradation, the use of a pool of lipid degradation products (i.e. from unsaturated fatty acids, the phytyl side-chain and sterols) should be employed.

Earthworms, stand age, and species composition interact to influence particulate organic matter chemistry during forest succession

The landscapes colonized by invasive earthworms in the eastern U.S. are often patchworks of forest stands in various stages of successional development. We established six field sites in tulip poplar dominated forests in the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center in Edgewater, MD, that span mid (50–70 years-three plots) and late (120–150 years-three plots) successional stages where younger sites had greater earthworm density and biomass than older sites and were dominated by non-native lumbricid species. In particular Lumbricus rubellus, a litter-feeding species, was abundant in mid successional forests. Here, we separated particulate organic matter (POM) from the bulk soil by a combination of size and density fractionation and found that patterns in soil POM chemistry were similar to those found previously during litter decay: in younger forests with high abundance of earthworms, organic carbon normalized cutin- and suberin-derived substituted fatty acid (SFA) concentration was lower and lignin-derived phenols greater than in older forests where earthworms were less abundant. The chemistry of the dominant litter from mid versus late successional tree species did not fully explain the differences in POM chemistry between age classes. Instead, the differences in leaf body versus petiole and leaf versus root chemistry were the dominant drivers of POM chemistry in mid versus late successional stands, although aspects of stand age and tree species also impacted POM chemistry. Our results indicate that preferential ingestion of leaf body tissue by earthworms and the subsequent shifts in sources of plant biopolymers in soil influenced POM chemistry in mid successional forests. These results indicate that invasive earthworm activity in North American forests contributes to a shift in the aromatic and aliphatic composition of POM and thus potentially influences carbon stabilization in soil.

Bacterial production, glucosidase activity and particle-associated carbohydrates in Dona Paula bay, west coast of India

Size-fractionated bacterial production, abundance and α- and β- glucosidase enzyme activities were studied with respect to changes in hydrography, total suspended matter (TSM), chlorophyll a, particulate organic carbon and nitrogen ratio (POC:PON), 1.5 M NaCl-soluble and 10 mM EDTA-soluble carbohydrates (Sal-PCHO and CPCHO) and transparent exopolymeric particles (TEP) in the surface waters from July 1999–2000 at a shallow coastal station in Dona Paula Bay, west coast of India. The bulk of the total bacterial production and glucosidase activity were associated with particles (75% and >80%, respectively). Total bacterial production was linearly correlated to chlorophyll a ( r = 0.513; p < 0.05) whereas enzyme activity was significantly correlated to TSM (α-glucosidase: r = 0.721 ( p < 0.001); β-glucosidase: r = 0.596 ( p < 0.01)). Both α-glucosidase ( r = 0.514; p < 0.05) and β-glucosidase enzymes ( r = 0.598; p < 0.01) appeared to be involved in the degradation of CPCHO and Sal-PCHO, respectively. Changes in α-glucosidase/β-glucosidase ratios highlighted the varying composition of particulate organic matter. The bacterial uptake of 14C-labeled bacterial extracellular carbohydrate measured over 11 days showed a strong linear correlation between 14C-uptake and bacterial production using tritiated thymidine. The turnover rate of 14C-labeled carbohydrate-C was 0.52 d −1, higher than the estimated annual mean potential carbohydrate carbon turnover rate of 0.33 ± 0.2 d −1. Our study suggests that carbohydrates derived from sediments may serve as an important alternative carbon source sustaining the bacterial carbon demand in the surface waters of Dona Paula Bay.

The origin of particulate organic matter and the diet of tilapia from an estuarine ecosystem subjected to domestic wastewater discharge: fatty acid analysis approach

The fatty acid composition of suspended particulate organic matter (POM) and tilapia (Oreochromis mossambicus) and potential sources of organic material in the Manko Estuary, Okinawa Island, Japan, were investigated to elucidate the origin of organic matter in suspended particulate matter and the contribution of these inputs to the diet of tilapia. Fatty acid fingerprints of POM revealed that diatoms, bacteria, and possible material input originating from domestic waste discharges contributed a major proportion of the organic matter pool in the estuary. The diet of tilapia is likely influenced by domestic waste-derived organic matter through a POM link. Because of their highly plastic feeding habits, tilapia may develop a feeding strategy of utilizing the most favorable food resources in the ecosystem. Tilapia likely does not prefer mangrove detritus as a food source as indicated by the absence of even-number long-chain fatty acids (LCFAs) in their tissues. Instead of mangrove detritus, tilapia preferentially utilized more palatable organic food sources in the water column, such as phytoplankton and its detrital matter. In addition to phytoplankton and bacterioplankton, the other dietary sources that contributed a minor fraction were possible green macroalgal materials and zooplankton.

Nitrogen isotope composition of particulate organic matter (POM) in Lake Kinneret, Israel

Nitrogen isotope composition of particulate organic matter (POM) in Lake Kinneret, Israel

Lipid biomarkers in suspended particles from a subtropical estuary: Assessment of seasonal changes in sources and transport of organic matter

Temporal and spatial variations in the composition of particulate organic matter (POM) from Florida Bay, USA were examined. The predominance of short-chain homologues for n-alkanes, n-alcohols and n-fatty acids as well as relatively high abundance of C(27) and C(28) sterols suggested that an autochthonous/marine source of OM was dominant bay-wide. Several biomarker proxies such as P(aq) [(C(23)+C(25))/(C(23)+C(25)+C(29)+C(31)) n-alkanes], short/long chain n-alkanes, (C(29)+C(31)) n-alkanes and taraxerol indicated a spatial shift in OM sources, where terrestrial OM rapidly decreased while seagrass and microbial OM markedly increased along a northeastern to southwestern transect. Regarding seasonal variations, POM collected during the dry season was enriched in terrestrial constituents relative to the wet season, likely as a result of reduced primary productivity of planktonic species and seagrasses during the dry season. Principal component analysis (PCA) classified the sample set into sub-groups based on PC1 which seemed to be spatially controlled by OM origin (terrestrial-mangrove vs. marine-planktonic/seagrass). The PC2 seemed to be more seasonally controlled suggesting that hydrological fluctuations and seasonal primary productivity are the drivers controlling the POM composition in Florida Bay.

Carbon isotopic composition of suspended and sinking particulate organic matter in the northern South China Sea—From production to deposition

Abstract Between May 2004 and March 2005, samples of suspended particulate matter (SPM) were collected from the top 200 m on five cruises to the South-East Asia time-series study (SEATS) Station. Isotopic and elemental analyses of the organic matter in these samples gave δ 13 C values ranging from −25.2‰ to −21.3‰ with a decreasing trend downward, and C/N ratios ranging from 5.5 to 11.4 with a weighted mean value of 6.74, which is very close to the Redfield ratio, suggesting a predominantly marine origin. The temporal isotopic variation in the surface layer has been successfully simulated with the algorithm based on diffusion-controlled carbon uptake during photosynthesis. The calculation of the carbon isotopic composition of phytoplankton was based on observed values of hydrographic, isotopic and chemical variables. It is noted that variations in the biological parameters, including the specific growth rate, enzymatic isotope fractionation during carbon fixation, cell size, and cell wall permeability, within the normal ranges may have contributed significantly to the observed isotope variability. According to simulation using the same algorithm, isotopically very light particulate organic carbon (POC) could be produced in the subsurface euphotic zone due to the much reduced specific growth rate, but the contribution of the subsurface production to the sinking flux was probably not significant. Sediment traps deployed from September 2001 to May 2002 in the northern South China Sea (SCS) provided samples for isotopic and elemental analyses of the organic matter. The measurements gave δ 13 C values ranging from −25‰ to −20.8‰ and C/N ratios ranging from 5.5 to 18. The isotopic variation of organic carbon in the sediment trap samples was successfully explained by the mixing of terrigenous organics ( δ 13 C=−25.5‰ and C/N=22) and marine organics ( δ 13 C=−22.1±1.1‰ and C/N=6.63±1). The latter composition is very close to the weighted mean composition of the suspended particulate organic matter (POM) from the top 20 m, implying the surface water as the major source of organic matter in sinking particles. Compared to previously reported results of samples collected from the seafloor in the SCS, the inferred δ 13 C values of the marine organics in the sinking flux are lower than those ( δ 13 C=−22.9‰ to −20.1‰) of the POC in the nepheloid layer, which are in turn lower than those of the organics ( δ 13 C=−21.5‰ to −18.8‰) in surficial sediments. The progressively heavier POC below the top 200 m is contrary to the trend of decreasing δ 13 C POC in the top 200 m. We have demonstrated that the Suess effect and the elevated concentration of aqueous CO 2 in the surface water due to the increasing atmospheric CO 2 partial pressure may cause depletion of 13 C more than enough to account for the observed depression of δ 13 C values in the progressively younger POM. In the past, diagentic isotopic alteration has been proposed as the process responsible for both the decreasing trend of δ 13 C POC in the surface layer and the increasing trend in the subsurface layer. Although the diagenetic effect cannot be ruled out, this study shows that other processes are sufficient to explain the observed trends of isotopic variation of POC.

The molecular distribution of fine particulate organic matter emitted from Western-style fast food cooking

The emissions from food cooking could be a significant contributor to atmospheric particulate organic matter (POM) and its chemical composition would vary with different cooking styles. In this study, the chemical composition of POM emitted from Western-style fast food cooking was investigated. A total of six PM 2.5 samples was collected from a commercial restaurant and determined by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS). It is found that the total amount of quantified compounds of per mg POM in Western-style fast food cooking is much higher than that in Chinese cooking. The predominant homologue is fatty acids, accounting for 78% of total quantified POM, with the predominant one being palmitic acid. Dicarboxylic acids display the second highest concentration in the quantified homologues with hexanedioic acid being predominant, followed by nonanedioic acid. C max of n-alkanes occurs at C25, but they still appear relative higher concentrations at C29 and C31. In addition, both levoglucosan and cholesterol are quantified. The relationship of concentrations of unsaturated fatty acids (C16 and C18) with a double bond at C9 position and C9 acids indicates the reduction of the unsaturated fatty acids in the emissions could form the C9 acids. Moreover, the nonlinear fit indicates that other C9 species or other compounds are also produced, except for the C9 acids. The potential candidates of tracers for the emissions from Western-fast food cooking could be: tetradecanoic acid, hexadecanoic acid, octadecanoic acid, 9-octadecenoic acid, nonanal, lactones, levoglucosan, hexanedioic acid and nonanedioic acid.

Radiocarbon and stable isotope geochemistry of organic matter in the Amazon headwaters, Peruvian Andes

We used δ13C, δ15N, and Δ14C to determine the sources of riverine organic matter in the Pozuzo River, a tributary of the Pachitea River located in the mountainous headwaters of the Amazon. Particulate organic matter (POM) Δ14C decreased downstream, suggesting that young organic matter (OM) introduced in small headwaters is respired preferentially in rivers or is diluted downstream with older material. The δ13C and δ15N of POM in headwater rivers were heterogeneous and also isotopically distinct from the main stem, suggesting that differences in landscape processes in small catchments impact the concentration and composition of POM in streams. The δ13C of dissolved organic matter (DOM) closely mirrored that of POM in the headwaters, with an apparent decoupling of dissolved and particulate OM in the river main stem. The δ13C of POM sampled in 2004 had a much different relationship with altitude than observed during previous years: In 2004, a very dry year, we observed enrichment from the headwaters to the main stem, and the opposite pattern in 2002, when rain fell heavily throughout the sampling campaign. This suggests that during dry conditions, in‐stream processes (such as resuspension or photosynthesis) may control riverine POM composition as opposed to terrestrial processes, which dominate during high runoff. Thus a decrease in runoff in Andean headwaters could result in less terrestrial POM transfer to rivers in the Andes foothills and lowland Amazon with a corresponding decrease in aquatic CO2 evasion.

Carbon and nitrogen isotopic compositions of particulate organic matter and biogeochemical processes in the eutrophic Danshuei Estuary in northern Taiwan

The Danshuei Estuary is distinctive for the relatively short residence time (1-2 d) of its estuarine water and the very high concentration of ammonia, which is the dominant species of dissolved inorganic nitrogen in the estuary, except near the river mouth. These characteristics make the dynamics of nitrogen cycling distinctively different from previously studied estuaries and result in unusual isotopic compositions of particulate nitrogen (PN). The delta(15)N(PN) values ranging from -16.4 per thousand to 3.8 per thousand lie in the lower end of nitrogen isotopic compositions (-16.4 to +18.7 per thousand) of suspended particulate matter observed in estuaries, while the delta(13)C values of particulate organic carbon (POC) and the C/N (organic carbon to nitrogen) ratios showed rather normal ranges from -25.5 per thousand to -19.0 per thousand and from 6.0 to 11.3, respectively. There were three major types of particulate organic matter (POM) in the estuary: natural terrigenous materials consisting mainly of soils and bedrock-derived sediments, anthropogenic wastes and autochthonous materials from the aquatic system. During the typhoon induced flood period in August 2000, the flux-weighted mean of delta(13)C(POC) values was -24.4 per thousand, that of delta(15)N(PN) values was +2.3 per thousand and that of C/N ratio was 9.3. During non-typhoon periods, the concentration-weighted mean was -23.6 per thousand for delta(13)C(POC), -2.6 per thousand for delta(15)N(PN) and 8.0 for C/N ratio. From the distribution of delta(15)N(PN) values of highly polluted estuarine waters, we identified the waste-dominated samples and calculated their mean properties: delta(13)C(POC) value of -23.6+/-0.7 per thousand, delta(15)N(PN) value of -3.0+/-0.1 per thousand and C/N ratio of 8.0+/-1.4. Using a three end-member mixing model based on delta(15)N(PN) values and C/N ratios, we calculated contributions of the three major allochthonous sources of POC, namely, wastes, soils and bedrock-derived sediments, to the estuary. Their contributions were, respectively, 83%, 12% and 5% under non-typhoon conditions, and 9%, 63% and 28% under typhoon conditions. The autochthonous POM had the most varied isotopic compositions, encompassing the full ranges of delta(13)C(POC) (-25.5 to -19.1 per thousand), delta(15)N(PN) (-16.4-3.8 per thousand) and C/N ratio (6.0-11.3). The heavy end of the carbon isotopic composition reflected the typical marine condition and the lower end the estuarine condition, which probably had elevated concentrations of dissolved inorganic carbon with low delta(13)C values due to input from decomposition of organic matter. The lack of isotopically heavy PN, as found in larger estuaries, was attributed to isotopically light starting materials, namely, anthropogenic wastes, the slow phytoplankton growth within the estuary and the rather short residence time; the latter two factors made (15)N enrichment during ammonia consumption very limited. The most isotopically light PN likely originated from phytoplankton incorporating (15)N-depleted nitrate near the river mouth, where ammonia inhibition of nitrate uptake probably stopped.

Fatty acid dynamics during the spring bloom in a High Arctic fjord: importance of abiotic factors versus community changes

We followed the fatty acid composition of particulate organic matter (POM) in a High Arctic fjord (79°N; Svalbard, Norway) during and after the spring bloom. The content of essential polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) was highest (45% of total fatty acids) at the beginning of the bloom, well before the biomass maximum, and decreased linearly towards the end (30%). During the postbloom period, the concentrations of PUFAs remained stable, between 25% and 30%. Redundancy analysis was used to identify the environmental factors that explained the observed variability in the fatty acid composition of phytoplankton. A particular emphasis was put on the potential influence of high irradiances. During the spring bloom, nutrient availability (Si and N), as well as shifts in phytoplankton community composition and chlorophyll a, were shown to account for much of the pattern in fatty acid composition. During the postbloom period, particularly during periods of stratification, light had a pronounced effect on the fatty acid composition. In general, we found a decrease in the relative amount of PUFAs under high light intensities and nutrient limitation.

Chemical Compositions of Fine Particulate Organic Matter Emitted from Chinese Cooking

Food cooking can be a significant source of atmospheric particulate organic matter. In this study, the chemical composition of particulate organic matter (POM) in PM2.5 emitted from four different Chinese cooking styles were examined by gas chromotography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The identified species are consistent in the emissions from different Chinese cooking styles and the quantified compounds account for 5-10% of total POM in PM2.5. The dominant homologue is fatty acids, constituting 73-85% of the quantified compounds. The pattern of n-alkanes and the presence of beta-sitosterol and levoglucosan indicate that vegetables are consumed during Chinese cooking operations. Furthermore, the emissions of different compounds are impacted significantly by the cooking ingredients. The candidates of organic tracers used to describe and distinguish emissions from Chinese cooking in Guangzhou are tetradecanoic acid, hexadecanoic acid, octadecanoic acid, oleic acid, levoglucosan, mannosan, galactosan, nonanal, and lactones. During the sampling period, the relative contribution of Chinese cooking to the mass concentration of atmospheric hexadecanoic acid should be less than 1.3% in Guangzhou.

Factors controlling seasonal variations in stable isotope composition of particulate organic matter in a softwater eutrophic lake

Weekly water samples were taken to measure stable isotope composition (δ13C and δ15N) of particulate organic matter (POM) in Lake Wauberg, Florida, from June 1994 to May 1995. The average δ13C of POM was ‐19.3%, consistent with an autochthonous origin from phytoplankton production, and exhibited a seasonal pattern that coincided with changes in water temperature, pH, CO2 concentration, and phytoplankton biomass in the surface water. The 13C enrichment in POM was attributed to reduced isotope fractionation due to carbon (C) limitation and the use of an isotopically heavy dissolved inorganic carbon pool supported mainly by atmospheric invasion and anaerobic respiration. Intermittent declines in δ13C of POM were related to the frequent collapses of phytoplankton blooms and increases in CO2 concentration resulting from both increased community respiration and terrestrial loading. Average δ15N of POM was 1.3% and varied within a narrow range (20.1% to 2.5%). No significant correlation between phytoplankton biovolume and the δ15N of POM was found. The low δ15N is indicative of strong N2 fixation, which is in line with the low concentration of dissolved inorganic nitrogen and the presence of high biovolume of N2‐fixing cyanobacteria in the surface water. This study suggests that stable C isotopes are good proxies for surface water CO2 concentration and primary production, while stable N isotopes can be used to indicate N2 fixation.

Spatial variability in Florida Bay particulate organic matter composition: combining flow cytometry with stable isotope analyses

Long-term management plans for restoration of natural flow conditions through the Everglades increase the importance of understanding potential nutrient impacts of increased freshwater delivery on Florida Bay biogeochemistry. Planktonic communities respond quickly to changes in water quality, thus spatial variability in community composition and relationships to nutrient parameters must be understood in order to evaluate future downstream impacts of modifications to Everglades hydrology. Here we present initial results combining flow cytometry analyses of phytoplankton and bacterial populations (0.1–50 lm size fraction) with measurements of d 13 Ca ndd 15 N composition and dissolved inorganic nutrient concentrations to explore proxies for planktonic species assemblage compositions and nutrient cycling. Particulate organic material in the 0.1–50 lm size fraction was collected from five stations in Northeastern and Western Florida Bay to characterize spatial variability in species assemblage and stable isotopic composition. A dense bloom of the picocyanobacterium, Synechococcus elongatus, was observed at Western Florida Bay sites. Smaller Synechococcus sp. were present at Northeast sites in much lower abundance. Bacteria and detrital particles were also more abundant at Western Florida Bay stations than in the northeast region. The highest abundance of detritus occurred at Trout Creek, which receives freshwater discharge from the Everglades through Taylor Slough. In terms of nutrient availability and stable isotopic values, the S. elongatus population in the Western bay corresponded to low DIN (0.5 l MN H 4 ; 0.2 l MN O 3 ) concentrations and depleted d 15 N signatures ranging from +0.3 to +0.8&, suggesting that the bloom supported high productivity levels through N2-fixation. d 15 N values from the Northeast bay were more enriched (+2.0 to +3.0&), characteristic of N-recycling. d 13 C values were similar for all marine Florida Bay stations, ranging from )17.6 to )14.4&, however were more depleted at the mangrove ecotone station ()25.5 to )22.3&). The difference in the isotopic values reflects differences in carbon sources. These findings imply that variations in resource availability and nutrient sources exert significant control over planktonic community composition, which is reflected by stable isotopic signatures.

Interannual variation in stable carbon and nitrogen isotope biogeochemistry of the Mattaponi River, Virginia

Seasonal and interannual variation of the stable carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) isotope composition of suspended particulate organic matter (POM) was measured in the brackish and tidal freshwater regions of the Mattaponi River, a tributary of the York River, Virginia, and a pristine end member on a continuum of anthropogenic modification within Chesapeake Bay. A principal components analysis indicated that seasonal variation was related to physical mixing and river discharge. Freshwater POM had high C : N (.12), depleted particulate organic carbon isotopic composition (d13CPOC, 226% to 230%), and depleted particulate nitrogen isotopic composition (d15NPN, 2–10%) compared to brackish water POM, which had lower C : N and enriched d13CPOC (224% to 227%) and d15NPN (7–15%). During high discharge events, the d13CPOC was enriched, the d15NPN depleted, and the C : N high relative to low discharge periods, indicating a large contribution from terrestrial-derived material. Within tidal freshwater, POM was comprised of humic-rich sediment, vascular plant matter, and phytoplankton produced in situ. Nonconservative mixing behavior was observed. Endogenously produced phytoplankton increased POC concentrations in tidal freshwater and oligohaline portions during base flows. Where estuarine and riverine POM mixed, the isotopic composition of the POM was homogenized, blurring source-specific characters observed upriver and thereby emphasizing the need to characterize the freshwater end member of estuaries carefully in order to identify POM sources. In estuaries, identifying the origin of particulate organic matter (POM) is difficult because POM is received from multiple sources, including riparian vegetation, adjacent marsh vegetation, submerged and emergent aquatic vegetation and associated epiphytes, and phytoplankton produced in situ. Early research using the stable isotope composition of estuarine POM to identify its dominant origins and fates led investigators to conclude that estuarine phytoplankton and terrestrial material were the major contributors to estuarine organic matter (OM; dissolved and particulate fractions) and that these sources

Flow reactor studies of the stable carbon isotope composition of secondary particulate organic matter generated by OH-radical-induced reactions of toluene

Secondary particulate organic matter (POM) formed in a flow reactor by the OH-radical-induced reactions of toluene was collected on quartz fiber filters, and its stable carbon isotope ratio was analyzed by off-line combustion and subsequent dual-inlet isotope ratio mass spectrometry. The toluene consumption in these experiments ranged from 7% to 29%. The stable carbon isotope composition ( δ 13C) of the secondary POM was in the range of −32.2‰ to −32.9‰ (VPDB scale), with some indication for a slight dependence on the extent of toluene consumption. These measured δ 13C values were, on average, 5.8‰ lighter than those of the parent toluene. Those observations are slightly lower than the δ 13C values of the sum of all toluene oxidation products (from −31.6‰ to −32.3‰) that are predicted using the kinetic isotope effect for the reaction of toluene with OH-radical under these reaction conditions and the initial δ 13C of the parent toluene. Therefore, mass balance dictates that the fractionation between gas-phase and particle-phase products is small. On average, the particle-phase products are 0.6‰±0.2‰ lighter than the gas-phase products. This is in agreement with the concept that the initial reaction of toluene with the OH-radical is the slowest step in the reaction sequence resulting in POM formation.