Biogeochemical cycling in an organic-rich coastal marine basin. 9. Sources and accumulation rates of vascular plant-derived organic material

Journal Article · Sun Nov 01 04:00:00 EST 1987 · Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta; (USA)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/0016-7037(87)90372-3· OSTI ID:5255223

Haddad, R I; Martens, C S ^[1]

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1. Univ. of North Carolina, Chapel Hill (USA)

The sources, degradation and burial of vascular plant debris deposited over the past several decades in the lagoonal sediments of Cape Lookout Bight, North Carolina, are quantified using alkaline cupric oxide lignin oxidation product (LOP) analysis. Non-woody angiosperms, accounting for 92 {plus minus} 32% of the recognizable sedimentary vascular plant debris, are calculated to contribute 23 {plus minus} 17% of the total organic carbon buried over the past decade. When combined with a previously established sedimentary organic carbon budget for this site a vascular plant derived carbon burial rate of 26 {plus minus}20 mole C m{sup {minus}2} yr{sup {minus}1} is calculated for this same time interval. The refractory nature and invariant depth distributions of the lignin oxidation products (LOP), when coupled with evidence for constant degradation rates of metabolizable materials, indicate that sediment accumulation at this site has been a steady state process with respect to source and burial of organic carbon since its conversion from an inner-continental shelf to a lagoonal environment during the late 1960's. Thus systematic down-core decreases in labile organic matter result from early diagenetic processes rather than input rate variations.

• OSTI ID: 5255223
• Journal Information: Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta; (USA), Journal Name: Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta; (USA) Vol. 51:11; ISSN GCACA; ISSN 0016-7037
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

58 GEOSCIENCES
580000* -- Geosciences
BIODEGRADATION
BIOGEOCHEMISTRY
CARBOHYDRATES
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
CHEMISTRY
DECOMPOSITION
DEPOSITION
DIAGENESIS
FEDERAL REGION IV
GEOCHEMISTRY
GEOLOGIC HISTORY
INTERFACES
LIGNIN
MINERAL CYCLING
NORTH AMERICA
NORTH CAROLINA
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC MATTER
ORGANIC SULFUR COMPOUNDS
POLYSACCHARIDES
SACCHARIDES
SEDIMENT-WATER INTERFACES
SEDIMENTS
USA