Fatty acid and hydrocarbon content of settling sediments in Lake Michigan

Journal Article · Tue Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1980 · J. Great Lakes Res.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/S0380-1330(80)72114-7· OSTI ID:6290035

Meyers, P A; Edwards, S J; Eadie, B

Fatty acid and aliphatic hydrocarbons contents have been examined in sediment collected in traps suspended at three depths at a location in Lake Michigan. Fatty acid distributions are similar at all depths and suggest an authochtonous origin of these materials. Concentrations of acids decrease with greater depths of traps and indicate a combination of active microbial reworking and of dilution by resuspended sedimentary materials. Hydrocarbons in the metalimnion trap contain mostly algal and bacterial components, wheras near-bottom hydrocarbons contain a large plant contribution, presumably from resuspension of bottom sediments. Comparison of trap contents with fatty acid and hydrocarbons obtained from faunal debris and with published diatom compositions indicates that a mixture of such sources is combined in the organic matter settling in Lake Michigan. Estimated fluxes to the bottom of this part of the lake are 6.5 g/m/sup 2//y for fatty acids, and 27 mg/m/sup 2//y for aliphatic hydrocarbons.

• Research Organization: Univ. of Michigan, Ann Arbor
• OSTI ID: 6290035
• Journal Information: J. Great Lakes Res.; (United States), Journal Name: J. Great Lakes Res.; (United States) Vol. 6:4; ISSN JGLRD
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

02 PETROLEUM
020900 -- Petroleum-- Environmental Aspects
520200* -- Environment
Aquatic-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (-1989)
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
ALGAE
AQUATIC ECOSYSTEMS
BACTERIA
CARBOXYLIC ACIDS
CHEMICAL COMPOSITION
ECOLOGICAL CONCENTRATION
ECOSYSTEMS
GREAT LAKES
HYDROCARBONS
LAKE MICHIGAN
LAKES
MICROORGANISMS
ORGANIC ACIDS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
PLANTS
POLLUTION
SEDIMENTS
SURFACE WATERS
WATER POLLUTION