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1.
环雷州半岛近海表层沉积物有机碳分布及其控制因素分析 总被引：1，自引：0，他引：1
对环雷州半岛近海43个海底表层沉积物的总有机碳(TOC)、总氮(TN)、沉积介质条件(包括沉积物粒度)进行了分析,探讨了沉积物TOC、TN的区域分布特征以及影响有机碳分布的主要因素。结果表明,环雷州半岛近海海域海底表层沉积物有机碳含量在0~0.79%之间,平均值为0.26%。与中国其它近海海域相比,环雷州半岛大部分近海区域海底表层沉积物有机碳含量明显偏低,为有机质贫乏区,仅雷州半岛西南部流沙湾近海海域为TOC相对高值区。总氮含量也不高,在0.011%到0.100%之间,TOC与TN存在较强的正相关性,且平面上TOC与TN分布高度重合,显示氮元素主要以有机化合物形式存在。TOC/TN比值在5.1~14.3之间,表明沉积有机质具有陆源输入和海洋自生来源的混合特征,但以雷州半岛西侧北部及东侧中部海域受陆源有机质输入影响更大。大多数站位海底沉积物粒度构成以粉砂为主、粘土次之,少数站位以砂质沉积为主。沉积物有机碳含量与粘土及粉砂含量呈弱正相关性,与沉积物pH值、Eh值及砂含量呈弱负相关性,这表明海底沉积物有机质丰度受有机质来源输入、海底氧化还原状态和沉积水动力条件(沉积物粒度)等因素综合控制。 相似文献
2.
珠江口不同沉积有机质的来源及相对含量 总被引：4，自引：1，他引：4
通过分析珠江口表层沉积物的C、N元素及C、N稳定同位素，发现其总有机碳(TOC，干重％)含量为0．06％-1．02％，其中深圳湾-内伶仃岛-澳门和珠海附近海域及香港、大亚湾附近海域表层沉积物中的TOC含量较高。总氮(TN，干重％)含量为0．03％-O．19％，TOC和TN的比值范围为1．36-7．84，反映了沉积有机质的混合来源。沉积物的^15N值为3．86‰-6．39‰，δ^13Corg值为-24．76‰--21．98‰，表明珠江口的沉积有机质主要来源于海洋有机质和陆源有机物。从河口向西，δ^13Corg值偏轻，表明由河流带入的陆源有机质受科氏力作用主要在珠江西岸沉积。 相似文献
3.
环渤海地区河流河口及海洋表层沉积物有机质特征和来源 总被引：4，自引：0，他引：4
2013年8月采集了环渤海地区35条主要河流河口表层沉积物样品,12月采集了渤海与北黄海24个表层沉积物样品,分析了其生物地球化学指标:总有机碳(TOC)、总氮(TN)、有机碳同位素(δ13C)和氮同位素(δ15N),探讨该区域表层沉积物有机质特征及组成。研究表明:河流河口表层沉积物有机碳同位素(δ13C)值在–26.4‰—–21.8‰,平均值为–24.5‰;渤海表层沉积物有机碳同位素(δ13C)值在–23.8‰—–21.7‰,平均值为–22.3‰。河口表层沉积物TOC含量在0.06%—3.87%,平均值为1.31%;渤海表层沉积物TOC含量在0.52%—2.09%,平均值为1.08%。河流δ13C富集较轻,偏向陆源;海洋δ13C富集较重,偏向水生有机质来源。河流河口表层沉积物的δ13C值差异较明显,最大值与最小值相差4.6‰,但是流域地理位置距离近的河流δ13C值差异不大。河流河口表层沉积物δ15N在1.5‰—10.2‰,平均值为5.5‰;渤海表层沉积物δ15N在4.4‰—5.6‰,平均值为5.0‰。河流表层沉积物δ15N范围比渤海表层沉积物δ15N范围广,原因是河流受陆源有机物影响,且陆源有机物来源差异大。海洋表层沉积物δ15N相对均一,说明海洋表层沉积物δ15N受物源影响较小,体现了水体中有机质的转化和微生物活动对氮同位素的影响。本研究中表层沉积物的δ13C与δ15N没有明显的相关性,也体现了陆源有机质输入的影响。根据经典的二元模式计算,35条河流陆源有机质的贡献比例范围为10%—90%,平均值为60%;渤海陆源贡献比例范围为10%—50%,平均值为20%。河流有机质的来源以陆源有机质为主,水生有机质为辅。渤海有机质的来源以水生有机质为主,环渤海河流的陆源输入也有重要贡献。需要指出的是,有机碳同位素(δ13C)、氮同位素(δ15N)和Corg/Ntotal对有机质来源判别有一定局限性,虽然稳定同位素有示踪性,然而其成分仍然不可避免地受到生物地球化学等过程的改造,在使用稳定同位素技术示踪物源时,须小心谨慎。 相似文献
4.
对2003年7月至9月采自北极楚科奇海域的4个站位表层沉积物及1个站位的柱状沉积物样品的总糖、总碳、有机碳、无机碳、总氮、总磷的含量进行了测定,并对其有机碳和有机氮同位素(1δ3C和1δ5N)的变化进行了研究,结果表明:北极楚科奇海域沉积物中的总糖与有机碳为明显的正相关关系,说明糖类是有机碳重要的组成部分;表层沉积物中TOC/TN平均值为9.273,1δ3C和1δ5N的平均值分别为-21.61‰和7.1‰,显示出表层沉积物中糖类物质以海洋藻类来源为主、混入部分陆源物质的分布特征;柱状样品不同深度沉积物中TOC/TN平均值为13.45,也反映出糖类物质为海洋自生和陆源输入共存的分布特征。 相似文献
5.
河口沉积物作为承接陆海过程的重要载体, 是有机质赋存的主要形式之一。本文研究了珠江口沉积物总有机碳、总氮含量和沉积物可溶性有机物三维荧光特征, 以及其在口内区、混合区和口外区空间差异和影响因素, 并结合碳稳定同位素(δ13C)估算了珠江口各区域沉积物中不同来源有机质的贡献。结果显示: (1)沉积物总有机碳和总氮含量空间变化相似, 口内区和混合区域沉积有机质含量显著高于口外区; 主成分分析发现, 口内区沉积有机质含量主要受径流输入的影响, 口外区主要受Fe3+的影响; (2)MixSIAR稳定同位素混合模型结果显示, 口内区和混合区沉积有机质以陆源为主, 口外区则以海源为主; (3)珠江口沉积物新生有机质较多, 可快速被利用, 总体上不利于有机碳存储; 而陆源输入导致口内区和混合区沉积有机质腐殖化程度较高, 有机碳可存储性相对较高, 口外受海源有机质和铁氧化物—有机质复合体的影响, 有机碳可存储性相对较低。本研究可为深入认知河口区沉积有机质的生物地球化学过程及有机碳存储提供参考。 相似文献
6.
胶州湾沉积物中氨基酸对有机质降解及细菌源贡献的指示作用解析 总被引：2，自引：2，他引：0
基于对胶州湾表层沉积物中总可水解氨基酸（THAA）的含量、组成、构型及分布特征的系统研究，通过氨基酸碳氮归一化产率（THAA-C%，THAA-N%）、降解因子DI、反应活性指数RI以及D型氨基酸占比（D-AA%，摩尔百分比）等指标结合碳氮比（TOC/TN）、碳稳定同位素（δ13C）探析了胶州湾沉积物中有机质的来源与降解状态，利用细菌源有机质及胞外肽酶活性（EEA）探讨了微生物在有机质迁移转化过程中的作用与贡献。结果表明，胶州湾表层沉积物中氨基酸平均含量为（7.60±3.64）μmol/g，在陆源与海源混合影响下，其水平分布呈现湾内高于湾外、湾内东部高于西部的特点，表明湾内东部陆源输入对沉积物THAA具有较高贡献。THAA-C%、THAA-N%、DI、RI以及D-AA%等指示因子均显示胶州湾表层沉积物中有机质的降解程度呈现湾外高于湾内、湾内东部高于西部的变化趋势，有机质来源、微生物活性与上覆水水深共同影响了有机质的降解程度。胶州湾表层沉积物中细菌源有机碳的贡献率为（29.35±18.73）%，其水平分布显示出湾内西部与湾外相近且高于湾内东部的特点。细菌胞外肽酶活性（EEA）平均为（0.81±1.31）nmol/（g·h）（以MCA计），整体分布趋势与细菌贡献率相反，呈现湾内东部高于湾内西部和湾外的特性。沉积物中有机质的不同海源、陆源占比决定了有机质的可降解性，而有机质的降解程度进一步影响了细菌源有机质的贡献与胞外肽酶活性。 相似文献
7.
河流输入的陆源有机碳在河口和陆架区的生物地球化学过程是全球碳循环的重要环节,对陆源有机质的输入量的估算是研究陆架区的生物地球化学过程的基础。黄河输沙量极大,为探究其携带的陆源有机质对陆架边缘海有机碳库的影响,以黄河河口及邻近渤海海域为研究对象,分析了表层沉积物中的木质素,结合总有机碳含量、总氮含量和有机碳稳定同位素评估了表层沉积物中有机碳的组成、来源和分布。8种木质素酚单体中,紫丁香基酚类(S)与香草基酚类(V)的含量比值S/V(0.63±0.31)和肉桂基酚类(C)与香草基酚类含量比值C/V(0.25±0.15),反映出研究区陆源有机碳主要来自草本被子植物。V系列中木质素酸(Ad)与木质素醛(Al)的比值(Ad/Al)V较高(0.53±0.14),表明陆源有机质的降解程度较高。利用稳定碳同位素比值δ13C和木质素含量Λ8相结合的土壤有机质-陆生维管植物-水生有机质三端元模型对陆源有机物的贡献的分析结果显示,土壤有机质、陆源维管植物和水生有机质的平均贡献分别为59.9%±15.0%、7.3%±7.0%、32.8%±11.8%。土壤在陆源有机质中的贡献占有绝对优势,可能与该区域沉积物的主要源区——黄土高原植被覆盖率低、土壤侵蚀严重有关。 相似文献
8.
《中国海洋大学学报(自然科学版)》2017,(9)
中国边缘海(本文特指渤海、黄海和东海,不包括南海)是陆源和海源有机质的重要碳汇。总有机质指标和生物标志物的结果显示,表层沉积物中陆源有机质高值集中在近岸尤其是河口附近;海源有机质在陆架海盆处有高值,受控于海洋生产力和沉积环境。利用多参数指标对表层沉积物中不同来源和不同年龄有机质的贡献比例估算的结果显示,我国边缘海的有机碳埋藏量约13 Mt/a,占全球边缘海沉积物有机碳埋藏量(~138 Mt/a)的~10%,其中陆源有机质的碳埋藏量(3.9 Mt/a)占全球边缘海沉积物陆源有机质埋藏量的~7%。若假定陈化土壤有机质和古老有机质主要是陆源物质,则非现代有机质的碳埋藏量为~6Mt/a,占我国边缘海总有机质碳埋藏量的~46%,与全球边缘海沉积物中陆源有机质的平均比例(44%)相当。这些结果表明我国边缘海在全球海洋碳循环中具有重要地位。本文利用已发表的文献数据,总结和归纳了中国边缘海沉积有机质来源及其碳汇意义。 相似文献
9.
通过对孟加拉湾中部110个表层沉积物样品有机碳、氮含量及粒度进行测试分析,揭示了研究区表层沉积物平均粒径、有机碳(TOC)、总氮(TN)、有机碳/总氮(TOC/TN)的分布特征,并讨论了其有机质来源及控制因素。结果表明,研究区表层沉积物的平均粒径值为6.2~7.6Φ,平均为7.1Φ,其分布呈现出以16°N和15°N为界南北两侧海域粒度相对较细(7Φ),中间海域相对较粗(7Φ)的特点;研究区TOC的质量分数为0.37%~1.24%,平均为0.84%,TN质量分数为0.05%~0.15%,平均为0.10%,两者分布特点相似,大致以15°N和16°N为界表现出南北两侧海域高,中间海域低的特点;TOC/TN比值为6.05~12.88,平均为8.38,中部海域比值高,南北两侧低。根据TOC/TN比值估算研究区陆源和海洋自生有机质的贡献,结果表明研究区陆源与海洋自生有机质平均相对贡献分别为60%和40%。研究区有机质的分布主要受控于有机质来源及输运方式,其中浊流输运导致的溢流沉积是其最主要的控制因素。另外,粒度、河流悬浮体的输入沉降和有机质保存条件等因素也起着重要作用。 相似文献
10.
中性糖作为有机质的重要组分,其丰度和组成对于沉积物中有机质的来源和降解等生物地球化学过程具有重要的指示意义。本文在对2009年和2010年采集自东海的24个表层沉积物中有机质和中性糖组成以及分布特征进行分析的基础上,探讨了中性糖及其组分在指示东海表层沉积物有机质来源和降解程度中的作用。结果表明:东海表层沉积物中有机碳(TOC)和中性糖(NS)含量较高,分别为66.8—1441.7?mol/g和0.40—4.87?mol/g,平均浓度分别为(409.4?55.2)?mol/g和(3.07?0.31)?mol/g,NS占有机碳的碳摩尔百分数为1.88%—8.93%;随着沉积物粒径增大,TOC、NS含量降低,NS中的葡萄糖组分摩尔百分数增大,而半乳糖、甘露糖和木糖组分摩尔百分比减小,表明沉积物中有机质降解程度增大。同时发现,葡萄糖和海藻糖的摩尔分数之和与半乳糖和阿拉伯糖的摩尔分数之和的比值可作为判断沉积有机物降解程度的指标,其值越大,说明沉积有机物的生物降解程度越小。 相似文献
11.
理解早期成岩过程中有机质的化学和同位素分馏对于研究海洋和湖泊环境中的生物地球化学过程是很重要的。将珠江口外近海生物成因有机质分为可水解氨基酸、碳水化合物、脂类和酸不溶四个部分,分析了有机质的化学和同位素组成(δ13C,δ15N),借以讨论沉积有机质在埋藏的早期成岩过程中所发生的化学和同位素改变,结果表明,从浮游生物→悬浮颗粒物→表层沉积物→沉积柱内部,易降解组分可水解氨基酸、碳水化合物、脂类占样品总有机碳的份额依次降低。沉积物及四个有机部分的稳定碳同位素组成在纵向上随深度保持相对恒定,而在不同有机部分之间差异明显。不同类型有机物的分解速率差异在改变有机质化学成分的同时,导致其δ13C发生小幅度负向漂移;细菌有机质的形成和分解对有机质化学成分和同位素组成演化也有重要贡献,并且在一定程度上抵消了上述δ13C的负向漂移,其结果导致沉积有机质的δ13C略低于浮游生物;另一方面,由于异养菌生长过程中的氮同位素分馏系数与可利用氮源的特征和培养基的性质等多种因素有关,导致沉积物的δ15N变化范围增大。在这里δ13C可以可靠地指示该海域沉积有机质的来源,而δ15N变化范围较大且规律不明显,难以用作沉积有机质来源的指示。 相似文献
12.
《Marine Chemistry》2001,73(1):65-81
Radiocarbon (Δ14C) abundance and stable carbon isotope (δ13C) compositions were measured for total lipid, total hydrolyzable amino acids (THAA), total carbohydrates (TCHO), and acid-insoluble organic fractions separated from phytoplankton, zooplankton, and sediment cores collected from two abyssal sites, one in the northeast (NE) Pacific Ocean and one in the Southern Ocean. These results are compared with those obtained for a separate core from the NE Pacific and reported by Wang et al. [Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta 62 (1998) 1365.]. An uncharacterized acid-insoluble fraction dominated (43–57%) the sediment TOC pool at both sites. Sediment collected from the NE Pacific exhibited higher TOC, TN. and higher Δ14C values and contained both labile (THAA and TCHO) and refractory (lipid and acid-insoluble) fractions. In contrast, sediment from the Southern Ocean had much lower TOC and Δ14C values, which indicated that organic matter was extremely refractory. Sedimentation rates calculated from 14C ages of TOC for both sites indicate that the differences in the organic composition and Δ14C signatures of organic matter in the sediments likely resulted from the differences in production and deposition of organic matter to the sediment, and the diagenetic stages of sedimentary organic matter in the two oceans.Unlike Δ14C, stable carbon isotopic (δ13C) compositions of TOC in the sediments of the two oceans had similar values, which reflect not only the organic matter input from marine-derived sources but also the nature of degraded, predominately uncharacterized organic fraction in these sediments. The differences in δ13C values among the compound classes in sediments at both sites can be attributed to the carbon isotopic signatures in original sources during photosynthesis and associated environmental factors. Preferential degradation of organic matter and heterotrophic effects may also play important roles for the observed δ13C variations and these effects need to be further investigated. 相似文献
13.
The temporal and spatial distribution of total and organic particulate matter is investigated in the Bideford River estuary. Particulate matter is homogenously distributed in both the water column and the surface sediment, due to high rates of resuspension and lateral transport. The measured mean sedimentation rate for the estuary is 183·5 g of particulate matter m?2 day?1, of which more than half is due to resuspension.The surface sediment of the estuary is quantitatively the dominant reservoir of organic matter, with an average of 902·5 g of particulate organic carbon (POC) m?2 and 119·5 g of particulate organic nitrogen (PON) m?2. Per unit surface area, the sediment contains 450 times more POC and 400 times more PON than the water column. Terrestrial erosion contributes high levels of particulate matter, both organic and inorganic, to the estuary from the surrounding watershed. Low rates of sediment export from the estuary result in the accumulation of the terrigenous material. The allochthonous input of terrigenous organic matter masks any relationship between the indigenous plant biomass and the organic matter.In the water column, a direct correlation exists between the organic matter, i.e. POC and PON, concentration and the phytoplankton biomass as measured by the plant pigments. Resuspension is responsible for the residual organic matter in the water column unaccounted for by the phytoplankton biomass.The particulate content of the water column and the surface sediment of the estuary is compared to that of the adjacent bay. Water-borne particulate matter is exported from the estuary to the bay, so that no significant differences in concentration are noted. The estuarine sediment, however, is five to six times richer in organic and silt-clay content than the bay sediment. Since sediment flux out of the estuary is restricted, the allochthonous contribution of terrigenous particulate matter to the bay sediment is minor, and the organic content of the bay sediment is directly correlated to the autochthonous plant biomass. 相似文献
14.
Sources and distributions of terrigenous organic matter in a mangrove fringed small tropical estuary in South China 总被引：1，自引：0，他引：1
The sources and distributions of terrigenous organic matter (OM) were investigated in a small tropical estuary in the Hainan Island, South China. Plants, suspended particulate matter (SPM), and surface sediments samples in the estuary and coast were collected. Bulk properties [organic carbon (OC%), total nitrogen (TN%), stable carbon isotope (δ13C) and grain size] and lignin phenol concentrations were measured. OC% of mangrove plants was (43.4 ± 2.1)%, which is similar to the values reported for mangrove plants in other regions. OC% of sediment samples ranged from 0.07% to 1.42%, and they were related to the sediment texture. Lignin phenols in the sediment ranged from 5.16 mg/100 mg OC in the uppermost station to 0.51mg/100mg OC in the coast. The molar ratio of organic carbon to total nitrogen (C/N) (～7) and δ 13 C (～-31.1×10-3 ) of riverine SPM revealed that the major OM sources of riverine SPM were aquatic OM (phytoplankton and/or bacteria). Moreover, the lower lignin concentration (Λ8) and higher (Ad/Al)v of lignin phenols suggest that terrestrial OM in riverine SPM were mainly from soil. Furthermore, C/N ratio, δ13C and lignin phenols reveal that mangrove plants were the predominant OM sources of mangrove surface sediment. Based on the δ13C and lignin phenols, it can be concluded that the major OM sources in estuarine and coastal surface sediments were marine phytoplankton, riverine SPM and mangrove surface sediment. In addition, the higher (Ad/Al)v of lignin phenols in those coastal sediments indicate that seagrass might be a potential OM source in coastal sediments, however, the lower (Ad/Al)v in the estuarine sediments in turn suggests that seagrass could not be transported to the mangrove fringed region. A three-end-member model which is based on lignin concentrations and δ13C was applied to evaluate the contribution of mangroves to the organic matter preserved in the surface sediments. Around the mangrove fringed region, mangrove could contribute more than 50% to the sedimentary OM, and this value is much higher than riverine OM. Nevertheless, mangrove OM could not be efficiently transported to the coastal region. Our study suggests that mangrove forest is an important OM source in this small estuary. 相似文献
15.
R. García L. Thomsen H.C. de Stigter E. Epping K. Soetaert E. Koning P.A. de Jesus Mendes 《Deep Sea Research Part I: Oceanographic Research Papers》2010,57(8):1012-1026
The role of the Setúbal–Lisbon canyon in accumulation and transport of labile organic matter from the coastal sea and ocean surface water towards the deep sea was assessed by investigating the distribution of organic matter of different quality in sedimentary aggregates and surface sediments of the canyon and adjacent slopes. Total hydrolysable amino acids (THAA) and organic carbon (Corg) were measured from aggregates, and contents of Corg, chlorophyll a (chl a), phaeopigments (phaeo), chloroplastic pigment equivalents (CPE) from sediments. As indices of organic matter (OM) quality THAA:Corg, degradation index (DI), chl a:phaeo, chl a:Corg and C:N ratio were determined. Sediment profiles of chl a and the isotope 210 of lead (210Pb) were used as tracers in a transport model to estimate deposition rates and background levels of the tracers, and sediment mixing rates (Db). Whereas bulk Corg contents of canyon and slope sediments were practically similar at all depths, higher contents of THAA, chl a and CPE, as well as higher THAA:Corg, DI and chl a:Corg, in aggregates and sediments from the upper reaches of the canyon indicate that labile organic matter accumulates in the upper canyon. This is confirmed by higher chl a and 210Pb deposition and Db calculated from the model. Hence, the Setúbal–Lisbon canyon, specially the upper region, acts as a natural trap of organic matter that is transported to the region via lateral transport and vertical settling from primary productivity. Organic matter might be further transported in downward canyon direction via rebound processes. The chl a and 210Pb profiles reveal active sediment mixing by physical processes and/or animal reworking. 相似文献
16.
A. M. Koltunov P. Ya. Tishchenko V. I. Zvalinskii R. V. Chichkin V. B. Lobanov D. A. Nekrasov 《Oceanology》2009,49(5):643-654
In July 2007, integrated studies of the Amur Estuary and the adjacent aquatic areas were performed on board R/V Professor Gagarinskii within the project of the Amur River basin exploration. On the basis of the data obtained during the cruise, the carbonate
system of the Amur Estuary in the summer period was considered. It was shown that the distribution of the carbonate parameters
in the Amur Estuary and the adjacent aquatic areas points to the high intensity of the bio-geochemical processes of production
and mineralization of organic matter. It was found that the organic matter destruction is prevailing over the photosynthesis
in the riverine part of the estuary. This aquatic area is a source of carbon dioxide for the atmosphere and rates as a heterotrophic
basin. On the contrary, the surface waters at the outer boundaries of the estuary (the Gulf of Sakhalin and the Tatar Strait)
act as a sink of the atmospheric carbon dioxide, which is caused by the intense photosynthesis in this area. This part of
the estuary is treated as an autotrophic basin. 相似文献
17.
Six sediment cores collected from various water depths and sampling locations along the western margin of the Bay of Bengal (BOB) were investigated for the total hydrolysable amino acids (THAA) and d-amino acids (d-AA) to understand their distribution, digenetic alteration and bacterial contribution to organic matter (OM). Irrespective of their location, THAA concentrations and yields generally decreased and mol% glycine increased with increasing water depth indicating that OM was degraded during its transit through the water column. Amino acid based degradation index (DI) indicated that OM of the surface sediments of shallow stations, BOB-1 to BOB-3 was relatively fresher than that of deeper stations, BOB-4, BOB-5 and BOB-6. The concentrations and mol% of the d-AA varied from 0.04 to 0.76 µmol gdw−1 and 0.3 to 8.5 mol%, respectively. Contribution of bacterial peptidoglycan amino acids to THAA (% THAApep/THAA) ranged between 4.0% and 55.0%. Both % THAApep/THAA and mol% d-AAs were significantly (p<0.01) higher in the surface sediments and decreased with sediment core depth. Based on the d-AA yields, bacterial OM accounted for 1.5–15.6% of TOC, and 3.7–50.0% of TN of the sediments of BOB. 相似文献
18.
《Deep Sea Research Part I: Oceanographic Research Papers》2001,48(3):811-832
Total hydrolysable amino acids (THAA), individual amino acid distributions, total organic carbon (TOC) and total nitrogen (TN) were measured in sediments across the Goban Spur continental slope at water depths of 651, 1296 and 3650 m. Objectives were to examine (1) differences in organic matter (OM) degradation state in surface sediments across the slope from sedimentary amino acid compositions, and (2) whether these differences are related to particle size distributions. Application of a ‘reaction–diffusion’ model to the sediment concentration profiles showed that TOC and THAA degradation rate constants decreased with increasing water depth. Ratios of degradation rate constants of THAA over TOC indicated that THAA turn over faster than TOC at 651 and 1296 m water depth only. From estimates of degradation rate constants of individual amino acids, it was concluded that with increasing water depth fewer amino acids contribute to overall THAA degradation. The contribution of THAA to TOC mineralisation decreased from the upper to the lower slope. Since at all three sampling stations the amino acids with the highest relative contribution to THAA had a higher abundance in sediments with reduced THAA mineralisation rates, we conclude that the overall amino acid reactivity decreases with increasing water column depth. A principal component analyses, carried out on normalised amino acid mole percentages, established significant shifts in amino acid compositions and confirmed that (1) OM degradation state increased from 651 to 3650 m and (2) that OM in the finest fraction at the shallowest station appeared to be considerably less degraded than in the coarser fractions or any size fractions at the deeper stations. Therefore, we conclude that downslope transport, sorting and accumulation of fine particles with continuous mineralisation of OM attached to the particles during vertical and lateral transport results in an increasing organic matter degradation state from the upper slope to the abyssal plain. 相似文献