| Abstract: | Based on analyses of surface and core sediments in the tidal flats of the Yangtze Estuary and coastal areas, the present study reveals phosphorous forms existing in sediments and their distributions. The results show that phosphorus in tidal flat sediments in the study area mainly consists of inorganic phosphorous forms, involving DP, Fe-P, Al-P, and Ca-P and organic phosphorous forms, in which Ca-P and OP are dominant compositions. This finding indicates that spatial distributions of various phosphorous forms are related to sedimentary environments in water and grain sizes of sediments, and are influenced by sewage discharges and effluents from aquacultivation in the coastal areas. |
