Factors influencing organic carbon recycling and burial in Skagerrak sediments

Authors: H. Ståhl; A. Tengberg; J. Brunnegård; E. Bjørnbom; T.L. Forbes; A.B. Josefson; H.G. Kaberi; I.M. Karle Hassellöv; F. Olsgard; P. Roos; P.O.J. Hall

Source: Journal of Marine Research, Volume 62, Number 6, November 2004 , pp. 867-907(41)

Publisher: Sears Foundation for Marine Research

Abstract:

Different factors influencing recycling and burial rates of organic carbon (OC) were investigated in the continental margin sediments of the Skagerrak (NE North Sea). Two different areas, one in the southern and one in the northeastern part of the Skagerrak were visited shortly after a spring bloom (March 1999) and in late summer (August 2000). Results suggested that: (1) Organic carbon oxidation rates (C_ox) (2.2–18 mmol C m^-2d^-11) were generally larger than the O₂ uptake rates (1.9 –25 mmol m^-2d^-1). Both rates were measured in situ using a benthic lander. A mean apparent respiration ratio (C_ox:O_2corr) of 1.3±0.5 was found, indicating some long-term burial of reduced inorganic substances in these sediments. Measured O₂ fluxes increased linearly with increasing C_ox rates during the late summer cruise but not on the early spring cruise, indicating a temporal uncoupling of anaerobic mineralization and reoxidation of reduced substances. (2) Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) fluxes (0.2–1.0 mmol C m^-2d^-1) constituted 3–10% of the C_ox rates and were positively correlated with the latter, implying that net DOC production rates were proportional to the overall sediment OC remineralization rates. (3) Chlorophyll a (Chl-a) concentrations in the sediment were significantly higher in early spring compared to late summer. The measured C_ox rates, but not O₂ fluxes, showed a strong positive correlation with the Chl-a inventories in the top 3 cm of the sediment. (4) Although no relationship was found between the benthic fluxes and the macrofaunal biomass in the chambers, total in situ measured dissolved inorganic carbon (C_T) fluxes were 1–5.4 times higher than diffusive mediated C_T fluxes, indicating that macrofauna have a significant impact on benthic exchange rates of OC remineralization products in Skagerrak sediments. (5) OC burial fluxes were generally higher in northeastern Skagerrak than in the southern part. The same pattern was observed for burial efficiencies, with annual means of ~62% and ~43% for the two areas respectively. (6) On a basin-wide scale, there was a significant positive linear correlation between the burial efficiencies and sediment accumulation rates. (7) The calculated particulate organic carbon (POC) deposition, from benthic flux and burial measurements, was only 24 –78% of the sediment trap measured POC deposition, indicating a strong near-bottom lateral transport and resuspension of POC. (8) A larger fraction of the laterally advected material of lower quality seemed to settle in the northeastern Skagerrak rather than in the southern Skagerrak. (9) Skagerrak sediments, especially in the northeastern part, act as an efficient net sink for organic carbon, even in a global continental margin context.

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Document Type: Research article

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1357/0022240042880873

Publication date: 2004-11-01

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