Stable isotopes of bulk organic matter to trace carbon and nitrogen dynamics in an estuarine ecosystem in Babitonga Bay (Santa Catarina, Brazil)

The biogeochemical processes affecting the transport and cycling of terrestrial organic carbon in coastal and transition areas are still not fully understood. One means of distinguishing between the sources of organic materials contributing to particulate organic matter (POM) in Babitonga Bay waters...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:The Science of the total environment 2010-04, Vol.408 (10), p.2226-2232
Main Authors: Barros, Grace Virgínia, Martinelli, Luiz Antonio, Oliveira Novais, Therezinha M., Ometto, Jean Pierre H.B., Zuppi, Gian Maria
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Acetal resins
Applied sciences
Assessments
Babitonga Bay
Biological and physicochemical phenomena
Brackish
Brazil
Carbon
Carbon - analysis
Carbon Isotopes - analysis
Chelating Agents - analysis
Coastal
Constituents
Depletion
Dissolution
Dynamics
Ecosystem
Environmental Monitoring - methods
Estuarine
Exact sciences and technology
Humic Substances - analysis
Mangrove
Natural water pollution
Nitrogen - analysis
Nitrogen Isotopes - analysis
Organic compounds
Pollution
Seawater - chemistry
Sewage - analysis
Stable isotopes
Water Movements
Water Pollutants, Chemical - analysis
Water treatment and pollution
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Summary:The biogeochemical processes affecting the transport and cycling of terrestrial organic carbon in coastal and transition areas are still not fully understood. One means of distinguishing between the sources of organic materials contributing to particulate organic matter (POM) in Babitonga Bay waters and sediments is by the direct measurement of δ 13C of dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC) and δ 13C and δ 15N in the organic constituents. An isotopic survey was taken from samples collected in the Bay in late spring of 2004. The results indicate that the δ 13C and δ 15N compositions of OM varied from − 21.7‰ to − 26.2‰ and from + 9.2‰ to − 0.1‰, respectively. δ 13C from DIC ranges from + 0.04‰ to − 12.7‰. The difference in the isotope compositions enables the determination of three distinct end-members: terrestrial, marine and urban. Moreover, the evaluation of source contribution to the particulate organic matter (POM) in the Bay, enables assessment of the anthropogenic impact. Comparing the depleted values of δ 13C DIC and δ 13C POC it is possible to further understand the carbon dynamic within Babitonga Bay.
ISSN:0048-9697
1879-1026
DOI:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2010.01.060