Hostname: page-component-848d4c4894-jbqgn Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-06-21T17:07:31.487Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Short-term dynamics of sedimentary organic matter in a littoral area of the North Adriatic Sea (Italy): Evidence from 234Th and 7Be

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  06 June 2009

R. Guerra
Affiliation:
Interdepartmental Centre for Environmental Science Research, Bologna University, via S. Alberto 163, 48100 Ravenna, Italy Department of Physics, Bologna University, Viale Pichat 6/2, 40127 Bologna, Italy
S. Righi
Affiliation:
Interdepartmental Centre for Environmental Science Research, Bologna University, via S. Alberto 163, 48100 Ravenna, Italy Department of Physics, Bologna University, Viale Pichat 6/2, 40127 Bologna, Italy
Get access

Abstract

In summer of 2007, short sediment cores (<20 cm) were collected in a littoral area of the North Adriatic Sea, Italy. Downcore measurements for radioactive tracers (234Th, 7Be) and organic matter signatures (OC, TN, C : N ratio) have been used to elucidate potential temporal changes in fluxes and cycles of organic matter in the area. Tracer distributions suggest that surface deposits throughout this area are rapidly reworked and this is supported by the findings of burrowing bivalves. Excess 234Th was present at all stations, with surface activities (0–1 cm) ranging from 12 to 20 Bq/kg and inventories of 46 and 166 mBq cm-2 with penetration depths of about 10 cm. Steady-state particle mixing coefficients Db estimated using excess 234Th ranged from ∼60 to 150 cm2 yr-1. The cores collected throughout the littoral system show a decrease in OC and TN down-core, and organic carbon signatures (OC and C : N) measured in sediment layers are indicative of multiple sources of sedimentary organic matter, where marine and estuarine phytoplankton is likely an additional important source of the direct input of organic matter.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
© EDP Sciences, 2009

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Griffin, D. and Corbett, D.R., J. Marine Syst 42, 83 (2003). CrossRef
Rutgers van der, M.M. Loeff, R. Meyer, B. Rudels and E. Rachor, Deep-Sea Res I 49, 1941 (2002). CrossRef
C.M. Palinkas, C.A. Nittrouer, R.A. Wheatcroft and L. Langone, Mar Geo 222/223, 95 (2005).
Schmidt, S., van Weering, T.C.E., Reyss, J.-L. and van Beek, P., Prog Oceanogr 52, 331 (2002). CrossRef
Schmidt, S., Jouanneau, J.-M., Weber, O., Lecroart, P., Radakovitch, O., Gilbert, F. and Jézequel, D., Estuar Coast Shelf S 72, 534 (2007). CrossRef
Dail, M.B., Corbett, D.R. and Walsh, J.P., Cont Shelf Res 27, 1857 (2007). CrossRef
Hedges, J.I. and Stern, J.H., Limnol Oceanogr 29, 45 (1984).
Santschi, P.H., Guo, L., Asbill, S., Allison, M., Kepple, A.B. and Wen, L.S., Mar Chem 73, 125 (2001). CrossRef
Martinotti, W., Camuso, M., Guzzi, L., Patrolecco, L. and Pettine, M., Water Air Soil Poll 99, 325 (1997).
Miserocchi, S., Langone, L. and Tesi, T., Cont Shelf Res 27, 338 (2007). CrossRef
Giordani, P., Helder, W., Koning, E., Miserocchi, S., Danovaro, R. and Malaguti, A., J Marine Syst 33-34, 365 (2002). CrossRef
Tesi, T., Miserocchi, S., Langone, L., Boni, L. and Guerrini, F., Water Air Soil Poll 6, 593 (2006). CrossRef
Tesi, T., Miserocchi, S., Goñi, M.A., Langone, L., Boldrin, A. and Turchetto, M., Estuar Coast Shelf S 73, 431 (2007). CrossRef
Pettine, M., Patrolecco, L., Camuso, M. and Crecenzio, S., Estuar Coast Shelf S 46, 127 (1998). CrossRef
Giani, M., Berto, D., Zangrando, V., Castelli, S., Sist, P. and Urbani, R., Sci Total Environ 353, 232 (2005). CrossRef
Brzerinski, M.A., J Phycol 21, 347 (1985). CrossRef
Monari, M., Cattani, O., Serrazanetti, G.P., Selli, A., Pagliuca, G., Zironi, E., O'Hara, S.C.M. and Livingstone, D.R., Mar Environ Res 63, 200 (2007). CrossRef
Widdicombe, S., Austen, M.C., Kendall, M.A., Warwick, R.M. and Jones, M.B., Hydrobiologia 440, 369 (2000). CrossRef
B. Dauwe. Organic matter quality in North Sea sediments. Ph.D. thesis (Univ. of Groningen, 1999).
Dubrulle, C., Jouanneau, J.M., Lesueur, P., Bourillet, J.F. and Weber, O., Cont Shelf Res 27, 2099 (2007). CrossRef
Duport, E., Gilbert, F., Poggiale, J.-C., Dedieu, K., Rabouille, C. and Stora, G., Estuar Coast Shelf S 72, 522 (2007). CrossRef
Gerino, M., Frignani, M., Mugnai, C., Bellucci, L.G., Prevedelli, D., Valentini, A., Castelli, A., Delmotte, S. and Sauvage, S., Acta Oecol 32, 14 (2007). CrossRef
Vaughn, C.C. and Hakenkamp, C.C., Freshwater Biol 46, 1431 (2001). CrossRef
Sgro, L., Mistri, M. and Widdos, J., Hydrobiologia 550, 175 (2005). CrossRef