Phytoplankton Pigments in Maryland Coastal Bay Sediments as Biomarkers of Sources of Organic Matter to Benthic Community

Abstract

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Effects of intensive mariculture on the sediment environment as revealed by phytoplankton pigments in a semi-enclosed bay, South China Sea

“…Particularly, the pigments from diatoms and dinoflagellates (Fuco and Peri) are generally more labile than those originating from cryptophytes (Allo), cyanobacteria (Zea), and green algae (Lut; Leavitt & Carpenter 1990;Leavitt 1993;Chen et al 2015). This finding suggests that the main sources of phytoplankton-derived OM are diatoms, cyanobacteria, cryptophytes, chrysophyceae, prasinophytes, and dinoflagellates.…”

“…However, the abundance of taxonomically diagnostic carotenoids in the sediments cannot be directly used to estimate the contribution of the different algal groups because stability varies substantially among the pigments. Particularly, the pigments from diatoms and dinoflagellates (Fuco and Peri) are generally more labile than those originating from cryptophytes (Allo), cyanobacteria (Zea), and green algae (Lut; Leavitt & Carpenter 1990;Leavitt 1993;Chen et al 2015). Although Fuco is a highly labile phytopigment, it remains as the most abundant accessory pigment in the surface sediments.…”

“…The contents of the individual phytopigments in the surface sediments depend on primary production, grazing, sedimentation, accumulation rate, oxygen concentration, light penetration, and hydrodynamic conditions in the above water column, as well as the sediment properties (i.e., particle size, TOC, redox level) and phytobenthos (Szymczak-_ Zyła, Kowalewska & Louda 2011;Chen et al 2015). The particle size of the sediments has been proposed as an important factor influencing the concentration of TOC and pigments (Szymczak-_ Zyła et al 2011).…”

“…For example, fucoxanthin (Fuco), peridinin (Peri), alloxanthin (Allo), and zeaxanthin (Zea) usually indicate the presence of diatoms, dinoflagellates, cryptophytes, and cyanobacteria respectively. Geochemists consider the comparative labilities and source specificities of pigments as efficient parameters to investigate many aspects of benthic biogeochemical processes (Leavitt ; Jeffrey & Vesk ; Chen, Oseji, Mitra, Waguespack & Chen ). To our knowledge, studies have yet to be conducted on taxonomically diagnostic carotenoids in the sediments of fish and shellfish farms.…”

Seasonal constancy (summer vs. winter) of benthic size spectra in an Arctic fjord

“…On the other hand seasonal variation in POC in sediments was found in Adventfjorden (Svalbard) station located in shallow zone (at 40 m depth) influenced by the nearby river outlet (Zajączkowski et al 2010;Pawłowska et al 2011). The higher CPE resulting from increased phaeophytin, products of Chl a degradation, may indicate that in the late summer the organic matter produced in the water column reaches the bottom after being grazed by mesozoplankton (Chen et al 2016). However, according to Krajewska et al (2017) sum of Chl a and its derivatives (CPE) is a much better indicator of pelagic primary production than only Chl a content.…”