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Changes in chemical and isotopic signatures of plant materials during degradation: Implication for assessing various organic inputs in estuarine systems
Author(s) -
Dai Jihong,
Sun MingYi,
Culp Randolph A.,
Noakes John E.
Publication year - 2005
Publication title -
geophysical research letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.007
H-Index - 273
eISSN - 1944-8007
pISSN - 0094-8276
DOI - 10.1029/2005gl023133
Subject(s) - isotope analysis , environmental chemistry , carbon fibers , total organic carbon , stable isotope ratio , degradation (telecommunications) , estuary , diagenesis , isotopes of carbon , δ13c , nitrogen , isotopes of nitrogen , organic matter , salt marsh , environmental science , chemistry , mineralogy , materials science , geology , oceanography , organic chemistry , telecommunications , physics , quantum mechanics , composite number , computer science , composite material
To evaluate applicability of the end‐member mixing model in assessment of input and transport of organic carbon in estuarine systems, we incubated marine diatom, land grass, and salt marsh plant in Altamaha estuarine water for two months. Chemical and isotopic parameters (bulk organic carbon/nitrogen contents, lipid compositions, stable C/N isotopes, and lipid stable carbon isotopic ratios) were analyzed for fresh and degraded materials. The results showed that although the C/N and δ 15 N ratios of three materials varied similarly during degradation, the bulk δ 13 C, lipid compositions, and lipid stable carbon isotopic compositions varied differently from material to material and from compound to compound, implying that applications of the end‐member model should consider the diagenetic status of organic materials and the potential changes in chemical and isotopic signatures.