Collaborative Research: The Fate of Algal Carbon in Continental Slope Sediments: A Multitracer Approach

该项目旨在确定海底新沉积的藻碳的运输和分解。一种多示踪剂混合物（13c -藻类、粘土、玻璃珠）将在北卡罗来纳州两个具有不同动物密度的大陆斜坡地点的海底散布，以确定动物种群对颗粒混合和有机碳转换的影响。13C将在不同的储层（例如，固相有机碳和无机碳，溶解无机碳，动物组织）中进行跟踪，时间尺度从几天到一年不等。特定藻类生物化学物质降解的表观速率常数将被确定。将研究底栖生态系统中藻类碳转换产生的成岩产物的鉴定，并将其与234和210Pb的自然分布剖面联系起来。沉积物喂料机对有机含量、颗粒大小和摄入的物料质量的潜在选择性将进行评估。将研究动物对13C-藻类物质的吸收，以确定不同摄食方式、沉积物柱内分布和体型的相对重要性。

BLAIR 9301793 This project is aimed at defining the transport and decomposition of newly deposited algal carbon in the seabed. A multi-tracer mixture (13C-Algae, clay, glass beads) will be spread on the seafloor at two North Carolina continental slope sites that are characterized by different infaunal densities to determine the impact of animal populations on particle mixing and organic carbon turnover. The 13C will be followed through various reservoirs (e.g., solid phase organic and inorganic carbon, dissolved inorganic carbon, animal tissues) on time scales ranging from days to one year. Apparent rate constants for the degradation of specific algal biochemicals will be determined. Identification of diagenetic products resulting from the turnover of the algal carbon by the benthic ecosystem will be investigated and related to the naturally occurring profiles of 234Th and 210Pb. Potential selectivity by deposit feeders for organic content, particle size and quality of material ingested will be evaluated. Uptake of 13C- algal material by infauna will be studied to determine the relative importance of different feeding modes, distributions within the sediment column and body sizes.