Carbon, Nitrogen geochemical characteristics and their implications on environmental change in the lagoon sediments of the Dongdao Island of Xisha Islands in South China Sea

Liu Xiaotong; Ge Chendong; Zou Xinqing; Huang Mei; Tang Meng; Li Yali

doi:10.3969/j.issn.0253-4193.2017.06.005

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Liu Xiaotong, Ge Chendong, Zou Xinqing, Huang Mei, Tang Meng, Li Yali. Carbon, Nitrogen geochemical characteristics and their implications on environmental change in the lagoon sediments of the Dongdao Island of Xisha Islands in South China Sea[J]. Haiyang Xuebao, 2017, 39(6): 43-54. doi: 10.3969/j.issn.0253-4193.2017.06.005

Citation:

Liu Xiaotong, Ge Chendong, Zou Xinqing, Huang Mei, Tang Meng, Li Yali. Carbon, Nitrogen geochemical characteristics and their implications on environmental change in the lagoon sediments of the Dongdao Island of Xisha Islands in South China Sea[J]. Haiyang Xuebao, 2017, 39(6): 43-54. doi: 10.3969/j.issn.0253-4193.2017.06.005

Citation:

Liu Xiaotong, Ge Chendong, Zou Xinqing, Huang Mei, Tang Meng, Li Yali. Carbon, Nitrogen geochemical characteristics and their implications on environmental change in the lagoon sediments of the Dongdao Island of Xisha Islands in South China Sea[J]. Haiyang Xuebao, 2017, 39(6): 43-54. doi: 10.3969/j.issn.0253-4193.2017.06.005

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Carbon, Nitrogen geochemical characteristics and their implications on environmental change in the lagoon sediments of the Dongdao Island of Xisha Islands in South China Sea

doi: 10.3969/j.issn.0253-4193.2017.06.005

Collaborative Innovation Center of South China Sea Studies, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, China;School of Geographic and Oceanographic Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, China;The Key Laboratory of Coast&Island Development of Education, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, China

Received Date: 2016-08-30
Rev Recd Date: 2017-01-17

Abstract

Abstract

A sediment core, DD-01, was collected from Cattle Pond, on Dongdao Island in the Xisha Islands. Measurements of grain size, C and N elemental geochemistry, δ¹³C and biological remains were taken, and a ²¹⁰Pb chronology established, to study the evolution of the sedimentary environment of Dongdao Island. The results indicate that 4 depositional units can be distinguished between the bottom and the surface layers. The sediment unit below 34 cm was more influenced by guano than the others; its TN and TOC contents are between 0.15%-0.27% and 1.78%-2.8% respectively, δ¹³C ranges from -24.86‰ to -23.84‰, and there is a large amount of guano sediment, caryopses, and fresh Ostracodes residues. At a depth of 28-34 cm (about 132 a BP), the guano sediment, caryopses and fresh Ostracodes residues disappear, and the number of foraminifers and sea urchin spines increases sharply. The TOC values in this unit are between 1.25% and 2.28%, and TN ranges from 0.11% to 0.29%. δ¹³C values vary in the range of -25.95‰ to -25.45‰, which is much lower than those in the top 28 cm and those in the bottom 34 cm. A larger mean grain size was also observed, with a stable value of 1.3 Φ, and TIC values were higher at between 10.95% and 11.26%. All of this data shows that this sediment unit may have been influenced by marine dynamic events, which changed the environment of Cattle Pond over a long period. At a depth of 19-28 cm, TN and TOC show increasing trends, and the caryopses reappear. The sediment is more affected by cow-dung and the δ¹³C remains at a low level. Above 19 cm (about 90 a BP), the TN and TOC values increase rapidly but with fluctuations, suggesting an increasing source of organic matter. An increasing trend in δ¹³C is related to the input of guano, which was caused by recovery of the sea bird population.
- TOC,
- δ¹³C,
- environmental change,
- human activity,
- Dongdao Island of Xisha Islands

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