Document Type

Article

Department/Program

Virginia Institute of Marine Science

Publication Date

2001

Journal

Limnology and Oceanography

Volume

46

Issue

3

First Page

655

Last Page

667

Abstract

We measured dissolved organic carbon (DOC), dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC), and their corresponding D14C and d13C values in order to study the sources and fates of DOC in the York River Estuary (Virginia, U.S.A.). The D14C and d13C values of DOC and DIC at the freshwater end-member indicate that during periods of moderate to high flow, riverine DOC entering the York was composed of decadal-aged terrestrially organic matter. In nearly all cases, DOC concentrations exceeded conservative mixing lines and were therefore indicative of a net DOC input flux from within the estuary that averaged 1.2 mM L21 d21 . The nonconservative behavior of DOC in the York River Estuary was also apparent in carbon isotopic mixing curves and the application of an isotopic mixing model. The model predicted that 20–38% of the DOC at the mouth of the estuary was of riverine (terrestrial 1 freshwater) origin, while 38–56% was added internally, depending on the isotopic values assigned to the internally added DOC. Measurements of D14C and d13C of DOC and DIC and marsh organic matter suggest that the internal sources originated from estuarine phytoplankton and marshes. The isotopic mixing model also indicates a significant concomitant loss (27–45%) of riverine DOC within the estuary. Changes in DOC concentration, D14C-DOC, and d13C-DOC were also measured during incubation experiments designed to quantify the amounts, sources, and ages of DOC supporting the carbon demands of estuarine bacteria. Results of these experiments were consistent with an estuarine source of phytoplankton and marsh DOC and the preferential utilization of young (14C-enriched) DOC in the low-salinity reaches of the York. However, the average removal of riverine DOC by bacteria accounts for only ;4–19% of the riverine pool; therefore, other significant sinks for DOC exist within the estuary.

DOI

10.4319/lo.2001.46.3.0655

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