Document Type

Article

Department/Program

Virginia Institute of Marine Science

Publication Date

2012

Journal

BRAZILIAN JOURNAL OF OCEANOGRAPHY

Volume

60

Issue

1

First Page

75

Last Page

87

Abstract

Sterol and fatty acid biomarkers and isotopic composition (delta 13C and delta 15N) of bulk organic matter (OM) were quantified in a sediment core to characterize the accumulation of autochthonous OM in an area on the continental shelf adjacent to Rio de Janeiro State. In the sediment surface (0-1 cm) the concentration of total sterols and fatty acids was at least one order of magnitude higher than that measured deeper down in the core and was dominated by labile and planktonic-derived biomarker compounds. These results suggest, as is confirmed by multivariate statistical analysis, the occurrence of an event of enhanced primary production in the water column and efficient export of particles to the bottom. Similar conditions have been observed at Cabo Frio, located 150 km to the north of our study site, during an upwelling event, suggesting that such events may exert a regional influence on primary production on the south-eastern Brazilian continental shelf. Beyond the signatures from this event, the presence of biomarker compounds from vascular plants suggests the additional influence of an outflow from Guanabara Bay at the study site. These results point to the need for further investigation of the relative influence of physical forcings and continental inputs on the biogeochemical processes on the section of the continental shelf considered in the present study.

Keywords

CABO FRIO BRAZIL; GUANABARA BAY; SURFACE SEDIMENTS; MARINE-SEDIMENTS; LIPID BIOMARKER; NORTHEASTERN TAIWAN; SURFICIAL SEDIMENTS; ATLANTIC-OCEAN; CARBON; PRESERVATION

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