Search

Land-ocean interactions play an important role in transporting and accumulating organic carbon (OC) in marine sediments. Understanding sources (terrestrial, marine and anthropogenic contributions) of sedimentary OC are important to better evaluate the processes controlling the OC distribution in coastal zones. In this study, we present bulk parameters of total organic carbon (TOC), total nitrogen (TN), stable carbon isotopic composition (δ13Corg) and biomarker contents in surface sediments from the Dagu River-estuary-marine system in the Jiaozhou Bay. Comparison between OC/N ratios and δ13Corg indicated significant C4 plant contribution to the sedimentary OC, which was approximately equal to C3 plant contribution in this study. Generally, terrestrial biomarkers contents were high in the river and showed a decreasing trend towards the estuary and inner bay. Marine biomarkers displayed opposite spatial distribution patterns with terrestrial biomarkers except for the brassicasterol that also has a terrestrial/fluvial source. The universal detection of petroleum and sewage biomarkers revealed the significant anthropogenic influence on the sedimentary OC in our study. Principal component analysis-multiple linear regression (PCA-MLR) was performed to quantitatively estimate the OC contributions in the Jiaozhou Bay, showing that anthropogenic activities contributed 77.6% and 29.9% to the sedimentary OC in Dagu River and outside the Dagu River (the estuary and the inner Bay), respectively. Further studies need to be carried out to test this approach in broader regions.

Phytoplankton productivity and community structure in the East China Sea (ECS) play an important role in marine ecology and carbon cycle, but both have been changing rapidly in response to recent oceanic and atmospheric circulation changes. However, the lack of long-term records of phytoplankton productivity and community structure variability in the region hinders our understanding of natural forcing mechanisms. Here, we use the phytoplankton biomarker (brassicasterol, dinosterol and alkenones) contents as well as the ratios between these biomarkers in three sediment cores from the ECS shelf to reconstruct the spatiotemporal variations of productivity and community of diatoms, dinoflagellates and coccolithophores during the Holocene, respectively. During 9–7 ka, the ECS shelf was characterized by low phytoplankton productivity with low coccolithophore contribution, caused by the oligotrophic condition mainly owing to the restricted Kuroshio Current (KC) intrusion under low sea-level conditions, thus the lack of nutrient input. Phytoplankton productivity generally increased during 7–4.6 ka, in response to the initial intrusion of the Yellow Sea Warm Current (YSWC, a branch of the KC), bringing nutrient from the subsurface KC to the upper layer of the ECS for phytoplankton growth. Phytoplankton productivity continuously increased during 4.6–1 ka, due to an enhanced circulation system (YSWC and Yellow Sea Coastal Current (YSCC)) driven by strong East Asia Winter Monsoon (EAWM). Significantly, high alkenone contents and coccolithophore contribution in the eastern core F11A was associated with its location closer to the warm and saline YSWC, which was suitable for coccolithophore growth. Beyond diagenetic processes which could partly account for higher biomarker contents near core tops, elevated phytoplankton productivity during the last 1 ka might be induced by more nutrient supply from the intensified circulation system driven by enhanced KC and anthropogenic activities. The latter also resulted in high dinoflagellate proportions in all three cores. These temporal and spatial changes of phytoplankton productivity and community structure in the ECS during the Holocene corresponded to different mechanisms by the air-sea interaction, providing insights into distinguishing natural forcing and anthropogenic influences on marine ecology.

To evaluate the present sea ice changes in a longer‐term perspective, the knowledge of sea ice variability on preindustrial and geological time scales is essential. For the interpretation of proxy reconstructions it is necessary to understand the recent signals of different sea ice proxies from various regions. We present 260 new sediment surface samples collected in the (sub‐)Arctic Oceans that were analyzed for specific sea ice (IP25) and open‐water phytoplankton biomarkers (brassicasterol, dinosterol, and highly branched isoprenoid [HBI] III). This new biomarker data set was combined with 615 previously published biomarker surface samples into a pan‐Arctic database. The resulting pan‐Arctic biomarker and sea ice index (PIP25) database shows a spatial distribution correlating well with the diverse modern sea ice concentrations. We find correlations of PBIP25, PDIP25, and PIIIIP25 with spring and autumn sea ice concentrations. Similar correlations with modern sea ice concentrations are observed in Baffin Bay. However, the correlations of the PIP25 indices with modern sea ice concentrations differ in Fram Strait from those of the (sub‐)Arctic data set, which is likely caused by region‐specific differences in sea ice variability, nutrient availability, and other environmental conditions. The extended (sea ice) biomarker database strengthens the validity of biomarker sea ice reconstructions in different Arctic regions and shows how different sea ice proxies combined may resolve specific seasonal sea ice conditions., Key Points: IP25 provides information about modern sea ice cover on a (sub‐)Arctic‐wide scale. All PIP25 indices correlate well with spring and autumn sea ice concentrations on a (sub‐)Arctic‐wide scale. The combination of biomarker data and dinoflagellate cysts may yield an approach to reconstruct sea ice conditions during different seasons., EC | Seventh Framework Programme (FP7) http://dx.doi.org/10.13039/100011102, European Research Council http://dx.doi.org/10.13039/501100000781, Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) http://dx.doi.org/10.13039/501100001659

The Holocene environment evolution in the East China Sea (ECS) is characterized by the gradual establishment and strengthening of its shelf circulation system, but knowledge about temperature responses in temporal and spatial scales is limited due to the lack of continuous high-resolution records. Here, we compare U-37(K') and TEX86 temperature records for three cores from the ECS shelf, which provide the temporal and spatial patterns of Holocene temperature structure variations. These temperature records revealed broadly consistent temporal trends with three intervals characterized by two distinct shifts. During the early Holocene (10.0-6.0 ka), the modern-type circulation system was not established, which resulted in strong water column stratification; and the higher sea surface temperature (SST) might be associated with the Holocene Thermal Maximum (HTM). The interval of 6.0 to 1.0/2.0 ka displayed a weaker stratification caused by the intrusion of the Yellow Sea Warm Current (YSWC) and the initiation of the circulation system. A decreasing SST trend was related to the formation of the cold eddy generated by the circulation system in the ECS. During 1.0/2.0 to 0 ka, temperatures were characterized by much weaker stratification and an abrupt decrease of SST caused by the enhanced circulation system and stronger cold eddy, respectively. Thus, the temperature structure in the shelf of ECS was closely related with circulation system changes during the mid-late Holocene, which was most likely driven by the intrusion of Kuroshio Current (KC). The significant asynchrony of temperature decreases in the three locations during the late Holocene was likely caused by the gradual expansion of the ECS cold eddy area.

We present lipid biomarker records of two cores (ZY1 and ZY3) from the central South Yellow Sea mud area to investigate the changes in sources and transport processes of the sedimentary organic matter (OM) throughout the Holocene. Based on the analysis of marine biomarker content ( S PB (Phytoplankton Biomarker, total content of brassicasterol, dinosterol and C37-alkenones) and crenarchaeol), and terrestrial biomarkers ( S n -alkanols and brGDGTs) as well as TMBR′ and BIT index values, the marine organic matter (MOM) and terrestrial organic matter (TOM) deposition history was reconstructed. Changes in TOM and MOM were related to variations in land vegetation density and marine productivity, as well as transport processes dominated by the oceanic circulation system. The marine biomarker contents from the South Yellow Sea have generally increased throughout the Holocene, indicating that the increased MOM contents were mainly controlled by the strengthening of the circulation system. The terrestrial biomarkers, on the other hand, were more variable, indicating more complex influence of TOM burial in the Yellow Sea. During the Early Holocene (7200–6000 cal yr BP), the moderate TOM input revealed by the terrestrial proxy records may result from abundant land source supply by strong river transport despite the lack of transport via circulation system. The Mid-Holocene (6000–3000 cal yr BP) was characterized by decreased terrestrial biomarker contents. The balance between the decrease in land source supply and increase of transportation by the current system of the TOM resulted in the lower but stable contents of TOM. During the Late Holocene (3000 cal yr BP to present), the TOM deposition in the South Yellow Sea increased as the current system was further enhanced and thus transported more TOM to the central South Yellow Sea, although the land supply of TOM was further reduced.

In this study, organic geochemical analyses of two sediment cores (BL16 and LV63–23) recovered from the western Bering Sea were carried out to examine the sea-ice variability and its relationship to phytoplankton community evolution over the past century. Bulk stable organic carbon isotopic composition (δ13CTOC) showed pronounced depletion on the northern shelf since the late 1970s, indicating greater terrigenous organic matter (OM) under warming during recent decades. Variation in sedimentary OM in the southward core was closely associated with marine primary productivity and regional deposition processes. Arctic sea-ice proxy IP25 throughout the two cores with different temporal profile patterns demonstrated sea-ice presence with the spatio-temporal variability across the study area over the past century. The phytoplankton marker-IP25 index (PIP25), a proxy for estimating semi-quantitatively sea-ice concentrations, reflected a decreased sea-ice cover with more distinct interannual fluctuations between 0.7 and 0.2 (especially in core BL16) after the late 1970s, coinciding with the recent warming scenario. Increased concentrations of phytoplankton biomarkers (brassicasterol and dinosterol) and their ratios as well as the PIP25 record in core BL16 indicated a synchronous variability of reduced sea-ice cover with the enhancement of phytoplankton productivity since the late 1970s. These results suggested a coupled interaction of the sea-ice condition and planktonic ecosystem in the north Bering shelf. Our results also revealed recent (since the 2000s) spatial heterogeneity in sea-ice coverage between the northern and southern parts of the Bering Sea.

Intertidal zones are the main sites for land-ocean interaction and play an important role in transporting and accumulating organic carbon (OC). Understanding sources and preservation of sedimentary OC are vital to better evaluate the processes controlling the OC distribution in intertidal zones. In this study, we present bulk parameters of total organic carbon (TOC), δ13Corg, grain size and biomarker contents in surface sediments of 14 typical intertidal zones along China’s coastline during both the wet season (WS) and the dry season (DS). Statistical analysis of our data set showed that TOC and biomarker contents were generally high in small estuaries, intermediate but more variable in large estuaries and low in non-estuaries; and these distribution patterns broadly correlated with sedimentary clay contents. TOC and biomarker contents were generally higher in the WS than the DS reflecting both OC inputs and preservation. A binary mixing model based on δ13Corg and biomarker proxies revealed that large estuaries were characterized by higher terrestrial OC fractions (62–80%) except for the Yellow River Estuary (24%), while lower terrestrial OC fractions occurred in non-estuaries (13–15%). Variable OC contributions were found in small estuaries, with most sites characterized by low terrestrial OC contributions (3–35%), but high terrestrial OC contributions were found at the Qiantang River Estuary site (59%) and the Jiulong River Estuary site (67%). Carbon stocks in Chinese intertidal sediments are comparable with those in marine sediments from shelf areas and the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). This study suggests that intertidal sediments are potentially an important carbon sink.

There is a data gap on occurrence and transport of antibiotics in river-estuary system, with limited understanding of their impact on aquatic environment. To gain insight into the antibiotic pollution in river-estuary system, 22 surface sediments and 5 wetland plants from Yang River and its estuary in Jiaozhou Bay were selected to explore the occurrence and transport of eight quinotone antibiotics (QNs), and their impacts on aquatic environment. Our results indicated that QNs were widely present in the sediments from Yang River and its estuary, with a range of 1.34–8.69 ng/g (average 4.46 ng/g) in Yang River and 0.99–10.86 ng/g (average 3.92 ng/g) in its estuary, respectively. No obvious correlations were observed between QNs values and TOC contents in sediments from our study area, due to low detective concentrations and frequencies of QNs. The mass loading of individual antibiotic from Yang River to its estuary was from 11.73 to 391.59 g/year, far below those from the other estuarine regions all over the world. QNs were observed in all five wetland plants, demonstrating that QNs contaminants could be taken up by wetland plants and providing the evidence that phytoremediation could be a feasible way to remove contaminants. Negative partial coefficients between individual antibiotic and brassicasterol biomarker suggested the presence of QNs inhibited the phytoplankton growth. Evaluation of ecological risk based on the values of risk quotients (RQs) showed that OFL in Yang River displayed medium risk for algae, and CIP and OFL in its estuary also displayed medium risk value for plant and algae. The results could provide powerful basis on controlling river antibiotics pollution to enhance rivers-estuary security in similar regions.

Using the sea ice proxy IP25 and phytoplankton-derived biomarkers (brassicasterol and dinosterol) Arctic sea-ice conditions were reconstructed for Marine Isotope Stage (MIS) 3 to 1 - with special emphasis on the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM) - in sediment cores from the northern Barents Sea continental margin across the Central Arctic Ocean to the Southern Mendeleev Ridge. Our results suggest more extensive sea-ice cover than present-day during latter part of MIS 3, increasing sea-ice growth during MIS 2 and decreased sea-ice cover during the last deglacial. The summer ice edge remained north of the Barents Sea even during extremely cold (i.e., Last Glacial Maximum (LGM)) as well as warm periods (i.e., Bolling-Allerod). During the LGM, the western Svalbard margin and the northern Barents Sea margin areas were characterized by high concentrations of both IP25 and phytoplankton biomarkers, interpreted as a productive ice-edge situation, caused by the inflow of warm Atlantic Water. In contrast, the LGM Central Arctic Ocean (north of 84°N) was covered by thick permanent sea ice throughout the year with rare break-up, indicated by zero or near-zero biomarker concentrations. The spring/summer sea-ice margin significantly extended southwards to the Laptev Sea shelf (southern Lomonosov Ridge) and southern Mendeleev Ridge during the LGM. Our proxy reconstructions are very consistent with published model results based on the North Atlantic/Arctic Ocean Sea Ice Model (NAOSIM).

Records of the spatial and temporal variability of Arctic Ocean sea ice are of significance for understanding the causes of the dramatic decrease in Arctic sea-ice cover of recent years. In this context, the newly developed sea-ice proxy IP25, a mono-unsaturated highly branched isoprenoid alkene with 25 carbon atoms biosynthesized specifically by sea-ice associated diatoms and only found in Arctic and sub-Arctic marine sediments, has been used to reconstruct the recent spatial sea-ice distribution. The phytoplankton biomarkers 24S-brassicasterol and dinosterol were determined alongside IP25 to distinguish ice-free or permanent ice conditions, and to estimate the sea-ice conditions semi-quantitatively by means of the phytoplankton-IP25 index (PIP25). Within our study, for the first time a comprehensive data set of these biomarkers was produced using fresh and deep-frozen surface sediment samples from the Central Arctic Ocean proper (>80°N latitude) characterised by a permanent ice cover today and recently obtained surface sediment samples from the Chukchi Plateau/Basin partly covered by perennial sea ice. In addition, published and new data from other Arctic and sub-Arctic regions were added to generate overview distribution maps of IP25 and phytoplankton biomarkers across major parts of the modern Arctic Ocean. These comprehensive biomarker data indicate perennial sea-ice cover in the Central Arctic, ice-free conditions in the Barents Sea and variable sea-ice situations in other marginal seas. The low but more than zero values of biomarkers in the Central Arctic supported the low in-situ productivity there. The PIP25 index values reflect modern sea-ice conditions better than IP25 alone and show a positive correlation with spring/summer sea ice. When calculating and interpreting PIP25 index as a (semi-quantitative) proxy for reconstructions of present and past Arctic sea-ice conditions from different Arctic/sub-Arctic areas, information of the source of phytoplankton biomarkers and the possible presence of allochthonous biomarkers is needed, and the records of the individual biomarkers always should be considered as well.

Sea–ice conditions on the North Icelandic shelf constitute a key component for the study of the climatic gradients between the Arctic and the North Atlantic Oceans at the Polar Front between the cold East Icelandic Current delivering Polar surface water and the relatively warm Irminger Current derived from the North Atlantic Current. The variability of sea ice contributes to heat reduction (albedo) and gas exchange between the ocean and the atmosphere, and further affects the deep-water formation. However, lack of long-term and high-resolution sea–ice records in the region hinders the understanding of palaeoceanographic change mechanisms during the last glacial–interglacial cycle. Here, we present a sea–ice record back to 15 ka (cal. ka BP) based on the sea–ice biomarker IP25, phytoplankton biomarker brassicasterol and terrestrial biomarker long-chain n-alkanols in piston core MD99-2272 from the North Icelandic shelf. During the Bølling/Allerød (14.7–12.9 ka), the North Icelandic shelf was characterized by extensive spring sea–ice cover linked to reduced flow of warm Atlantic Water and dominant Polar water influence, as well as strong meltwater input in the area. This pattern showed an anti-phase relationship with the ice-free/less ice conditions in marginal areas of the eastern Nordic Seas, where the Atlantic Water inflow was strong, and contributed to an enhanced deep-water formation. Prolonged sea–ice cover with occasional occurrence of seasonal sea ice prevailed during the Younger Dryas (12.9–11.7 ka) interrupted by a brief interval of enhanced Irminger Current and deposition of the Vedde Ash, as opposed to abruptly increased sea–ice conditions in the eastern Nordic Seas. The seasonal sea ice decreased gradually from the Younger Dryas to the onset of the Holocene corresponding to increasing insolation. Ice-free conditions and sea surface warming were observed for the Early Holocene, followed by expansion of sea ice during the Mid-Holocene.

Studies of spatial and temporal changes in modern and past sea-ice occurrence may help to understand the processes controlling the recent decrease in Arctic sea-ice cover. Here, we determined concentrations of IP25, a novel biomarker proxy for sea ice developed in recent years, phytoplankton-derived biomarkers (brassicasterol and dinosterol) and terrigenous biomarkers (campesterol and β-sitosterol) in the surface sediments from the Kara and Laptev seas to estimate modern spatial (seasonal) sea-ice variability and organic-matter sources. C25-HBI dienes and trienes were determined as additional palaeoenvironmental proxies in the study area. Furthermore, a combined phytoplankton-IP25 biomarker approach (PIP25 index) is used to reconstruct the modern sea-ice distribution more quantitatively. The terrigenous biomarkers reach maximum concentrations in the coastal zones and estuaries, reflecting the huge discharge by the major rivers Ob, Yenisei and Lena. Maxima in phytoplankton biomarkers indicating increased primary productivity were found in the seasonally ice-free central part of the Kara and Laptev seas. Neither \{IP25\} nor PIP25, however, shows a clear and simple correlation with satellite sea-ice distribution in our study area due to the complex environmental conditions in our study area and the transportation process of sea-ice diatom in the water column. Differences in the diene/IP25 and triene/IP25 ratios point to different sources of these \{HBIs\} and different environmental conditions. The diene/IP25 ratio seems to correlate positively with sea-surface temperature, while negatively with salinity distributions.

In the Arctic, under-ice primary production is limited to summer months and is restricted not only by ice thickness and snow cover but also by the stratification of the water column, which constrains nutrient supply for algal growth. Research Vessel Polarstern visited the ice-covered eastern-central basins between 82° to 89°N and 30° to 130°E in summer 2012, when Arctic sea ice declined to a record minimum. During this cruise, we observed a widespread deposition of ice algal biomass of on average 9 grams of carbon per square meter to the deep-sea floor of the central Arctic basins. Data from this cruise will contribute to assessing the effect of current climate change on Arctic productivity, biodiversity, and ecological function.