Distribution and sources of sedimentary organic matter in different aquaculture areas of northeastern Zhanjiang Bay using stable carbon and nitrogen isotopes

Fengxia Zhou; Shuangling Wang; Han Fang; Jiani He; Liang Ye; Zhaohai Ding; Cuiting Li; Fajin Chen; Xuan Lu; Chunqing Chen; Yafei Meng

doi:10.1007/s13131-024-2377-9

Volume 43 Issue 6

Jun. 2024

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Article Navigation > Acta Oceanologica Sinica > 2024 > 43(6): 38-48

Fengxia Zhou, Shuangling Wang, Han Fang, Jiani He, Liang Ye, Zhaohai Ding, Cuiting Li, Fajin Chen, Xuan Lu, Chunqing Chen, Yafei Meng. Distribution and sources of sedimentary organic matter in different aquaculture areas of northeastern Zhanjiang Bay using stable carbon and nitrogen isotopes[J]. Acta Oceanologica Sinica, 2024, 43(6): 38-48. doi: 10.1007/s13131-024-2377-9

Citation:

Fengxia Zhou, Shuangling Wang, Han Fang, Jiani He, Liang Ye, Zhaohai Ding, Cuiting Li, Fajin Chen, Xuan Lu, Chunqing Chen, Yafei Meng. Distribution and sources of sedimentary organic matter in different aquaculture areas of northeastern Zhanjiang Bay using stable carbon and nitrogen isotopes[J]. Acta Oceanologica Sinica, 2024, 43(6): 38-48. doi: 10.1007/s13131-024-2377-9

Citation:

Fengxia Zhou, Shuangling Wang, Han Fang, Jiani He, Liang Ye, Zhaohai Ding, Cuiting Li, Fajin Chen, Xuan Lu, Chunqing Chen, Yafei Meng. Distribution and sources of sedimentary organic matter in different aquaculture areas of northeastern Zhanjiang Bay using stable carbon and nitrogen isotopes[J]. Acta Oceanologica Sinica, 2024, 43(6): 38-48. doi: 10.1007/s13131-024-2377-9

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Distribution and sources of sedimentary organic matter in different aquaculture areas of northeastern Zhanjiang Bay using stable carbon and nitrogen isotopes

doi: 10.1007/s13131-024-2377-9

Fengxia Zhou^{1, 2, 3},
Shuangling Wang^{1, 2, 3},
Han Fang^{1, 2, 3},
Jiani He^{1, 2, 3},
Liang Ye^{1, 2, 3},
Zhaohai Ding^{1, 2, 3},
Cuiting Li^{1, 2, 3},
Fajin Chen^{1, 2, 3
,
,},
Xuan Lu^{1, 2, 3},
Chunqing Chen^{1, 2, 3},
Yafei Meng^{1, 2, 3}

1.
College of Ocean and Meteorology, Guangdong Ocean University, Zhanjiang 524088, China
2.
Key Laboratory for Coastal Ocean Variation and Disaster Prediction, Guangdong Ocean University, Zhanjiang 524088, China
3.
Key Laboratory of Climate, Resources and Environment in Continental Shelf Sea and Deep Sea of Department of Education of Guangdong Province, Guangdong Ocean University, Zhanjiang 524088, China

Funds: The National Natural Science Foundation of China under contract No. 42276047; the Guangdong Basic and Applied Basic Research Foundation under contract Nos 2023A1515110473 and 2021A1515110172; the Program for Scientific Research Start-up Funds of Guangdong Ocean University under contract No. R17058; the National College Student Innovation and Entrepreneurship Training Program Project under contract No. 202310566007.

More Information

Corresponding author: fjchen@gdou.edu.cn
Received Date: 2023-11-15
Accepted Date: 2024-05-07

Available Online: 2024-07-22

Publish Date: 2024-06-30

Abstract

Abstract

Zhanjiang Bay is a major aquaculture area in China with many types of mariculture products (such as oysters, fish, and shrimp). The culture area and shrimp output in Zhanjiang Bay are ranked first in China. We investigated the total organic carbon (TOC), total nitrogen (TN), TOC/TN ratio, and stable isotopes (δ¹³C and δ¹⁵N) of the fish and shrimp feed, fish and shrimp feces, and sedimentary organic matter (SOM) in and around different aquaculture areas of northeastern Zhanjiang Bay to study the impact of aquaculture activities on SOM. The average TOC contents of fish and shrimp feed were 39.20% ± 0.91% and 39.29% ± 0.21%, respectively. The average TOC content in the surface sediments of the oyster culture area, the mixed (fish and shrimp) culture area, and the cage fish farm area were 0.66%, 0.88% ± 0.10%, and 0.58% ± 0.19%, respectively, which may indicate that mixed culture had a greater impact on SOM. The relatively high TOC and TN contents and relatively low TOC/TN ratios, and δ¹⁵N values in the upper layer of the core sediment in the mixed culture area could also support the significant influence of mixed culture. The average δ¹³C and δ¹⁵N values of fish and shrimp feed were −20.6‰ ± 2.2‰ and 1.8‰ ± 1.2‰, respectively, which were different from the isotopic values of SOM in the study area. δ¹³C and δ¹⁵N values for SOM in different aquaculture areas were different from those of nearby reference stations, probably reflecting the influence of aquaculture. The δ¹³C and δ¹⁵N values in the oyster culture area (−25.9‰ and 6.0‰, respectively) seemed to have reduced δ¹³C and enriched δ¹⁵N relative to those of the reference station (−24.6‰ and 5.8‰, respectively). This may reflect the influence of organic matter on oyster culture. The δ¹⁵N value of the station in the mixed culture area (7.1‰ ± 0.4‰) seemed to be relatively enriched in δ¹⁵N relative to that of the reference station (6.6‰). Sedimentation and the subsequent degradation of organic matter from mixed cultures may have contributed to this phenomenon. The surface sediment at the cage fish farm area seemed to be affected by fish feces and primary production based on the indication of δ¹³C and δ¹⁵N values. The sediment core at the mixed culture region (NS6) had lower TOC/TN ratios and more positive δ¹³C and δ¹⁵N values than the sediment core at the oyster culture area, suggesting a higher proportionate contribution of marine organic matter in the mixed culture area. In summary, oyster culture, mixed culture, and cage fish culture in northeastern Zhanjiang Bay had a certain degree of impact on SOM, and mixed culture had more significant influences on SOM based on the high TOC contents and the significant vertical variations of TOC/TN ratio and δ¹⁵N value in the sediment of this area. This study provides new insights into the impact of aquaculture activities on SOM content.
- sedimentary organic matter,
- aquaculture,
- stable isotopes,
- sources,
- Zhanjiang Bay

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