Organic material/matter preferential removal

A comparison of organic matter (OM) components in cores from Dabob Bay (oxic bottom waters) and Saanich Inlet (anoxic bottom waters) indicates that 02 availability ultimately has little or no independent effect on OM preservation in these environments (Cowie Hedges, 1992). Comparative analyses of organic compounds in sediment traps and bottom sediments from Saanich Inlet indicates that the anoxic benthic interface is an important site of diagenesis, and that selective removal takes place at both compound-class and molecular levels (Cowie etal., 1992). Preferential loss of marine organic material is indicated by the calculated delta-C-13 value and biochemical composition of the substrate. 

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