Organic matter sources

Continuum of metabolic strategies. AnAnP, anaerobic anoxygenic photosynthesis OP, oxygenic photosynthesis AAnP, aerobic anoxygenic photosynthesis RP/PC, rhodopsin and other pigments HT, heterotroph DOM, dissolved organic matter. Source-. From Filer, A. (2006). Applied Environmental MIoroblology, 42(12), 7431-7437. 

Biomarkers Tracers of Organic Matter Source and History... 

A conceptual model Illustrating the pathways by which sedimenting POM is transformed into molecularly uncharacterizable organic matter. Source-. From Burdige, D. J. (2006). Geochemistry of Marine Sediments. Princeton University Press. 

Standley LJ, Kaplan LA, Smith D, Molecular tracers of organic matter sources to surface water resources. Environ Sci Technol 34 3124—3130, 2000. 

Organic systems rely on the application of organic amendments, green manures and other organic matter sources with the dual purpose of ... 

Hedges, J. I., W. A. Clark, and G. L. Cowie. 1988. Organic matter sources to the water column and surficial sediments of a marine bay. Limnology and Oceanography 33 1116-1136. 

Meyers, P. A., and Ishiwatari, R. (1993). Lacustrine organic geochemistry—An overview of indicators of organic matter sources and diagenesis in lake sediments. Org. Geochem. 20, 867-900. 

Imai, A., Fukushima, T., Matsushige, K., and Kim, Y. H. (2001). Fractionation and characterization of dissolved organic matter in a shallow eutrophic lake, its inflowing rivers, and other organic matter sources. Water Res. 35, 4019-4028. 

VanGenderen, E.J., Ryan, A.C., Tomasso, J.R. and Klaine, S.J. (2003) Influence of dissolved organic matter source on silver toxicity to Pimephales promelas, Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry 22 (11), 2746-2751. 

Table 9.2 Published ranges of isotope values of potential organic matter sources to estuaries.

Due to the complexity of organic matter sources in estuaries and the aforementioned problems associated with making only bulk measurements to constrain them, the application of chemical biomarkers has become widespread in estuarine research (see review, Bianchi and Canuel, 2001). The term biomarker molecule has recently been defined by Meyers (2003, p. 262) as compounds that characterize certain biotic sources and that retain their source information after burial in sediments, even after some alteration. This molecular information is more specific and sensitive than bulk elemental and isotopic techniques in characterizing sources of organic matter, and further allows for identification of multiple sources (Meyers, 1997, 2003). 

Canuel et al., 1997). This recurring theme of overlapping sterol markers in different organic matter sources indicates that caution should be advised when using sterols solely to distinguish between land and aquatic sources (Volkman, 1986 Jaffe et al., 2001). Instead, biomarker source identifications should be corroborated across lipid compound classes and using bulk and compound-specific isotope analysis. 

In recent years there have been significant improvements in our ability to distinguish between organic matter sources in estuaries using tools such as elemental, isotopic (bulk and compound/class specific), and chemical biomarker methods. 

Branched and cyclic hydrocarbons have also been used as paleomarkers, principally in lake sediments, to interpret past changes in organic matter sources. In particular, isoprenoid hydrocarbons such as pristane (C19 isoprenoid hydrocarbon) and phytane (C20 isoprenoid hydrocarbon) (both derived from phytol) have been used as indicators of herbivorous grazing and methanogenesis, respectively. 

Long-chain fatty acids saturated fatty acids (>C22) that are generally thought to be indicative of terrestrial organic matter sources. 

Bianchi, T.S., Findlay, S., and Dawson, R. (1993) Organic matter sources in the water column and sediments of the Hudson River estuary the use of plant pigments as tracers. Estuar. Coastal Shelf Sci. 36, 359-376. 

DeMaster, D.J., Thomas, C.J., Blair, N.E., Fornes, W.L., Plaia, G., and Levin, L.A. (2002) Deposition of bomb 14C in continental slope sediments of the Mid-Atlantic Bight assessing organic matter sources and burial rates. Deep-Sea Res. II. 49, 4667-4685. 

De Schamphelaere K., Vasconcelos F., Tack F., Allen H.E., Janssen C. (2004) Effect of dissolved organic matter source on acute copper toxicity to Daphnia magna. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry 23(5) 1248-1255. 

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