• Ocean Science Journal
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• v.42 no.4
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• pp.223-230
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• 2007

To understand the origin and biogeochemistry of the organic matter in surface sediments of Lake Shihwa and Lake Hwaong, organic nitrogen, inorganic nitrogen, labile organic carbon, and residual organic carbon contents as well as stable isotope ratios for carbon and nitrogen were determined by KOBr-KOH treatment. Ratios of organic carbon to organic nitrogen $(C_{org}/N_{org})$ (mean = 24) were much higher than ratios of organic carbon to total nitrogen $(C_{org}/N_{tot})$ (mean= 12), indicating the presence of significant amounts of inorganic nitrogen in the surface sediments of both lakes. Stable isotope ratios for organic nitrogen were, on average, $5.2\%_{\circ}$ heavier than ratios of inorganic nitrogen in Lake Shihwa, but those same ratios were comparable in Lake Hwaong. This might be due to differences in the origin or the degree of degradation of sedimentary organic matter between the two lakes. In addition, stable isotope ratios for labile organic carbon were, on average, $1.4\%_{\circ}$ heavier than those for residual organic carbon, reflecting the preferential oxidation of $^{13}C$-enriched organic matter. The present study demonstrates that KOBr-KOH treatment of sedimentary organic matter can provide valuable information for understanding the origin and degradation state of organic matter in marine and brackish sediments. This also suggests that the ratio of $(C_{org}/N_{org})$ and stable isotope ratios for organic nitrogen can be used as indexes of the degree of degradation of organic matter.

• Journal of Korean Society on Water Environment
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• v.36 no.3
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• pp.194-205
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• 2020

The characteristics and behavior of dissolved organic matter (DOM) were determined by analyzing the molecular weight fractions and fluorescence properties of water samples in the downstream Nakdong River. Biogeochemical water quality parameters and fluorescent dissolved organic matter (FDOM) were analyzed at five sampling points in the downstream area of the Nakdong River January-August 2019. The molecular weight fractions of the DOM were separated by the Liquid Chromatography-Organic Carbon Detection (LC-OCD). The DOM predominantly comprised humic substances, followed by the building blocks, low molecular weight neutrals and biopolymers. The hydrophobic (aromatic) and hydrophilic properties were shown as coexisting, as most of the SUVA_254nm values were under four. The FDOM was characterized as humic-like (FDOM_H) with allochthonous origin and protein-like (FDOM_P) with autochthonous origin; the FDOM_H with autochthonous origin was also identified. The FDOM_H relies on the aromaticity of the allochthonous organic matter and increases during summer. The FDOM_H and FDOM_P, which depend on the biodegradable dissolved organic matter from phytoplankton, were highly fluorescent in winter. The allochthonous organic matter was the dominant factor contributing to the behavior of the DOM, externally introduced to the river by rainfall. The FDOM only minimally contributed to the behavior of the DOM. It can be explained as the seasonal characteristics of the DOM, varied by the source of the organic matter.

• Journal of Wetlands Research
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.59-65
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• 2020

The purpose of this study is to determine the origin of organic matter on sediment at Sindu-ri tidal flat. Grain size, organic matter, C/N ratio and the 13C and δ15N ratio were measured at three stations (Stn. A, B, C) of the tidal flat. As a result, the spatial variation in sediment properties showed that organic matter was related positively to the sediment mud content. Organic matters originating from marine particulate organic matter (marine POM) and fish farm particulate organic matter (fish farm POM) showed sedimentation of organic matters at Stn. A, sandy tidal flat, though terrestial plant (TP) and benthic microalgae (BMA) did at Stn.C, muddy tidal flat. Meanwhile, Stn. B, the intermediate property of Stn. A and C, was affected by marine POM and BMA. Furthermore, it was revealed that the amount and origin of organic matters in the sediments depended on spatial variation, and the factors were different from the stations. Particularly, at the Stn. C, the sediment showed high concentration of TOC in terrestrial organic matter and smaller size particles (< 63 ㎛). These facts suggest the many small size particles and organic matter will affect the sediment environmental condition in the Stn. C.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.19 no.9
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• pp.1083-1092
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• 2010

The spatial variability in the food chain structure of an estuary environment (Nanakita estuary, Japan) was investigated using fatty acid. Potential organic matter sources (terrestiral plants, macroalgae, benthic microalgae, dinflagellates and bacteria), sedimentary organic matters and benthic invertebrates (Nuttallia olivacea and Nereidae) were sampled in four locations with different tidal flat type. The main objective of the present study was to determine the origin of sediment and the food sources of N. olivacea and Nereidae along with small-scale spatial variability. The origin of sedimentary organic matters were mainly the fatty acid of bacteria and benthic microalgae. Especially, The organic matter of terrestrial plant origin was found the highest in station C. The diets of N. olivacea and Nereidae were found to be dominated by diatoms and terrestrial plants. Whereas, macroalgae and dinoflagellates showed little influence to benthic invertebrates. Moreover, according to principal component analysis, it is showed that benthic invertebrates in the same region are using the same food without relation with species. On the other hand, the N. olivacea and Nereidae of station D clearly contrasts with station B in terms of main food sources. From these results, it is suggested that food competition of benthic invertebrates revealed high a connection between small-scale spatial variability and food source in estuary.

• Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.77-82
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• 2012

The spatial variation of organic matter sources in tidal flat sediment of the Nanakita River estuary, involving Gamo lagoon on the north-east coast of Honshu Island, Japan, was examined using carbon stable isotopes and fatty acid biomarkers. The spatial variation of total organic carbon (TOC) contents and ${\delta}^{13}C$ values were highly variable in between the stations, such as sandy flat (1.3 mg/g, -21.0‰), sand-muddy flat (2.6 mg/g, -21.9‰), and muddy flat (24.9 mg/g, -25.9‰), respectively. Particularly, at the muddy flat, high TOC content and low ${\delta}^{13}C$ value of the sediments indicated that the surface sediment was composed largely of terrestrial organic matter. Whereas, at the sandy flat and sand-muddy flat, the high ratios of diatom and bacteria biomarkers indicated the high contribution of abundant microorganism along with marine organic matter in sediment composition. From these results, it considered that the amount and origin of transported sedimentary organic matter indicated different characteristics in this study stations.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.46 no.2
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• pp.175-184
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• 2013

Organic carbon and total nitrogen stable isotope ratios of suspended materials were determined at 3 stations (from Mongtan Bridge to Youngsan river estuary barrage) (n=6, each) from November 2008 to August 2009, in order to understand the origin of particulate organic matter at the Estuary of Youngsan River. Allochthonous organic matter, ammonia-N and silicate were increased after heavy rain (in August). Carbon isotope ratios were significantly different between stations in November and August, and it was possible to determine the origin of organic matter. The heavier nitrogen isotope ratios, as well as higher phosphate concentrations, were found in November than other sampling times. Livestock wastewater and farmland input was likely the main causes of these high values. In addition, YS3 station, the nearest site to estuary barrage, appears to be affected by a substantial amount of livestock wastewater and farmland input, considering that nitrogen isotope ratios were heavier than those at the upper sites. These results suggest that the analysis of stable isotope ratios is a simple but useful tool for the determination of organic matter origin in aquatic environments.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.12 no.7
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• pp.735-744
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• 2003

The field observations on a seasonal characteristic of organic matter and its origin in the surface sediment were carried out at 35 stations in Deukryang bay, southern coast of Korean Peninsula from May 1995 to February 1996. The analytical parameters were mud temperature, ignition loss(IL), chemical oxygen demand(COD), pheopigment, sulfide and water content. The origin and seasonal dynamics of organic matter in Deukryang Bay were analyzed by COD/IL, COD/sulfide ratio and principal component analysis(PCA). As a results of the mud temperature fluctuated between 2.1$^{\circ}C$ with the lowest mean 4.6$^{\circ}C$ in winter and 27.6$^{\circ}C$ with the highest mean 25.5$^{\circ}C$ in summer. The range of ignition loss(IL) was from 3.1% in autumn to 21.5% in winter. Chemical oxygen demand(COD) showed the highest mean value of 8.45 mg/g dry in spring within the range of 2.90∼18.21 mg/g dry, while it showed the lowest value of 4.33 mg/g dry in autumn within the range of 0.67∼10.37 mg/g dry. Pheopigments showed the highest mean value of 9.04 $\mu\textrm{g}$/g dry in autumn within the range of 1.36∼20.44 $\mu\textrm{g}$/g dry, while it did the lowest mean value of 2.20 $\mu\textrm{g}$/g dry in summer within the range of 0.33∼11.36 $\mu\textrm{g}$/g dry. The range of total sulfide (H$_2$S) was from no detect(ND) to 3.30 mg/g dry in spring. And water content showed the annual mean value of 43.6% within the range of 23.6∼54.9%. The source of organic matter by COD/IL and COD/sulfide ratio in Deukryang Bay had been producted by primary producer in sea water areas except the areas effected by small stream, domestic and animal wastes. And the analytical results of PCA was able to be divided into three different regions. The former was characterized by the shallow depth and authigenic organic matter from phytoplankton in northwest area and northeastern inner bay, the secondary was done by deeper depth and allochthonous one from lands in southeast area and eastern entrance of bay, and the latter was done by authigenic one from the farm of seaweeds such as, sea cabbage, sea mustard etc in western entrance of bay. But a study on the relationship between sulfide and COD concentration in the northeastern inner bay which was characterized by the water stagnation will to take much more studying including major constituents of organic matter in the future.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.9-16
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• 2010

The purpose of this study is to clarify the origin of organic matters on sediment and the characteristics of seasonal variation at an estuarine tidal flat. Silt-clay content (<63 ${\mu}m$), chlorophyll a, TOC, C/N ratio and the stable isotope ratio of carbon and nitrogen were measured at tidal flat around the estuary of the Nanakita River. As a result, organic matters originating from marine organic matter and bethic microalgae greatly contributed to sedimentation of organic matters at Stn.A, sandy tidal flat, though terrigenous organic matters did at Stn.C, muddy tidal flat. Furthermore, it was revealed that the volume and origin of organic matters in the sediments depended on seasonal variation, and the factors were different from the Stns, i.e. bentic microalgae and event for Stn.A, and the eventual sedimentation of organic matters originating from terrestrial plants, respectively.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.38 no.3 s.172
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• pp.335-346
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• 2005

In this study, core sediments and pore water were analysed to identify the origin of organic matter and Bas in late Quaternary sediments from the northwestern Ulleung Basin of the East Sea. C/N and C/S ratios in the sediments show that the organic matter in the study area originated predominantly from marine algae. However, the results of Rock-Eval pyrolysis indicate that the organic matter has an origin of the land-plant (Type III), locating in the immature stage. These different results might be due to the heavy oxidizing of the organic matter during sinking down to the seafloor or after deposition in the sediments. Concentration of sulfate in the pore water decreases gradually with core depth, while concentration of $CH_4$ increases gradually with core depth. This indicates that sulfate reduction and methanogenesis occurred actively in the sediments. Also, it is likely that the compositions of $CH_4$ are characterized as a more biogenic origin, mostly caused by microbial activity, rather than a thermogenic one.

• Ocean and Polar Research
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• v.43 no.2
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• pp.65-72
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• 2021

In order to evaluate the dissolved organic carbon (DOC) and fluorescent dissolved organic matter (FDOM), as indicators of organic matter in the coastal environments, we measured the concentrations of DOC, FDOM, and chemical oxygen demand (COD) in saline groundwater (Woljeong, Pyoseon, and Hwasun beaches) and coastal seawater (Haengwon, Gwideok, Pyoseon, and Yeongnak) in Jeju, Korea. The highest concentrations of DOC and COD in groundwater were found in Woljeong and Pyoseon, and those in coastal water were observed in Haengwon and Pyoseon, indicating that the higher concentrations of DOC and COD seem to be associated with saline groundwater-driven dissolved organic matter (DOM) and/or biogeochemical processes. According to origin and optical properties of DOM using FDOM as a tracer, proportion of humic-like FDOM, more refractory DOM, was relatively greater in the groundwater than in the coastal water. With regard to this result, there was no relationship between DOC and COD in groundwater, while DOC showed a good positive correlation (r² = 0.66) with COD in coastal water. This result indicates that COD as an indicator of assessment of DOM has a limitation in which it is difficult to quantify refractory DOM. Although DOC is a potential alternative to COD in the coastal environments, particulate organic carbon cannot be negligible due to relatively higher concentration compared to the open ocean. Therefore, the use of total organic carbon (TOC) as a replacement of COD in the coastal ocean is important, and the evaluation criterion of the TOC is necessary in order to evaluate of organic matter indicator in the various coastal environments.