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深海沉积物中的生物扰动及其对碳埋藏的影响

Bioturbation in deep-sea sediments and its impact on carbon burial

  • 摘要: 热带太平洋海底蕴藏着丰富的多金属矿物,深海采矿对环境的影响广受关注。研究该海域的生物扰动过程及其对深层沉积物的有机碳输送,有助于定量了解深海底栖生态系统的物质流动和生态环境,为准确评价矿物开采可能引起的环境效应提供基线参数。本研究通过分析位于热带西北太平洋山间盆地地区、东太平洋多金属结核区和中东太平洋热带区域(约5000 m水深)6根沉积物柱样中的210Pb和226Ra放射性活度,利用稳态扩散模型估算了研究区域的生物扰动系数(DB)和混合深度(L)。结果显示,DB范围为11.55~81.52 cm2/a,平均值为(40.53±4.72) cm2/a;L范围为19.30~51.28 cm,平均值为(36.16±0.07) cm,高于全球平均值。DBL值的变化范围较大主要由大型底栖生物分布不均造成。在其中3根柱样中,过剩210Pb(210Pbex)比活度与总有机碳(TOC)含量呈线性正相关关系,基于此建立了TOC由表层向深层输送的一维模型,计算得出TOC通过生物扰动以0.09~1.14 mmol/(cm2·a)的输送通量向深层传递。

     

    Abstract: The tropical Pacific seafloor hosts abundant polymetallic minerals and the environmental of deep-sea mining has attracted widespread attention. Investigating bioturbation in this region and its influence on organic carbon transportation to deeper sediments can enhance our quantitative understanding of material flux and ecological dynamics deep-sea benthic ecosystems. Additionally it provides baseline parameters for accessing the environmental impacts of deep sea mining activities. Radioactivity levels of 210Pb and 226Ra were measured to evaluate the bioturbation coefficients (DB) and mixing depths (L) in six sediment cores from intermountain basin area of the tropical northwest Pacific, the East Pacific polymetallic nodule zone, and the 10°N area of the central east Pacific (approximately 5000 m depth). DB values in the studied cores were estimated with a steady-state diffusion mode and varied over a wide range from 11.55 to 81.52 cm2/a with an average of (40.53±4.72) cm2/a, while L values ranged from 19.30 to 51.28 cm, with an average of (36.16±0.07) cm, both exceeding global averages. Such wide variability of DB and L values is mainly attributed to the uneven distribution of macrobenthos. In three of these cores, the excess 210Pb (210Pbex) shows a linear positive correlation with the total organic carbon (TOC) content. Thus, a one-dimensional model for the transport of TOC from the surface layer of sediments to the deep layers was established. The TOC flux transmitted downward by bioturbation varied between 0.09 and 1.14 mmol/(cm2·a).

     

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