Article
Soil Science
Tibor Filep, Dora Zach, Gergely Jakab, Zoltan Szalai
Summary: This study investigated the chemical composition of dissolved and particulate organic matter (DOM and POM) in forest soils using various spectroscopy techniques. The results showed that soil parameters, such as pH and silt content, have a significant impact on the chemical composition of DOM and POM. Additionally, a strong correlation was found between the chemical composition of POM and DOM.
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Ronan Guillossou, Julien Le Roux, Angelique Goffin, Romain Mailler, Gilles Varrault, Emmanuelle Vulliet, Catherine Morlay, Fabrice Nauleau, Sabrina Guerin, Vincent Rocher, Johnny Gasperi
Summary: This study investigated the potential of fluorescence spectroscopy in monitoring the removal of organic micropollutants (OMPs) by activated carbon (AC) adsorption in industrial scale wastewater treatment. Different operational conditions and physico-chemical properties of OMPs affected the removal efficiency. Positive correlations were found between fluorescence indexes and OMP removal, with higher correlation coefficients compared to UV254, indicating the promising application of fluorescence spectroscopy.
Article
Geochemistry & Geophysics
Christoph Spoetl, Yuri Dublyansky, Gabriella Koltai, Charlotte Honiat, Lukas Plan, Thomas Angerer
Summary: This study demonstrates that geochemical analysis of cave wall rock samples can identify hypogene karstification and provide further insights into the temperature and provenance of paleowater, as well as the source of its dissolved inorganic carbon.
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Liyang Yang, Yu Chen, Jiajun Lei, Zhuoyi Zhu
Summary: Sediment organic matter plays an important role in the biogeochemical cycling of carbon, nutrients, and pollutants in the coastal environment, which is increasingly affected by aquaculture activities. However, it is challenging to identify aquaculture signals in sediment organic matter in complex coastal environments. This study used multiple analytical methods to investigate sediment in a shellfish and algae culture area in Southeast China, and found that the quantity and composition of organic matter were correlated with grain size. Optical analysis provided valuable indices for assessing the quantity of organic matter. The study also revealed that aquaculture had limited influence on sediment organic matter in the study area, indicating the sustainability of these aquaculture practices. The results have implications for understanding biogeochemical processes and ecosystem sustainability in coastal environments with intense aquaculture activities.
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Jiajun Lei, Liyang Yang, Zhuoyi Zhu
Summary: The study investigated the impact of aquaculture on the optical properties of particulate organic matter in the coastal environment, revealing variations in humic-like components and humification index with seasons and across river to seawater continuum. The influence of algal production on aquatic POM was significant, with notable seasonal variations observed.
JOURNAL OF CLEANER PRODUCTION
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
C. Heredia, S. Guedron, D. Point, V Perrot, S. Campillo, C. Verin, M. E. Espinoza, P. Fernandez, C. Duwig, D. Acha
Summary: Cultural eutrophication is a major cause of water quality degradation worldwide. Carbon and nitrogen stable isotopes are simple and integrative tools for evaluating the degree of eutrophication in anthropogenically impacted aquatic ecosystems. The study found that carbon isotopes increased and nitrogen isotopes decreased with distance from the wastewater source in macrophytes and suspended particulate matter. The distribution of aquatic plants on the slope was influenced by both anthropogenic discharges and carbon uptake pathway. A binary mixing model allowed the assessment of anthropogenically derived carbon and nitrogen incorporation in macrophytes. Eutrophication was naturally attenuated within 6 to 8 km from the wastewater source.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Lize Meng, Changchun Huang, Yao He, Nana Shang, Heyu Yu, Tao Huang, Hao Yang, Kan Zhao
Summary: This study investigates the sources of char and soot using stable carbon isotopes to understand the impact of black carbon (BC) on the organic carbon pool in a lake. The results show that BC in the lake primarily comes from fossil fuels, with liquid fossil fuel contributing more to soot than char, and biomass and coal contributing less to soot than char. The source apportionment of BC, char, and soot reveals the influence of anthropogenically driven BC, char, and soot on the lake and the global carbon cycle.
JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT
(2022)
Article
Food Science & Technology
Micha Horacek, Wolfgang Papesch
Summary: The isotope composition of vegetables may change after harvest during storage, which needs to be taken into account when investigating (commercial) samples collected in a market.
FRONTIERS IN SUSTAINABLE FOOD SYSTEMS
(2021)
Article
Engineering, Marine
Timoci Koliyavu, Chloe Martias, Awnesh Singh, Stephane Mounier, Philippe Gerard, Cecile Dupouy
Summary: Heavy rain events were found to impact the biogeochemical outflows and ecosystem health in the coastal waters of small Pacific Islands. Analysis revealed higher values of most components (along with most tested variables) at the southwest coast during the wet season, consistent with surface currents outflow. Additionally, the positive correlation of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) with nutrients suggests the utilization of DOM as an energy source.
JOURNAL OF MARINE SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Zeshan Arshad, Tahir Maqbool, Kyung Hoon Shin, Seung-Hee Kim, Jin Hur
Summary: The study used stable isotope-labeled soluble microbial products and substrates to investigate their assimilation in the formation of new biological products in activated sludge processes. It was found that humic-like substances were present in the non-consumable portion of SMP, and EPS formation mainly resulted from the humic-like components in SMP.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Juliana M. Huizenga, Lewis Semprini
Summary: Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are environmental contaminants associated with carcinogenic, mutagenic, and teratogenic health effects. Analyzing PAHs and their transformation products often requires extensive sample preparation and analytical techniques. Excitation-emission matrix (EEM) fluorescent spectroscopy with parallel factor analysis (PAR-AFAC) is a method that eliminates the need for extensive sample preparation and separation techniques. This study demonstrates the use of EEM-PARAFAC to monitor phenanthrene degradation and formation of metabolites.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Wan-E Zhuang, Wei Chen, Liyang Yang
Summary: Chromophoric dissolved organic matter (CDOM) plays important roles in aquatic environments, providing optical indices to evaluate the source and composition of dissolved organic matter (DOM). This study investigated the varying photodegradation of CDOM from different sources and its effects on optical indices. The results showed that CDOM from different sources exhibited different photodegradation properties and changes in optical indices.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Philipp Maurischat, Lukas Lehnert, Vinzenz H. D. Zerres, Tuong Vi Tran, Karsten Kalbitz, Asmund Rinnan, Xiao Gang Li, Tsechoe Dorji, Georg Guggenberger
Summary: The Tibetan Plateau is a sensitive alpine environment that plays a vital role in Asia's water supply and contains significant ice masses and alpine grasslands. Intensified land-use and global climate change have put pressure on the Tibetan Plateau's ecosystem. This study investigated the variability of dissolved organic matter (DOM) to understand nutrient and energy fluxes within the region. The findings highlighted the importance of DOM as a marker for studying the impact of land use and climate change on biogeochemical processes in high-altitude alpine ecosystems.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Matthew J. Selensky, Andrew L. Masterson, Jennifer G. Blank, Sohyun C. Lee, Magdalena R. Osburn
Summary: By studying carbon cycling processes in lava caves, it was found that biofilms within the caves primarily derive their energy from in situ chemolithoautotrophy, despite the presence of relatively high concentrations of dissolved organic carbon in cave waters. The C-13-depleted lipids in the biofilms suggest that a significant proportion of their biomass is derived from in situ fixation of inorganic carbon from previously respired organic carbon.
JOURNAL OF GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH-BIOGEOSCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Forestry
Caroline Leland, Laia Andreu-Hayles, Edward R. Cook, Kevin J. Anchukaitis, Oyunsanaa Byambasuren, Nicole Davi, Amy Hessl, Dario Martin-Benito, Baatarbileg Nachin, Neil Pederson
Summary: Recent climate extremes in Mongolia have sparked interest in studying past climate variability in north-central Asia. Tree-ring width records in Mongolia have been extensively studied as proxies for climate reconstruction, but the climate and environmental signals of tree-ring stable isotopes in this region still need further exploration.
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Kelly M. McCabe, Erik M. Smith, Susan Q. Lang, Christopher L. Osburn, Claudia R. Benitez-Nelson
Summary: Increasing inputs of organic matter driven by urbanization have led to declining dissolved oxygen concentrations in coastal ecosystems globally. Stormwater has been found to be a significant source of labile organic matter to receiving waters, particularly during the initial phase of runoff. Managing episodic stormwater discharge, especially particulate organic matter, is crucial for mitigating dissolved oxygen impairment in larger downstream systems.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Ecology
Clay Prater, Joanna E. Bullard, Christopher L. Osburn, Sarah L. Martin, Michael J. Watts, N. John Anderson
Summary: Global change is reshaping the physical environment and nutrient dynamics in the Arctic, influencing biological communities and climate feedbacks in areas like lakes. Recent research in SW Greenland shows shifts in autotrophic production across environmental gradients, with temperature and nutrient availability playing key roles in primary production. The study suggests that enhanced nutrient supply could have important negative feedbacks to global change.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Alexandria G. Hounshell, Stephen R. Fegley, Nathan S. Hall, Christopher L. Osburn, Hans W. Paerl
Summary: Estuaries play important roles in transporting, transforming, and producing organic matter, which is influenced by seasonal changes in river discharge and salinity in the estuary. Dissolved organic matter (DOM) is dominated by terrestrial sources in riverine discharge, while particulate organic matter (POM) is associated with terrestrial indicators and phytoplankton biomass. Responses in organic matter quantity and quality during periods of high discharge are similar to those following extreme storm events, suggesting that regional precipitation changes due to climate change will be important drivers of estuarine organic matter dynamics in the future.
ESTUARIES AND COASTS
(2022)
Review
Environmental Sciences
Antonietta Quigg, Peter H. Santschi, Chen Xu, Kai Ziervogel, Manoj Kamalanathan, Wei-Chun Chin, Adrian B. Burd, Andrew Wozniak, Patrick G. Hatcher
Summary: Microbes in the ocean play a crucial role in the production of exopolymeric substances that contribute to the formation of marine snow, particularly after oil spill events. Recent experiments show rapid microbial assemblages forming on oil droplets and subsequent degradation of oil in the presence of dispersants. The protein to carbohydrate ratios of EPS serve as a chemical basis for stickiness in aggregation processes.
FRONTIERS IN MARINE SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Kai Ziervogel, Julia Sweet, Andrew R. Juhl, Uta Passow
Summary: The resuspension of deep-sea sediments can enhance the activity of extracellular enzymes in overlying waters, promoting organic matter breakdown and potentially affecting the degradation of petroleum hydrocarbons, including those from natural seeps. This study found that lipase activities were notably increased in overlying waters following sediment resuspension, suggesting a significant role of resuspended enzymes in the degradation of organic matter and hydrocarbons in the investigated area.
FRONTIERS IN MARINE SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Jesse Ross, Nancy Kinner, Susan Saupe, James Schloemer, Kai Ziervogel
Summary: This study aimed to characterize the vertical particle fluxes in subarctic estuary surface waters and their potential impact on oil pollution events. The results showed that the sinking rates of particles were mainly driven by the inorganic fraction. The particle fluxes were not related to phytoplankton biomass in surface waters, but were influenced by terrestrial runoff.
ESTUARIES AND COASTS
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Marie Cindy Lebrasse, Blake A. Schaeffer, Megan M. Coffer, Peter J. Whitman, Richard C. Zimmerman, Victoria J. Hill, Kazi A. Islam, Jiang Li, Christopher L. Osburn
Summary: This study utilized a deep learning algorithm to quantify seagrass extent, leaf area index, and belowground organic carbon in St. Joseph Bay over a 30-year period. The results showed stable seagrass and carbon levels from 1990 to 2020, but highlighted ongoing environmental and climate pressures.
ESTUARIES AND COASTS
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Marine
Kai Ziervogel, Manoj Kamalanathan, Antonietta Quigg
Summary: Specialized heterotrophic microbial communities play a crucial role in the weathering of biological oil in the ocean and assessing their activities is important for understanding hydrocarbon biodegradation. Traditional methods of assessing oil biodegradation are costly and time-consuming, but measuring extracellular enzyme activity provides a more convenient alternative. This article explores the use of fluorescence assays of esterases as sensitive indicators for microbial oil degradation in the aftermath of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill.
JOURNAL OF MARINE SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Marie Cindy Lebrasse, Blake A. Schaeffer, Richard C. Zimmerman, Victoria J. Hill, Megan M. Coffer, Peter J. Whitman, Wilson B. Salls, David D. Graybill, Christopher L. Osburn
Summary: Seagrass meadows are globally degraded and declining due to human pressures and climate change. This study used the bio-optical model GrassLight to explore the impact of climate change and anthropogenic stressors on seagrass extent and characteristics in St. Joseph Bay, Florida. The research highlights the importance of considering multiple limiting factors in understanding the effects of environmental change on seagrass ecosystems.
MARINE ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH
(2022)
Editorial Material
Engineering, Marine
Gabriella Caruso, Kai Ziervogel
JOURNAL OF MARINE SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING
(2022)
Article
Limnology
James B. Cotner, N. J. Anderson, Christopher Osburn
Summary: An oxygenated atmosphere changed life on Earth and increased decomposition rates, but there are some freshwater aquatic systems where dissolved organic carbon (DOC) accumulates to high concentrations. This study examines several Greenland lakes and identifies the role of photochemical and microbial degradation processes in the recalcitrance of DOC.
LIMNOLOGY AND OCEANOGRAPHY LETTERS
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Hans W. Paerl, Nathan S. Hall, Alexandria G. Hounshell, Karen L. Rossignol, Malcolm A. Barnard, Richard A. Luettich Jr, Jacob C. Rudolph, Christopher L. Osburn, Jerad Bales, Lawrence W. Harding Jr
Summary: Coastal North Carolina has experienced 36 tropical cyclones in the past two decades, and three of them (Hurricanes Floyd-1999, Matthew-2016, and Florence-2018) caused significant floods. These floods led to catastrophic flooding, changes in water quality, fisheries habitat, and ecological conditions in the Albemarle-Pamlico Sound. The study found an increase in precipitation and flooding associated with tropical cyclones, which resulted in high storm-related freshwater discharge and nutrient loadings in the Neuse River Estuary, a major sub-estuary of the Albemarle-Pamlico Sound. The findings highlight the importance of event-scale discharge in carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus loadings and the potential impacts on hydrology, water quality, and habitat conditions in estuarine and coastal waters.
Article
Limnology
Anders Dalhoff Bruhn, Urban Wunsch, Christopher L. Osburn, Jacob C. Rudolph, Colin A. Stedmon
Summary: Analysis of lignin in seawater is crucial for understanding the behavior of terrestrial dissolved organic matter (DOM) in the ocean and its role in the carbon cycle. An improved method using liquid chromatography (LC) and absorbance detection is presented, which effectively quantifies lignin phenols with improved sensitivity and specificity compared to manual integration methods. The method achieves detection limits below 5 nmol L-1 for most lignin phenols and demonstrates good reproducibility. Application of the method to seawater samples confirms the potential of LC and absorbance detection for analysis of dissolved lignin.
LIMNOLOGY AND OCEANOGRAPHY-METHODS
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Jordan Bryan, Peter Hoff, Christopher L. Osburn
Summary: Fluorescence is used for the rapid and accurate identification of the sources of dissolved organic matter (DOM) in surface waters. DOM is a crucial component of the biogeochemistry and ecosystem function of streams and rivers. Unlike inorganic nitrogen nutrients, organic nitrogen (DON) nutrients can vary significantly depending on different sources. Fluorescence spectroscopy is a cost-effective and fast method for measuring the properties of DOM in natural waters, making it suitable for routine water quality monitoring. This study develops a simple linear regression method to estimate the relative amounts of DOM sources in stream or river samples, which is more accurate and computationally faster than previous approaches.
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Rafael Goncalves-Araujo, Mats A. Granskog, Christopher L. Osburn, Piotr Kowalczuk, Colin A. Stedmon
Summary: This study presents a simple and feasible method for estimating DOC concentrations in Arctic waters using CDOM absorption spectroscopy. The algorithm accurately reproduces DOC profiles and mixing plots at different locations, capturing the DOC concentration gradient between Arctic riverine and marine systems.
GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH LETTERS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Morgane Leon, Pieter van Beek, Virginie Sanial, Marc Souhaut, Paul Henderson, Matthew A. Charette
Summary: The analysis of radium and actinium isotopes in seawater requires the collection of large volumes of water and the use of high sensitivity instruments. To concentrate these isotopes, filters impregnated with MnO2 are typically used. However, the extraction efficiency of these filters for the target isotopes needs to be determined.