Variability of Settling Particles Fluxes and Isotopic Composition (δ13C and δ15N) from Material Trapped in Coastal Reefs of Abrolhos Bank, Eastern Brazilian Shelf

Authors

  • Saulo Spanó Universidade Federal da Bahia, Programa Nacional de Pós-Doutorado (PNPD/Capes), Instituto de Geociências, Curso de Pós-Graduação em Geofísica, Campus de Ondina, 40170-115, Salvador, Bahia, Brasil Universidade Federal da Bahia, Curso de Pós Graduação em Geofísica, Instituto de Geociências, Campus de Ondina, 40170-115, Salvador, Bahia, Brasil
  • André Luiz Belem Universidade Federal Fluminense, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biossistemas, Escola de Engenharia, Rua Passo da Pátria 156, bloco D sala 236, São Domingos, 24210-240, Niterói, Rio de Janeiro, Brasil
  • Maria do Rosário Zucchi Universidade Federal da Bahia, Curso de Pós-Graduação em Geofísica, Instituto de Geociências, Campus de Ondina, 40170-115, Salvador, Bahia, Brasil
  • Paulo de Oliveira Mafalda Junior Universidade Federal da Bahia, Laboratório de Plâncton, Instituto de Biologia, Rua Barão de Jeremoabo 668, Campus de Ondina, 40170-115, Salvador, Bahia, Brasil
  • Alessandro Lopes Aguiar Universidade Federal da Bahia, Curso de Pós-Graduação em Geofísica, Instituto de Geociências, Campus de Ondina, 40170-115, Salvador, Bahia, Brasil
  • José Roberto Bispo de Sousa Universidade Federal da Bahia, Curso de Pós-Graduação em Geofísica, Instituto de Geociências, Campus de Ondina, 40170-115, Salvador, Bahia, Brasil
  • Iracema Reimão Silva Universidade Federal da Bahia, Instituto de Geociências, Departamento de Oceanografia, Núcleo de Estudos Hidrogeológicos e do Meio Ambiente, Campus de Ondina, 40170-115, Salvador, Bahia, Brasil
  • Antônio Expedito Gomes de Azevedo Universidade Federal da Bahia, Curso de Pós-Graduação em Geofísica, Instituto de Geociências, Campus de Ondina, 40170-115, Salvador, Bahia, Brasil

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.11137/2020_3_180_189

Keywords:

Sediment traps, Abrolhos, Stable isotopes

Abstract

Elemental and isotopic ratios (C/N, δ13C, δ15N) of sediment samples captured by PVC traps in eight stations along the coastal reefs of the Abrolhos region, Brazil, were analyzed. The study area is characterized by the influence of continental sediments on biogenic sediments. The highest δ13C values were found in the Sebastião Gomes (second shallower station), with average values close to -15‰ in all sampling periods. The isotopic ratio of carbon and nitrogen indicates that the organic matter analyzed has marine origin, with signature features of oceanic regions. The highest C/N ratio average value of 8.29 occurred in Nova Viçosa (the southernmost station and one of the shallowest) during the spring, in other seasons the average value was close to 7 in all periods. Although the values of C/N indicate a significantly marine contribution, δ15N values suggest that N series recycling processes are frequent during the time that the material remained in the environment. The results will provide a baseline for future environmental monitoring and studies on changes in sediment composition in an important set of coastal coral reefs.

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Published

2020-09-30

Issue

Vol. 43 No. 3 (2020)

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