wAbstract
@Organic and inorganic nitrogen and their isotopic signatures
were studied in continental margin sediments off Spitsbergen.
We present evidence that land-derived inorganic nitrogen strongly
dilutes the particulate organic signal in coastal and fjord settings
and accounts for up to 70 of the total nitrogen content. Spatial
heterogeneity in inorganic nitrogen along the coast is less likely
to be influenced by clay mineral assemblages or various substrates
than by the supply of terrestrial organic matter (TOM) within
eroded soil material into selected fjords and onto the shelf.
the Β15N signal of the inorganic nitrogen (Β15Ninorg) in sediments off Spitsbergen seems to be
appropriate to trace TOM supply from various climate- and ecosystem
zones and elucidates the dominant transport media of terrigenous
sediments to the marine realm. Moreover, we postulate that with
the study of sedimentary Β15Ninorg
in the Atlantic-Arctic gateway, climatically induced changes in
catchment's vegetations in high northern latitudes may be reconstructed.
The Β15Norg signal is primarily
controlled by the availability of nitrate in the dominating ocean
current systems and the corresponding degree of utilization of
the nitrate pool in the euphotic zone. Not only does this new
approach allow for a detailed view into the nitrogen cycle for
settings with purely primary-produced organic matter supply, it
also provides new insights into both the deposition of marine
and terrestrial nitrogen and its ecosystem response to (paleo-)
climate changes.
Keywords: Spitsbergen; continental margin; sediments; stable isotopes;
nitrogen; inorganic and organicx
1. Introduction
2. Modern hydrography
3. Materials and methods
4. Results and discussion
@4.1. The spatial variability of organic and inorganic nitrogen
@4.2. The Β15N of inorganic ammonium nitrogen: response
to climate-induced changes in soil organic matter?
@4.3. The Β15N value of organic nitrogen: tracking
nutrient utilization and Atlantic water inflow
5. Conclusions
Acknowledgements
Appendix A. Supplementary data
References