『Abstract
In this study, organic carbon to organic phosphorus (Corg/Porg) and total phosphorus (Corg/Ptot) ratios as bottom water redox proxies are
explored for two eastern Mediterranean sediment records extending
back ~600-700 kyrs. Cores KC19C (19.6 m long, 2750 m water depth)
and KC01B (37.0 m long, 3643 m water depth) contain numerous organic-rich
layers (sapropels). Throughout the two cores, variations found
in the Corg/P ratios correspond to those
for other redox proxies such as total S contents and V/Al ratios.
Accordingly, these are interpreted as variations in bottom water
oxygenation and inter-sapropel redox variability. In core KC19C,
the original Corg/P signals seem to have
been preserved despite intense post-depositional sulfidization.
High-resolution P fractionation data of sapropel S5 from a third
core (PS25PC, 3304 m water depth) showing high and relatively
stable Corg/Porg ratios,
indicate that sapropel S5 at this deep location was deposited
under permanently reducing conditions. While P regeneration from
organic matter was intense, net P burial increased in the sapropel
due to enhanced burial of inorganic calcium phosphate, likely
biogenic Ca-P. Sediment P contents and Corg/Ptot ratios in S5 are variable, reflecting short-term
changes in marine conditions (productivity/redox) and sediment
chemistry. The Corg/Porg
and Corg/Ptot ratios
thus provide valuable insight into paleoceanographic conditions
and pathways of P cycling for (Mediterranean) sediment records
extending back at least ~600-700 kyrs.
Keywords: Phosphorus; C/P ratio; Redox proxy; Sapropel; S5; Mediterranean』
1. Introduction
2. Materials and methods
2.1. Core material
2.2. Solid phase bulk analyses
2.3. Phosphorus fractionation
2.4. Fish debris counts
3. Results
3.1. Bulk geochemistry of cores KC19C, KC01B and PS25PC
3.2. Phosphorus fractionation in cores PS25PC and KC19C
4. Discussion
4.1. Stability of Corg/P ratios on Quaternary
timescales
4.2. Sediment Corg/P ratios: redox conditions
and P cycling during sapropel formation
4.3. Redox conditions and phosphorus cycling during formation
of sapropel S5
5. Conditions
Acknowledgements
References