Biogeochemical consequences of vertical and lateral transport of particulate organic matter in the southern North Sea: A multiproxy approach

Abstract

Vertical and lateral transports are of importance in continental shelf systems such as the North Sea and play a major role in the processing of organic matter. We investigated the biogeochemical consequences of these transports on particulate organic matter at the molecular level in the southern North Sea. We analysed suspended particulate matter and surface sediments for organic carbon, pigments and phospholipid derived fatty acids at 10 stations sampled in September 2011 along the particle transport route. The particulate organic matter in both suspended particulate matter and surface sediment was mainly from marine phytoplankton origin but of fresher quality in the water column. Particulate organic matter quality did not change from south to north in the suspended particulate matter, whereas it clearly decreased towards the north in the surface sediments, reflecting a decreased intensity of benthic–pelagic coupling. However, we also observed strong deposition of fresh organic matter in the northern station denoting that occasionally, intense benthic–pelagic coupling can occur. Finally, our study highlights the necessity to use a multiproxy approach covering multiple characteristic time scales, when investigating both suspended particulate matter and surface sediments.