Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons^™

Distribution Of Terrestrially Derived Dissolved Organic Matter On The Southeastern United States Continental Shelf, Mary Ann Moran, Lawrence R. Pomeroy, Edward S. Sheppard, Larry P. Atkinson, Robert E. Hodson

CCPO Publications

Dissolved lignin-derived compounds in seawater indicate the presence of organic matter originating from vascular plants and therefore from terrestrial (upland and coastal marsh) ecosystems. We used a hydrophobic resin to concentrate lignin-rich humic substances and to determine concentrations of lignin oxidation products (vanillyl lignin phenols) for waters of the continental shelf of the southeastern U.S. Lignin phenol concentrations ranged from 0.05 to 4.2µg liter‒1 and accounted for 0.002–0.13% of the total dissolved organic carbon (DOC) pool in continental shelf waters. Dissolved lignin concentrations were generally highest near the shore and in those areas receiving greatest river and marsh …