Limitation of lignin derivatives as biomarkers of land derived organic matter in the coastal marine sediments

Lignin oxidation products (vanillyl, syringil and cummaryl phenols), and δ13C were measured in a variety of land and marine samples collected in Inner Puck Bay – dominated by marine vascular plants, small river run-off, and shallow bottom, and in Gdańsk Bay – characterized by large river run-off, small marine vascular plants population, and the average depth exceeding euphotic zone. Both study areas are parts of the Gdańsk Basin, Southern Baltic. Typical δ13C values (δ13C = -28‰) and both composition and concentrations of lignin phenols were measured in samples originating from land. Small, yet easily measurable amounts of lignin phenols were found in marine vascular plants biomass (Σ8 = 90 µg/100 mg organic matter). The biomass was characterized by exceptionally high δ13C values (-12‰). No lignin phenols and typical δ13C values (-22‰) were measured in marine phytoplankton biomass. δ13C and both composition and content of lignin phenols in organic matter of surface sediments collected in the study area fall in the range marked by the end members. The proportion of land derived organic matter calculated using lignin phenols, or δ13C in Gdańsk Bay were comparable, while in Puck Bay they differed substantially. It was concluded that a) in areas with substantial bottom coverage with vascular plants the two end members approach, usually employed to establish the contribution of organic matter sources, is insufficient, b) organic matter originating from three sources: riverine, phytoplankton, and vascular plants contribute to sedimentary organic matter in Puck Bay with the respective proportion 30:40:30.