Journal of Tropical Oceanography ›› 2025, Vol. 44 ›› Issue (3): 197-205.doi: 10.11978/2024171CSTR: 32234.14.2024171

• Marine Environmental Science • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Distribution characteristics of dissolved carbohydrates and their influencing factors in the Maowei Sea, Qinzhou Bay, northern South China Sea

ZENG Debin1(), PENG Guangyu2, YANG Bin1,3(), MO Xiaorong1, ZHOU Jiaodi1,4, HUANG Haifang1, YAN Tingting1   

  1. 1. Guangxi Key Laboratory of Marine Environmental Change and Disaster in Beibu Gulf, Beibu Gulf University, Qinzhou 535011, China
    2. School of Geography, Geomatics and Planning, Jiangsu Normal University, Xuzhou 221116, China
    3. Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Marine Biotechnology, Jiangsu Ocean University, Lianyungang 222005, China
    4. Guangxi Laboratory on the Study of Coral Reels in the South China Sea, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, China
  • Received:2024-09-09 Revised:2024-10-11 Online:2025-05-10 Published:2025-06-04
  • Contact: YANG Bin
  • Supported by:
    National Natural Science Foundation of China(42166002); Natural Science Foundation of Jiangsu Province(BK20241962); Guangxi Key Laboratory of Marine Environmental Change and Disaster in Beibu Gulf, Beibu Gulf University(2024KF01); Scientific Research Capacity Building Project for Beibu Gulf Marine Ecological Environment Field Observation and Research Station of Guangxi(23-026-271); Lianyungang Science and Technology Plan Program(JCYJ2313)

Abstract:

Using the 2, 4, 6-tripyridyl-s-triazine (TPTZ) method, the concentrations of dissolved monosaccharides (MCHO), polysaccharides (PCHO), and total carbohydrates (TCHO) were determined for the surface and bottom seawater of the Maowei Sea in December 2021, and their distribution characteristics and influencing factors were studied. The results showed that mean (range) concentrations of MCHO, PCHO and TCHO were 15.15 (2.40’38.40), 13.19 (3.92’38.40) and 28.34 (11.52’76.80) μmol C·L-1, respectively. The average proportion of TCHO in dissolved organic carbon (DOC) was (40.2±10.8)%, suggesting that TCHO was an important component of DOC. The average proportion of MCHO in TCHO was (52.9±12.2)%, indicating that MCHO was the main fraction of TCHO. The horizontal distributions of MCHO, PCHO, and TCHO in the surface and bottom seawater both displayed a decreasing trend from the estuary to offshore waters. In the surface seawater, the concentrations of MCHO, PCHO, and TCHO were much negatively correlated with salinity (P<0.01) but much positively correlated with chlorophyll a (Chl a). In the bottom seawater, the concentrations of MCHO and TCHO were much negatively correlated with salinity (P<0.01) and TCHO was much positively correlated with Chl a. These results suggested that terrestrial inputs and biogeochemical processes were important factors affecting the distribution of dissolved carbohydrates in the Maowei Sea during winter. The study will help to enrich the understanding of biogeochemical characteristics of dissolved carbohydrates in the Guangxi part of Beibu Gulf, which is of great significance to the in-depth understanding of global carbon cycle processes and their mechanisms.

Key words: dissolved organic carbon, dissolved carbohydrates, distribution characteristics, influencing factors, Maowei Sea

CLC Number: 

  • P734