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Comparing Lignin-Derived Phenols, δ13C Values, OC/N Ratio and 14C Age Between Sediments in the Kaoping (Taiwan) and the Kapuas (Kalimantan, Indonesia) Rivers

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Abstract

The Kaoping (Taiwan) and Kapuas (Indonesia) Rivers differ in hydrological cycle, topography and landscape. These differences strengthen the use of 14C dating, lignin-derived phenols, δ13C values and C/N ratios to determine the sources and diagenesis of surface sedimentary organic carbon (OC) in both rivers. The Kapuas River is surrounded by forest, resulting in sedimentary OC with a 14C age between 600 and 740 years, Λ (total lignin expressed as mg/100 mg OC) values from 0.94 to 3.70, δ13C values from −27.87 to −30.00‰, C/N ratios from 6.7 to 30.8, %OC from 0.63 to 9.24% and vanillic acid to vanillin ratio, (Ad/Al)v, values from 0.73 to 2.09, all of which indicate the presence of recent plant-derived organic matter. The tributaries and three locations upstream of the Kaoping River are also surrounded by forests, resulting in Λ values (0.51–4.80), δ13C values (−23.85 to −27.08‰), C/N ratios (14.1–28.7), %OC (1.01–7.86%) and (Ad/Al)v values (0.86–1.88), which are indicative of a terrestrial signal. No lignin oxidation products were detected in the mainstream of the Kaoping River or its coastal zone, hence the surface sediments OC with a 14C age between 4,915 and 15,870 years, enriched δ13C values (−23.30 and −26.54‰), lower C/N ratios (6.0–17.5) and lower %OC (0.15–2.24%) likely represent old rock and soil material. Massive floods during typhoons most probably cause plant materials from the Kaoping River and its coastal zone to be transported into the deep sea.

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Acknowledgments

We are grateful to everyone who assisted and advised us over the course of this study. We thank Hong Wang from the Radiocarbon Dating Laboratory, Illinois Geological Survey, USA, for 14C dating, and Steve Brookes, Ian Begley and Charles Belanger from the Iso-Analytical Laboratory, UK, for conducting the stable carbon isotope analysis. PS Loh is grateful to Bing-Jye Wang for assistance and advice and to Yu-Chun Zheng for guidance during the GC analyses. We would like to thank all the reviewers for their detailed comments that have strengthened and improved this manuscript. This study acknowledges the Taiwan National Science Council Research Grant NSC96-2628-M-110-002-MY3 and the Aim for the Top University Program.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Marine Geology and Chemistry, National Sun Yat-sen University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan

    Pei Sun Loh & Chen-Tung Arthur Chen

  2. Department of Marine Science, Chinese Naval Academy, Kaohsiung, Taiwan

    Jiann-Yuh Lou

  3. Centre for Wetlands People and Biodiversity, Universitas Tanjungpura, Pontianak, Indonesia

    Gusti Z. Anshari

  4. Institute of Marine Biology, National Sun Yat-sen University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan

    Houng-Yung Chen

  5. Department of Atmospheric Sciences and Graduate Institute of Atmospheric Physics, National Central University, Zhongli, Taiwan

    Jough-Tai Wang

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  1. Pei Sun Loh
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Correspondence to Pei Sun Loh.

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Loh, P.S., Chen, CT.A., Lou, JY. et al. Comparing Lignin-Derived Phenols, δ13C Values, OC/N Ratio and 14C Age Between Sediments in the Kaoping (Taiwan) and the Kapuas (Kalimantan, Indonesia) Rivers. Aquat Geochem 18, 141–158 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10498-011-9153-0

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