Pore water sampling from lake and estuary sediments using Rhizon samplers

Abstract

Rhizon samplers have been used for several years for pore water extraction from soils (e.g. Knight et al. in Environ Pollut 99:293–298, 1998; Tye et al. in Geochim Cosmochim Acta 67:375–385, 2003; Sigfusson et al. in Sci Total Environ 369:203–219, 2006). With a few exceptions (e.g. Song et al. in Chemosphere 50:711–715, 2003; Seeberg-Elverfeldt et al. in Limnol Oceanogr Methods 3:361–371, 2005), they are rarely used for the extraction of pore water from sediments. The current study highlights the advantages and disadvantages of Rhizon samplers and outlines a simple, but effective method for pore water collection from lacustrine and estuarine sediment cores. This method can be used in the field or laboratory and does not require the use of a glove box to prevent change in pore water redox status.