Sources and pathways of carbon and nitrogen of macrophytes and sediments using stable isotopes in Al-Kharrar Lagoon, eastern Red Sea coast, Saudi Arabia.

ABSTRACT: Elemental ratios (δ13C, δ15N and C/N) and carbon and nitrogen concentrations in macrophytes, sediments and sponges of the hypersaline Al-Kharrar Lagoon (KL), central eastern Red Sea coast, were measured to distinguish their sources, pathways and see how they have been influenced by biogeochemical processes and terrestrial inputs. The mangroves and halophytes showed the most depleted δ13C values of -27.07±0.2 ‰ and -28.34±0.4 ‰, respectively, indicating their preferential 12C uptake, similar to C3-photosynthetic plants, except for the halophytes Atriplex sp. and Suaeda vermiculata which showed δ13C of -14.31±0.6 ‰, similar to C4-plants. Macroalgae were divided into A and B groups based on their δ13C values. The δ13C of macroalgae A averaged -15.41±0.4 ‰, whereas macroalgae B and seagrasses

SUBMITTER: Abu-Zied RH 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11045092 | biostudies-literature | 2024

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature