Contribution of phytoliths to total biogenic silica volumes in the tropical rivers of Malaysia and associated implications for the marine biogeochemical cycle -- Journal of Oceanology and Limnology,2016,34(5):1076-1084

	Cite this paper:
	ZANG Jiaye, LIU Sen, LIU Yanguang, MA Yongxing, RAN Xiangbin. Contribution of phytoliths to total biogenic silica volumes in the tropical rivers of Malaysia and associated implications for the marine biogeochemical cycle[J]. Journal of Oceanology and Limnology, 2016, 34(5): 1076-1084

Contribution of phytoliths to total biogenic silica volumes in the tropical rivers of Malaysia and associated implications for the marine biogeochemical cycle

ZANG Jiaye¹, LIU Sen^1,2, LIU Yanguang³, MA Yongxing^1,4, RAN Xiangbin¹

1 Marine Ecology Research Center, First Institute of Oceanography, State Oceanic Administration, Qingdao 266061, China;
2 Tianjin Marine Environmental Monitoring Central Station, State Oceanic Administration, Tianjin 300450, China;
3 Key Laboratory of Marine Sedimentology and Environmental Geology, First Institute of Oceanography, State Oceanic Administration, Qingdao 266061, China;
4 College of Chemistry and Engineering, Qingdao University, Qingdao 266062, China

Abstract:

The contribution of phytoliths to total biogenic silica (BSi) volumes in rivers worldwide, and the associated implications for the biogeochemical cycle, require in-depth study. Based on samples from rivers in Peninsular Malaysia, this project investigated the source and characteristics of BSi found in Asian tropical rivers, as well as the process of reverse weathering taking place in these fluvial systems. Results indicated that BSi samples collected in sediments consisted of phytolith, diatom and sponge spicules. Phytoliths, predominantly of the elongate form, comprised 92.8%-98.3% of BSi in the Pahang River. Diatom BSi in this river consisted mainly of pennatae diatoms, but represented a relatively small proportion of the total BSi volume. However, diatom BSi (predominantly of the Centricae form) was more prevalent in the Pontian and Endau Rivers with shares of 68.8% and 79.3% of the total BSi volumes, respectively, than Pahang River. Carbon contents of the BSi particulates ranged from 1.85% to 10.8% with an average of 4.79%. These values are higher than those recorded in other studies to date, and indicate that BSi plays a major role in controlling permanent carbon burial. This study suggests that phytoliths from terrestrial plants are the primary constituents of BSi in the rivers of Peninsular Malaysia, and therefore represent a significant proportion of the coastal silica budget.

Key words: biogenic silica|phytolith|diatom|Malaysia|biogeochemical cycle

Received: 2015-04-09 Revised: 2015-06-24

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