Reconstructing environmental changes of a coastal lagoon with coral reefs in southeastern Hainan Island

• DOI: 10.1007/s11769-017-0867-9
• Publication Date: 2017-04-22T03:46:59Z
• Authors: Liang Zhou; Shu Gao; Jianhua Gao; Yangyang Zhao; Zhuochen Han; Yang Yang; Peihong Jia
• Keywords: 0106 biological sciences; 13. Climate action; 14. Life underwater; 15. Life on land; 01 natural sciences; 6. Clean water

Coastal lagoons with small catchment basins are highly sensitive to natural processes and anthropogenic activities. To figure out the environmental changes of a coastal lagoon its contribution carbon burial, two sediment cores were collected in Xincun Lagoon, southeastern Hainan Island 210Pb activities, grain size parameters, total organic (TOC), nitrogen (TN), inorganic (TIC) stable isotopes (δ13C) measured. The results show that 1770–1815, decreasing water exchange capacity outer open water, probably caused by shifting narrowing tidal inlet, not only diminished currents fined sediments lagoon, but also reduced matter marine sources. From 1815 1950, sedimentary environment Lagoon was frequently influenced storm events. These extreme events resulted high fluctuation sorting, as well great variation contributions terrestrial (higher plants, soils) sources (phytoplankton, algae, seagrass). extremely content TIC, compared TOC before 1950 could be attributed large-scale coverage coral reefs. However, boost seawater aquaculture activities after 1970, health growth species severely threatened, corresponding production burial flux reduced. apparent enhanced rate 1990 might result from concomitant carbonate debris produced aquaculture. This is important for local government long-term management planning.