Contribution of plant carbohydrates to sedimentary carbon mineralization

The decomposition of different types of organic matter in marine sediments, including eelgrass (Zostera marina) leaves, roots and rhizomes and a macroalga (Polysiphonia spp.), was studied under anoxic conditions using decomposition bags over a period of 24 weeks. The carbohydrate composition of the plant materials and sediment was analyzed using high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with pulsed amperometric detection (PAD) and the total sum of individual sugars was taken to represent the total carbohydrate content. The alga was degraded more rapidly than other plant materials, while eelgrass rhizome was recalcitrant to decomposition. The non-structural carbohydrate pool from all plant materials degraded quickly and was gone within the 24 week experiment. A clear reduction in carbohydrate yield for the plant materials provided the most consistent indicator of decomposition status. There was no evident change in carbohydrate amount and composition in the sediment during the decomposition experiments and the non-structural carbohydrates from plant materials were thus more labile and readily available for bacterial decomposition than the bulk of carbohydrates in the sediments.