Volume 14, Issue 2 (2025)
JFST 2025, 14(2): 100-114 |
Back to browse issues page
Download citation:
BibTeX | RIS | EndNote | Medlars | ProCite | Reference Manager | RefWorks
Send citation to:
BibTeX | RIS | EndNote | Medlars | ProCite | Reference Manager | RefWorks
Send citation to:
Ghodrati Shojaei M, Naderloo R, Jennerjahn T. Vertical and spatial variability of organic carbon, total nitrogen, and C/N ratio in sediments and their role in supporting secondary production in the mangrove ecosystems of the Persian Gulf. JFST 2025; 14 (2) :100-114
URL: http://jfst.modares.ac.ir/article-6-68873-en.html
URL: http://jfst.modares.ac.ir/article-6-68873-en.html
1- Department of Marine Biology, Faculty of Natural Resources and Marine Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, 4641776489, Noor, Iran , shojaeimgh@gmail.com
2- School of Biology, College of Science, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran
2- School of Biology, College of Science, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran
Abstract: (189 Views)
This study investigated the vertical and spatial distribution of organic carbon (OC), total nitrogen (TN), and the carbon-to-nitrogen (C/N) ratio in sediments of mangrove ecosystems along the Persian Gulf. Sediment samples were collected from five sites, i.e., Bidkhun, Malganzeh, Haleh, Bandar Khamir, and Qeshm, at three depth intervals (0–15, 15–30, and 30–50 cm). The results revealed a general decline in OC and TN concentrations with increasing depth, likely driven by microbial decomposition, mineralization, and sediment compaction. The lowest OC and TN levels were recorded at Haleh, a planted and structurally immature forest, while Bidkhun exhibited the highest OC content across all depths, potentially due to inputs of terrestrial organic matter from nearby petrochemical activities. Bidkhun also exhibited the highest C/N ratio (average 21.88), suggesting a dominance of terrestrial or refractory organic matter. In contrast, Khamir and Qeshm exhibited the lowest carbon-to-nitrogen (C/N) ratios, with an average of approximately 12, indicating a mixed and relatively balanced origin of organic matter. This ratio suggests the concurrent presence of organic materials derived from both plant sources (such as mangrove leaves) and nitrogen-rich sources (such as phytoplankton). Such a balance can create favorable conditions that support higher secondary production in benthic invertebrate communities. Overall, the results indicate that the mangrove ecosystems of the Persian Gulf, influenced by environmental, climatic, and anthropogenic factors, possess varying capacities for organic matter storage and cycling. These differences underscore the importance of site-specific strategies in the conservation and management of these critical coastal habitats.
Send email to the article author
| Rights and permissions | |
 |
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License. |