Lutein and the C/N as tracers of organic matter in the Palmones river estuary

espanolLos pigmentos vegetales han sido usados como bioindicadores de la presencia de organismos fototropicos en rios, estuarios y sedimentos marinos actuales y en estudios paleolimnologicos. En el sedimento del estuario rio Palmones (Bahia de Algeciras, Sur de Espana) se han estudiado las concentraciones de clorofila "a" y luteina, el indice C/N y el contenido en materia organica. Utilizando la concentracion de estos dos pigmentos en diferentes profundidades asi como el indice de sedimentacion (determinado por Rubio et al. en 2003 por el metodo del 210Pb), se ha determinado el indice de degradacion de la luteina y clorofila "a" en la marisma. La permanencia de la luteina en el sedimento es mayor que la de la clorofila "a". Segun estos resultados se ha podido discriminar las fuentes de materia organica. EnglishPlant pigments have been used as biomarkers of the presence of phototrophic organisms in rivers, estuaries and sea sediments in present and in paleolimnological studies. Chlorophyll "a" and lutein concentration, C/N ratio and organic matter content have been studied in the sediment of the Palmones River estuary (Algeciras Bay, Southern Spain). Using the concentration of these two pigments at different depths, as well as the sedimentation rate (determined by Rubio et al. in 2003 by means of the 210Pb method), lutein and chlorophyll "a" degradation rate has been determined, in the saltmarsh. Lutein persistence in the sediment was higher than the persistence of chlorophyll "a". According to these results, it was possible to discriminate the organic matter sources.