Abstract

CALVA-BENITEZ, LG  and  TORRES-ALVARADO, R. Organic carbon and textural characteristics of sediments in areas with turtlegrass Thalassia testudinum in coastal ecosystems of the southeastern gulf of Mexico. Universidad y ciencia [online]. 2011, vol.27, n.2, pp.133-144. ISSN 0186-2979.

The textural distribution of the surface sediments and the content of organic carbon (C.O.) were analy-sed in coastal areas associated with turtlegrass meadows of Thalassia testudinum in two different coastal environments: coral reefs and estuarine-lagoon systems, in the states of Campeche, Yucatán and Quintana Roo. The distribution of the particle size and of the C.O. was different in the two types of coastal systems. Greater contents of fine sediments (silt and clay) and of C.O. were quantified in the estuarine environments, while sand and lower percentages of C.O. were predominant in the reef environments. However, in Xcalak (reef zone), the mean percentage of C.O. (2.72 %) was similar to those reported for estuarine areas, and the sortion theory was not accomplished here. The highest mean values of C.O. (8.37 %), of all the studied localities, were recorded in Tenabo. The T. testudinum seagrass meadows developed better in shallow, protected and low circulation areas (except for Champotón), both on sandy and muddy sediments.

Keywords : Sediments; organic carbon; seagrasses.

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