Deciphering organic matter distribution by source-specific biomarkers in the shallow Taiwan Strait from a source-to-sink perspective

Sedimentary organic matter (OM) in coastal systems is inherently diverse, often with multiple particulate sources and transport histories. The Taiwan Strait (TS) a typical shallow conduit region, linking the East South China Seas. Strong ocean currents, upwellings, distal large rivers, proximal small mountainous rivers all influence distribution of OM TS. We investigated covarying patterns gain size classes sand, silt, clay; terrestrial-sourced biomarkers (n-C 27+29+31 alkanes, n-C 26+28+30 fatty acids (FAs), 28+30+32 alkanols); marine-sourced (phytoplankton-derived alkenones, brassicasterol, dinosterol, zooplankton-derived cholesterol) sea floor sediment; indicator satellite-derived primary production (Chl-a); water-mass (sea surface temperature, SST). used an empirical orthogonal/eigen function (EOF) analysis to distinguish four hypothetical that entered TS through north, south, west, east boundaries. Results show input from south-bound ZMCC (Zhejiang-Fujian Coastal Current) north-bound SCSWC (South Sea Warm had dominant on distributions buried Input via river plumes lateral boundaries upwellings were secondary factors affected sedimentary distribution. Within this source-to-sink system processes, silt clay major carriers signals. Terrestrial (Chl-a) associated two current along edge Marine interior Our finding points out physical plumes, upwelling not only determine but also diversity