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Symposium on organic matter in natural waters
&wchimics et CosmochimlcaActa, 1071,Vol.35,pp.1197 to 1198.Pergamon Prew. Printed In Northern Iceland
BOOK IXEVIEW
D. W. HOOD (editor): Science, University 625 pp.
$10, paper
Symposium on Organic Matter in Natural Waters. Institute of Marine of Alaska, College Alaska 99701, Occasional Publication No. 1, 1970. $8.
THE STUDY of organic constituents in natural waters cannot boast of a long and rich heritage. Because of its late development, we are now witnessing a rapid increase in research productivity in a field almost unique in natural science-one with a lack of established dogma. Only a decade ago, organic studies in the marine environment largely consisted of attempted collection of uncontaminated water samples large enough for conventional analytical organic procedures. As Dr. D. W. Hood, the editor of this publication, indicates we are just now approaching the point where detailed analysis of the dynamics of organic production, decomposition and distribution can be studied by appropriate techniques and sufficient investigators. This publication of research papers, short addresses and discussions, over forty in all, presented at the University of Alaska in September, 1968, testifies to the vitality and interest in the study of marine and freshwater organic materials. The book is divided into five major portions corresponding to the sessions of the Symposium. They are: “dissolved and particulate organic matter distribution in natural waters and sediments, biological production and utilization of organic matter in natural waters, organic matter and water quality, inorganic-organic associations in natural waters, and recent developments”. In addition, there are keynote and closing addresses, both well worth reading, chairman’s remarks, discussions after each presentation and discussions after each session. A useful master bibliography is also included. An expected facet of annual meetings or symposia is the variation in quality of presentations. At meetings, a sub-standard paper is not without some redeeming social value. In printed form, however, these same papers have less to offer. While qualitative variation is present in this work, the papers range from abbreviated summaries of previously published material, both good and bad, to excellent synthesis of new and old work; the sub-standard paper is the exception. I will comment only briefly on a few selected papers from the various sessions. The first paper of the symposium is on the Distribution and Cycling of Organic Matter in the Oceans by D. W. Menzel and J. H. Ryther. The authors, discussing the vertical distribution of organic carbon in the ocean, report that there is nearly homogeneous distribution of particulate and dissolved carbon below 200-300 m depth, indicating that carbon and oxygen are conservative properties. Menzel and Ryther conclude that almost the entire cycling of organic matter is restricted to the upper few 100 m and the oxygen minimum is produced in coastal areas of high production at these depths. The authors report variation in dissolved carbon (0.35-0.70 mg C/l.) in adjacent profiles; no explanation is offered. E. D. Goldberg, elsewhere in this publication suggests airborne particulate matter as the cause of variation, adsorbing varying amounts of organic matter during settling; a most provocative model and well within the scope of present priorities for study. E. T. Degens presents a report on Molecular Nature of Nitrogeneous CoqozcracE in Sea Water. Dr. Degens summarizes a great deal of material, including work only available in Woods Hole Technical Reports, with the result that much ground is covered, but without the necessary substantiation. The author indicates that most organic matter in sea water is metabolically produced by plankton and microbes, with terrigenous contributions important only near river discharge. The bulk of the organic material is believed to consist of nitrogeneous compounds. This paper is followed by an entertaining discussion [section] where the reader may ponder, with others, the source of the urea in Dr. Degen’s samples, the author’s estimate of the number of clay mineral structures necessary for proper polypeptide linkage, the relating of the interlayer position of clay minerals to the area between the octahedral and tetrahedral layers, etc. 1197
1198
Book
Review
New studies as well as a summary of many years’ work et Nagoya University and Texas A & M University are presented by Y. Kitano and associates in a paper titled: In$uence of Organic Matter on Inorgaraic Precipitations. The authors evaluate the effect of many organic and inorganic substances on the precipitation of carbonate minerals with the hope of elucidating mechanisms by which biogenic precipitation occurs. It appears odd that the authors neglect the large portion of the literature on organic matrix control (e.g., Wilbur’s work) where much the same results are found under different conditions. It would be interesting to see what effects Dr. Kitano’s reagents would have on the production of other phases found in biological systems, besides Mg-calcite and aragonite. Organic Matter in Natural Waters is an attractively priced source of readings for those interested in organic geochemistry and chemical oceanography. The papers are almost always readable, free from errors, and concise. The book is ideal as a reference or collateral text in graduate courses concerned with any phase of natural water studies.
SHELDON E. SOMMER Division of Geochemistry and Nuclear Chemistry Department of Chemistry University of Maryland College Park, Maryland 20742
BOOK IXEVIEW
D. W. HOOD (editor): Science, University 625 pp.
$10, paper
Symposium on Organic Matter in Natural Waters. Institute of Marine of Alaska, College Alaska 99701, Occasional Publication No. 1, 1970. $8.
THE STUDY of organic constituents in natural waters cannot boast of a long and rich heritage. Because of its late development, we are now witnessing a rapid increase in research productivity in a field almost unique in natural science-one with a lack of established dogma. Only a decade ago, organic studies in the marine environment largely consisted of attempted collection of uncontaminated water samples large enough for conventional analytical organic procedures. As Dr. D. W. Hood, the editor of this publication, indicates we are just now approaching the point where detailed analysis of the dynamics of organic production, decomposition and distribution can be studied by appropriate techniques and sufficient investigators. This publication of research papers, short addresses and discussions, over forty in all, presented at the University of Alaska in September, 1968, testifies to the vitality and interest in the study of marine and freshwater organic materials. The book is divided into five major portions corresponding to the sessions of the Symposium. They are: “dissolved and particulate organic matter distribution in natural waters and sediments, biological production and utilization of organic matter in natural waters, organic matter and water quality, inorganic-organic associations in natural waters, and recent developments”. In addition, there are keynote and closing addresses, both well worth reading, chairman’s remarks, discussions after each presentation and discussions after each session. A useful master bibliography is also included. An expected facet of annual meetings or symposia is the variation in quality of presentations. At meetings, a sub-standard paper is not without some redeeming social value. In printed form, however, these same papers have less to offer. While qualitative variation is present in this work, the papers range from abbreviated summaries of previously published material, both good and bad, to excellent synthesis of new and old work; the sub-standard paper is the exception. I will comment only briefly on a few selected papers from the various sessions. The first paper of the symposium is on the Distribution and Cycling of Organic Matter in the Oceans by D. W. Menzel and J. H. Ryther. The authors, discussing the vertical distribution of organic carbon in the ocean, report that there is nearly homogeneous distribution of particulate and dissolved carbon below 200-300 m depth, indicating that carbon and oxygen are conservative properties. Menzel and Ryther conclude that almost the entire cycling of organic matter is restricted to the upper few 100 m and the oxygen minimum is produced in coastal areas of high production at these depths. The authors report variation in dissolved carbon (0.35-0.70 mg C/l.) in adjacent profiles; no explanation is offered. E. D. Goldberg, elsewhere in this publication suggests airborne particulate matter as the cause of variation, adsorbing varying amounts of organic matter during settling; a most provocative model and well within the scope of present priorities for study. E. T. Degens presents a report on Molecular Nature of Nitrogeneous CoqozcracE in Sea Water. Dr. Degens summarizes a great deal of material, including work only available in Woods Hole Technical Reports, with the result that much ground is covered, but without the necessary substantiation. The author indicates that most organic matter in sea water is metabolically produced by plankton and microbes, with terrigenous contributions important only near river discharge. The bulk of the organic material is believed to consist of nitrogeneous compounds. This paper is followed by an entertaining discussion [section] where the reader may ponder, with others, the source of the urea in Dr. Degen’s samples, the author’s estimate of the number of clay mineral structures necessary for proper polypeptide linkage, the relating of the interlayer position of clay minerals to the area between the octahedral and tetrahedral layers, etc. 1197
1198
Book
Review
New studies as well as a summary of many years’ work et Nagoya University and Texas A & M University are presented by Y. Kitano and associates in a paper titled: In$uence of Organic Matter on Inorgaraic Precipitations. The authors evaluate the effect of many organic and inorganic substances on the precipitation of carbonate minerals with the hope of elucidating mechanisms by which biogenic precipitation occurs. It appears odd that the authors neglect the large portion of the literature on organic matrix control (e.g., Wilbur’s work) where much the same results are found under different conditions. It would be interesting to see what effects Dr. Kitano’s reagents would have on the production of other phases found in biological systems, besides Mg-calcite and aragonite. Organic Matter in Natural Waters is an attractively priced source of readings for those interested in organic geochemistry and chemical oceanography. The papers are almost always readable, free from errors, and concise. The book is ideal as a reference or collateral text in graduate courses concerned with any phase of natural water studies.
SHELDON E. SOMMER Division of Geochemistry and Nuclear Chemistry Department of Chemistry University of Maryland College Park, Maryland 20742