Chief scientists: Prof. Zhao Meixun, Prof. Yu Zhigang, Prof. Wang Xuchen, Prof. Li Xianguo
Introduction:
Marine organic geochemistry mainly focuses the sources, change, diagenesis and burial processes of the organics and its application in geosciences, aiming at developing and improving marine organic geochemistry and isotope index, researching on china Shelf Sea and West Pacific ecosystem and organic carbon cycle evolution, illuminating key processes and mechanism, and forecasting future trend. We also conduct researches on the sources, fates and transformation mechanism of typical modern organic pollutants in the coast sedimentary environment, based on a combination of on-site surveying, laboratory microcosm and theoretical calculation. The research results can lay foundations for the nation to evaluate the climate change and the influence of human activities on our country’s shelf sea environment, and to make corresponding policies on marine environmental change. Our aim is to build a world-class marine organic geochemistry research platform. By undertaking major projects and improving international communication, we will build a high-level marine organic geochemistry research team and gain innovative achievements.
Selected Research Projects:
Marine Chemistry, Introducing Overseas Talents to Chinese Universities Program, Ministry of Education45000002013.1-2017.12, Meixun Zhao
Marine Organic Geochemistry, NSFC- Group of Excellence program, 6000000, 2013.1-2015.12, Meixun Zhao
Evolution processes, mechanisms and future trends of China’s Shelf Sea environments and ecosystems（2010CB428900）973 Program, 32650000, 2010.1-2014.8, Meixun Zhao
Lignin molecular fossil and stable isotopic records of vegetation and climate changes in the continental shelf mud areas of Bohai, Yellow Sea and East China Sea (Grant No. 41276067 ), NSFC, 840000, 2013.1-2016.12, Xianguo Li
A study on the photodegradation mechanism of alkylphenols in natural surface water by using a multi-dimensional stable isotope approach (Grant No. 40976041), NSFC, 470000, 2010.1-2012.12, Xianguo Li
Biogeochemical Processes in Benthic Boundary Layer of Changjiang River Estuary and its Adjacent Sea Area, NSFC-Major International (Regional) Joint Research Project, 1500000, 2010.1-2013.12, Zhigang Yu
Processes, Mechanism and Ecological Consequences of Jellyfish bloom in China Coastal Waters, 973 program, 3300000, 2011.1-2015.12, Zhigang Yu
Effect of Sediment Resuspension on Coastal Cycle and Transport of Nutrients in the Changtjiang Estuary and Its Adjacent Area, NSFC General Program, 840000, 2013.1-2016.12, Qingzhen Yao
Hydrodynamic sorting of organic carbon from different sources in the Changjiang River Estuary and the inner-shelf of the East China Sea, NSFC General Program, 720000, 2012.1-2015.12, Peng Yao
Influence of Natural and Manmade Flood to the Forms and Flux of Uranium in the Yellow River Estuary, NSFC General Program, 850000, 2014.1-2017.12, Xueyan Jiang
Research Achievements:
Our team rebuilt paleotemperature using UK37, rebuilt marine primary productivity and phytoplankton coenosis structure change using biomarkers, researching on ecological environment change trend and mechanism, and on Atlantic and Pacific millennium- century temperature change trend and mechanism in an earlier time. We researched on East- Yellow sea ecological environment change trend in modern times, differed climate change and human activities’ influence on marine ecological environment.We developed and used monomer molecules carbon isotope to study on paleooceanorgraphy, paleoenvironment, plants and environmental change. The research results were published in Nature, Paleoceanography, Organic Geochemistry, QSR and EPSL.
We combine the detection of intermediates and stable isotopic fractionation during the degradation process of organic pollutants to investigate their degradation mechanism. These results are further validated by quantum chemical calculations. We published our results on Chemosphere, Science of the Total Environment and Talanta.
In Changjiang estuary and inner shelf of the East China Sea, we pioneered the attempt to use Water-Elutriator size classification method and density classification method to study organic carbon distribution.Lignin and deposited pigments are used as biomarkers to study the early diagenesis of organic carbon and to rebuild the historical changes of terrigenous materials inputs, phytoplankton community structure and eutrophication.
Under the cutting point of key functional genes, we are using multi molecular approaches, including real-time quantitative PCR, molecular probe technology and DNA polymorphic method, to characterize the microbial community structure and functioning in coastal wetland and oceanic benthic boundary layers.Based on the relationship between microbial community structure and environmental factors, we are trying to find out the key factor to control microbial activities and unveil their effect on nutrients biogeochemical cycling.
Parts of results are published in international refereed journals, such as Continental Shelf Research, Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science, and Microbial Ecology.Main results are still under preparation.
International Cooperations in Scientif Research and Education:
Funded by MCTL “Visiting Scholars Fellowship” and Marine Chemistry Program (“111” Program funded by MOE and National Foreign Experts Bureau), our team invites about 10 known experts from home and abroad every year to Ocean University to communicate and cooperate. We opened a course named Scientific Writing Skills and held several academic meetings. The visitors include Prof. Thomas Bianchi from University of Florida, Prof. Julian Sachs from University of Mark Altabet, Prof. Jeffrey Bada from Scripps Institution of Oceanography, etc. With the financial supports by NSFC and the Ministry of Education, we have established long-term collaborative relationships with Prof. Thomas Bianchi from Texas A&M University (US), Prof. Brendan Keely from York University (UK), Prof. Bill Burnett from Florida State University (US) and Prof. Laodong Guo from University of Southern Mississippi, via exchanging scholars and graduate students. Besides, we have several joint- training graduate students. Our researchers often go abroad to study advanced knowledge.
