THE DISTRIBUTION OF ORGANIC MATIER IN TilE SEDIMENTS OF THE GULF OF SUEZ.

THE DISTRIBUTION OF ORGANIC MATIER IN TilE

SEDIMENTS OF THE GULF OF SUEZ.

ALI I. BELTAGY AND KH. A. MOUSSA

Institute of Oceanography and Fisheries, Kayet-Bay, Alexandria, Egypt.

ABSTRACT
The importance of gaining additional knowledge of the chemistry
of the Red Sea bottom sediments is stressed. Methods used for
the determinations of organic carbon and nitrogen in 27 samples
from the Gulf of Suez are’ described, and the results of analyses
are givenl. The distribution of organic matter in these sediments
is discussed.
The present study indicates that: 1) the organic matter content
of the bottom sediments in the Gulf of Suez fs relatively small;
2) the C:N is ca. 9.3, on the average; 3) both the organic matter
content and the C:N ratio exhibit regional variations, which are
ascribed to different.environmental conditions in the water column;
4) the mean C:N ratio is shifted a little from the proportions
of these elements in mixed marine plankton towards higher values.
This was attributed to possible effect of oil contamination of
the sediments in the area.