Dissolved lignin within the waters of Barkley Sound, Vancouver Island, Canada

Abstract

This study used dissolved lignin phase as a biomarker to determine the plant sources of terrestrial derived organic carbon that enters into the waters of Barkley Sound, Vancouver Island. No studies have been conducted on dissolved lignin in the water-column of temperate estuarine systems. The study compared estimates of lignin degradation obtained by using the Lignin Phenol Vegetation Index and the Ad/Al ratio.