Skip to main content

Lund University Publications

LUND UNIVERSITY LIBRARIES

Effects of sediment storage conditions on pigment analyses

Reuss, Nina LU and Conley, Daniel LU (2005) In Limnology and Oceanography: Methods 3. p.477-487
Abstract
Sediment pigments as an indicator of water column and benthic processes have become widely used during the last decades. However, the effect of different storage and handling conditions on the accuracy of sediment pigment analyses has not been adequately evaluated. This can potentially make comparisons between studies difficult and, at worst, call into question the validity of some studies. Even though sediment pigment studies often rely on relative changes of individual pigments with depth, the effect of storage and handling is a critical consideration in any investigation. Based on testing of a number of different protocols, this study recommends that all sediment samples should be frozen at -20 degrees C or colder as soon as possible... (More)
Sediment pigments as an indicator of water column and benthic processes have become widely used during the last decades. However, the effect of different storage and handling conditions on the accuracy of sediment pigment analyses has not been adequately evaluated. This can potentially make comparisons between studies difficult and, at worst, call into question the validity of some studies. Even though sediment pigment studies often rely on relative changes of individual pigments with depth, the effect of storage and handling is a critical consideration in any investigation. Based on testing of a number of different protocols, this study recommends that all sediment samples should be frozen at -20 degrees C or colder as soon as possible after sampling and stored at this temperature without additional treatment (e.g., freeze-drying) until just before analysis of pigments. Freezing at a lower temperature than -20 degrees C or flushing with nitrogen gas did not improve preservation. Our results showed that, if dictated by other proxy analyses, raw sediment can be stored at 3 degrees C for up to 6 months, whereas freeze-dried sediment should always be stored frozen. In addition, the use of an internal standard (for example, beta-apo-8-carotenal) for normalizing pigment concentrations is highly recommended as it significantly reduces variability between runs. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
and
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
in
Limnology and Oceanography: Methods
volume
3
pages
477 - 487
publisher
Wiley-Blackwell
external identifiers
  • wos:000236036900004
  • scopus:33646563740
ISSN
1541-5856
language
English
LU publication?
no
id
6dcf3fc0-cbe2-4b29-90cb-eb319ad507d0 (old id 208528)
alternative location
http://aslo.org/lomethods/free/2005/index.html
date added to LUP
2016-04-04 10:16:15
date last changed
2022-01-29 20:04:26
@article{6dcf3fc0-cbe2-4b29-90cb-eb319ad507d0,
  abstract     = {{Sediment pigments as an indicator of water column and benthic processes have become widely used during the last decades. However, the effect of different storage and handling conditions on the accuracy of sediment pigment analyses has not been adequately evaluated. This can potentially make comparisons between studies difficult and, at worst, call into question the validity of some studies. Even though sediment pigment studies often rely on relative changes of individual pigments with depth, the effect of storage and handling is a critical consideration in any investigation. Based on testing of a number of different protocols, this study recommends that all sediment samples should be frozen at -20 degrees C or colder as soon as possible after sampling and stored at this temperature without additional treatment (e.g., freeze-drying) until just before analysis of pigments. Freezing at a lower temperature than -20 degrees C or flushing with nitrogen gas did not improve preservation. Our results showed that, if dictated by other proxy analyses, raw sediment can be stored at 3 degrees C for up to 6 months, whereas freeze-dried sediment should always be stored frozen. In addition, the use of an internal standard (for example, beta-apo-8-carotenal) for normalizing pigment concentrations is highly recommended as it significantly reduces variability between runs.}},
  author       = {{Reuss, Nina and Conley, Daniel}},
  issn         = {{1541-5856}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  pages        = {{477--487}},
  publisher    = {{Wiley-Blackwell}},
  series       = {{Limnology and Oceanography: Methods}},
  title        = {{Effects of sediment storage conditions on pigment analyses}},
  url          = {{http://aslo.org/lomethods/free/2005/index.html}},
  volume       = {{3}},
  year         = {{2005}},
}