Monthly vertical profile of dissolved sulfide in the interstitial water at the pen shell (Atrina pectinata) fishing ground in northeastern Ariake Bay

Abstract

The monthly vertical profile of dissolved sulfide in the bottom sediments of the pen shell (Atrina pectinata) fishing ground at Arao, which is located offshore in northeastern Ariake Bay, was investigated from December 2007 to December 2008. The concentrations of dissolved sulfide in colder seasons were below 2 mgS L^-1, but increased to 9 mgS L^-1 as the sediment temperature increased. The monthly vertical profile of dissolved sulfide in the bottom sediments suggested that the death of Atrina pectinata was induced by an increase in hydrogen sulfide in the sediment.