Seasonal variations and distributions of dissolved free and total carbohydrates at the Izmir Bay, Aegean Sea

Seasonal variations and distributions of dissolved carbohydrate concentrations at the Izmir Bay were investigated with salinity, chlorophyll a (Chl a), and dissolved organic carbon (DOC) levels to understand their relationships. Samples were collected from surface, subsurface and bottom depths at seven stations. DOC concentrations ranged from 32.2 to 244.2 mu mol/L, and in general, DOC levels increased from winter to summer, then slightly decreased in autumn. Monosaccharide (MCHO), polysaccharide (PCHO) and total dissolved carbohydrate (TDCHO) levels were found between 0.7-8.3, 0.7-19.5, and 2.6-24.6 mu mol/L. DOC, MCHO, PCHO and TDCHO levels were found higher in middle-inner bays, under the influence of anthropogenic inputs, compared to outer bay. Seasonal changes of MCHO/DOC, PCHO/DOC and TDCHO/DOC ratios were statistically significant (p<0.05) and the ratios showed decrease trends from winter to summer-autumn seasons. Distributions of TDCHO/DOC ratios at wide ranges (2.5%-42.3%) indicated the presence of newly forming and degrading fractions of DOM. According to results of factor analysis, Chl a, MCHO and TDCHO were explained in the same factor groups. In conclusion, the results showed that dissolved carbohydrate levels in the Izmir Bay might be influenced by biological processes and terrestrial/anthropogenic inputs.