The isotopic composition of dissolved inorganic carbon(DIC) in estuarine environments has been studied for its significant role in determining the isotopic composition of inorganic/organic matter and its applications to the study of various natural processes. In this paper, based on the stable isotope geochemical characteristics of dissolved inorganic carbon in the Jiulong River Estuary, the following conclusions are drawn:(1) δ13CDIC values are mainly controlled by the mixing ratio of fresh water and sea water;(2) δ13Cphytoplankton values are linearly related to the δ13CDIC values;(3) δ13CPOM values for the Jiulong River Estuary are affected by anthropogenic pollution significantly; and(4) the comprehensive analysis of δ13Cphytoplankton, δ13CPOM and δ13CDIC shows that along with increasing salinity, the proportion of POM derived from the degradation of phytoplanktons gradually increases.
