Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

δD values of n-alkanes in sediments from Gahai Lake, Gannan, China: implications for sources of organic matter

  • Original paper
  • Published:
Journal of Paleolimnology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Gahai Lake in the Gannan region, located in the northeast of the Tibetan Plateau, is the largest pristine freshwater lake on the plateau. Surface sediments in the Gahai Lake were systematically sampled, and n-alkane distribution and hydrogen isotope were analyzed by a gas chromatograph-mass spectrometer and a gas chromatograph-interface-isotope ratio mass spectrometer. The δD values of n-alkanes in the sediments ranged from −247 to −161 ‰ and the mean values varied between −222 and −182 ‰. The studied sediments were divided into types I and II based on the average δD values of n-alkanes. The average δD values of n-alkanes in type I sediments were significantly higher than those in type II sediments and there were good correlations among the δD values of the n-alkanes from the two sediment types. The δD values of type I sediments indicated that the C21–C33 odd-numbered n-alkanes were derived mainly from aquatic plants in the Gahai Lake, while the δD values of type II sediments showed that C27–C33 odd-number n-alkanes were derived from terrestrial herbaceous plants. This assessment of n-alkane sources was also confirmed by their distributions. It was inferred that the medium-chain length n-alkanes of relatively high abundance, low δD values, and low carbon preference index values were derived principally from bacteria. The distribution patterns of the sedimentary n-alkane δD values for the plateau humid-climate freshwater lake and dry-climate saline lake systems were compared. The results further confirmed that sedimentary n-alkanes record the hydrogen isotopic composition of source water used by organisms. Therefore, δD values of sedimentary n-alkanes can be used as geochemical indicators for sources of sedimentary organic matter and in paleoclimate studies. Our results also showed that the δD values of n-alkanes from sediments within the lake can differ significantly for a given time period owing to their different biological sources. This should be taken into account when reconstructing paleoclimatic and hydrologic conditions using sedimentary n-alkane δD values.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Aichner B, Herzschuh U, Wilkes H (2010a) Influence of aquatic macrophytes on the stable carbon isotopic signatures of sedimentary organic matter in lakes on the Tibetan Plateau. Org Geochem 41:706–718

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Aichner B, Herzschuh U, Wilkes H, Vieth A, Böhner J (2010b) δD values of n-alkanes in Tibetan lake sediments and aquatic macrophytes: a surface sediment study and application to a 16 ka record from Lake Koucha. Org Geochem 41:779–790

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Baas M, Pancost R, van Geel B, Damste JSS (2000) A comparative study of lipids in Sphagnum species. Org Geochem 31:535–541

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bi X, Sheng G, Liu XX, Bi G, Sheng X, Liu C, Fu J (2005) Molecular and carbon and hydrogen isotopic composition of n-alkanes in plant leaf waxes. Org Geochem 36:1405–1417

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chikaraishi Y, Naraoka H (2005) δ13C and δD identification of sources of lipid biomarkers in sediments of Lake Haruna (Japan). Geochim Cosmochim Acta 69:3285–3297

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chikaraishi Y, Naraoka H (2006) Carbon and hydrogen isotope variation of plant biomarkers in a plant–soil system. Chem Geol 231:190–202

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chikaraishi Y, Yamada Y, Naraoka H (2005) Carbon and hydrogen isotopic compositions of sterols from riverine and marine sediments. Limnol Oceanogr 50:1763–1770

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cranwell PA (1981) Diagenesis of free and bound lipids in terrestrial detritus deposited in a lacustrine sediment. Org Geochem 3:79–89

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cranwell PA, Eglinton G, Robinson N (1987) Lipids of aquatic organisms as potential contributors to lacustrine sediments. Org Geochem 11:513–527

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • de las Heras X, Grimalt JO, Albaiges J, Julia R, Anadon P (1989) Origin and diagenesis of the organic matter in Miocene freshwater lacustrine phosphates (Cerdanya Basin, Eastern Pyrenees). Org Geochem 14:667–677

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Douglas PM, Pagani M, Eglinton TI, Brenner M, Hodell DA, Curtis JH, Ma KF, Breckenridge A (2014) Pre-aged plant waxes in tropical lake sediments and their influence on the chronology of molecular paleoclimate proxy records. Geochim Cosmochim Acta 141:346–364

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Duan Y (2000) Organic geochemistry of recent marine sediment from the Nansha Sea, China. Org Geochem 31:159–167

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Duan Y, Ma LH (2001) Lipid geochemistry in a sediment core from Ruoergai Marsh deposit (Eastern Qinghai-Tibet plateau, China). Org Geochem 32:1429–1442

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Duan Y, Wu BX (2009) Hydrogen isotopic compositions and their environmental significance for individual n-alkanes in typical plants from land in China. Chin Sci Bull 54:461–467

    Google Scholar 

  • Duan Y, Xu L (2012) Distributions of n-alkanes and their hydrogen isotopic composition in plants from Lake Qinghai (China) and the surrounding area. Appl Geochem 27:806–814

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Duan Y, Zhang H, Zheng CY, Wu BX, Zheng GD (2005) Carbon isotopic characteristics and their genetic relationships for individual lipids in plants and sediments from a marsh sedimentary environment. Sci China 48:1203–1210

  • Duan Y, Zheng CY, Wu BX (2010) Hydrogen isotopic characteristics and their genetic relationships for individual n-alkanes in plants and sediments from Zoigê marsh sedimentary environment. China (Ser D) 53:1329–1334

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Duan Y, Wu BX, Xu L, He JX, Sun T (2011) Characterization of n-alkanes and their hydrogen isotopic compositions in sediments from Lake Qinghai, China. Org Geochem 42:720–726

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Duan Y, Zhao Y, Sun T, Zhang XL (2014a) δD values of individual n-alkanes in sediments from the Chaka Salt Lake (China) and terrestrial plants from the surrounding area. Geochem J 48:321–329

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Duan Y, Wu YZ, Cao XX, Zhao Y, Ma LH (2014b) Hydrogen isotope ratios of individual n-alkanes in plants from Gannan Gahai Lake (China) and surrounding area. Org Geochem 77:96–105

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Eglinton G, Hamilton RJ (1967) Leaf epicuticular waxes. Science 156:1322–1324

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ficken KJ, Li B, Swain DL, Eglinton G (2000) An n-alkane proxy for the sedimentary input of submerged/floating freshwater aquatic macrophytes. Org Geochem 31:745–749

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Guenther F, Aichner B, Siegwolf R, Xu B, Yao T, Gleixner G (2013) A synthesis of hydrogen isotope variability and its hydrological significance at the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau. Quat Int 313:3–16

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Holtvoeth J, Rushworth D, Imeri A, Cara M, Vogel H, Wagner T, Wolff G (2015) Improved end-member characterization of modern organic matter pools in the Ohrid Basin (Albania, Macedonia) and evaluation of new palaeoenvironmental proxies. Biogeosci Discuss 12:12975–13039

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hu X, Zhu L, Wang Y, Wang J, Peng P, Ma Q, Hu J, Lin X (2014) Climatic significance of n-alkanes and their compound-specific δD values from lake surface sediments on the Southwestern Tibetan Plateau. Chin Sci Bull 59:3022–3033

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Huang Y, Shuman B, Wang Y, Webb T III, Grimm EC, Jacobson GL Jr (2006) Climatic and environmental controls on the variation of C3 and C4 plant abundances in central Florida for the past 62,000 years. Palaeogeogr Palaeoclimatol Palaeoecol 237:428–435

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jones JG (1969) Studies on lipids of soil micro-organisms with particular reference to hydrocarbons. J Gen Microbiol 59:145–152

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kahmen A, Schefuß E, Sachse D (2013) Leaf water deuterium enrichment shapes leaf wax n-alkane δD values of angiosperm plants I: experimental evidence and mechanistic insight. Geochim et Cosmochim Acta 111:39–49

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ladygina N, Dedyukhina E, Vainshtein M (2006) A review on microbial synthesis of hydrocarbons. Process Biochem 41:1001–1014

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Li C, Sessions AL, Kinnaman FS, Valentine DL (2009) Hydrogen isotopic variability in lipids from Santa Barbara Basin sediments. Geochim Cosmochim Acta 73:4803–4823

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Logan GA, Eglinton G (1994) Biogeochemistry of the Miocene lacustrine deposit at Clarkia, northern Idaho, USA. Org Geochem 21:857–870

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Luo SH (2000) Wetland resources and evaluation in Gahai-Zecha National Nature Reserve. Forest Resource Management. 45–48 (in Chinese with English abstract)

  • Ma DS (2005) Habital kind increase of migratory birds in Gahai lake in the Spring. Environ Res Monit 18:30 (in Chinese with English abstract)

    Google Scholar 

  • Ma WW, Wang H, Wang YS, Wang H, Zhao HR (2012) Soil properties of meadow watlands for different altitudes in Gahai of Gannan. Acta Agrestia Sin 20:1044–1050 (in Chinese with English abstract)

    Google Scholar 

  • Meyers PA (2003) Applications of organic geochemistry to paleolimnological reconstructions: a summary of examples from the Laurentian Great Lakes. Org Geochem 34:261–289

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mügler I, Sachse D, Martin Werner M, Xu BQ, Wub GJ, Yao TD, Gleixner G (2008) Effect of lake evaporation on δD values of lacustrine n-alkanes: a comparison of Nam Co (Tibetan Plateau) and Holzmaar (Germany). Org Geochem 39:711–729

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rao Z, Jia G, Qiang M, Zhao Y (2014) Assessment of the difference between mid- and long chain compound specific δD n-alkanes values in lacustrine sediments as a paleoclimatic indicator. Org Geochem 76:104–117

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rieley G, Collier RJ, Jones DM, Eglinton G (1991) The biogeochemistry of Ellesmere Lake, UK—I: source correlation of leaf wax inputs to the sedimentary lipid record. Org Geochem 17:901–912

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sachse D, Radke J, Gleixner G (2004) Hydrogen isotope ratios of recent lacustrine sedimentary n-alkanes record modern climate variability. Geochim Cosmochim Acta 68:4877–4889

  • Sachse D, Radke J, Gleixner G (2006) δD values of individual n-alkanes from terrestrial plants along a climatic gradient: implications for the sedimentary biomarker record. Org Geochem 37:469–483

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sachse D, Gleixner G, Wilkes H, Kahmen A (2010) Leaf wax n-alkane δD values of field-grown barley reflect leaf water δD values at the time of leaf formation. Geochim Cosmochim Acta 74:6741–6750

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sauer PE, Eglinton TI, Hayes JM, Schimmelmann A, Sessions AL (2001) Compound-specific D/H ratios of lipid biomarkers from sediments as a proxy for environmental and climatic conditions. Geochim Cosmochim Acta 65:213–222

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Schefuß E, Schouten S, Schneider RR (2005) Climatic controls on central African hydrology during the past 20,000 years. Nature 427:1003–1006

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Seki O, Meyers PA, Kawamura K, Zheng YH, Zhou WJ (2009) Hydrogen isotopic ratios of plant wax n-alkanes in a peat bog deposited in northeast China during the last 16 kyr. Org Geochem 40:671–677

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sessions AL, Burgoyne TW, Schimmelmann A, Hayes JM (1999) Fractionation of hydrogen isotopes in lipid biosynthesis. Org Geochem 30:1193–1200

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Simoneit BRT, Vuchev VT, Grimalt JO (1984) Organic matter along the sedimentary sequences of the Moroccan Continental Margin, Leg 79, Sites 545 and 547. In: Hinz K, Winterer FL et al (eds) Initial reports of the Deep Sea Drilling Project 79. Govt Printing Office, Washington, pp 807–824

    Google Scholar 

  • Venkatesan MI (1988) Organic geochemistry of marine sediments in Antarctic region: marine lipids in McMurdo Sound. Org Geochem 12:13–27

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Xia ZH, Xu BQ, Mügler I, Wu GJ, Gleixner G, Sachse D, Zhu LP (2008) Hydrogen isotope ratios of terrigenous n-alkanes in lacustrine surface sediment of the Tibetan Plateau record the precipitation signal. Geochem J 42:331–338

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Xie S, Nott CJ, Avsejs LA, Volders F, Maddy D, Chambers FM, Gledhill A, Carter JF, Evershed RP (2000) Palaeoclimate records in compound-specific δD values of a lipid biomarker in ombrotrophic peat. Org Geochem 31:1053–1057

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yao Y, Liu W (2014) Hydrogen isotopic composition of plant leaf wax in response to soil moisture in an arid ecosystem of the northeast Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau, China. J Arid Land 6:592–600

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zech M, Pedentchouk N, Buggle B, Leiber K, Kalbitz K, Markovic SB, Glaser B (2011) Effect of leaf litter degradation and seasonality on D/H isotope ratios of n-alkane biomarkers. Geochim Cosmochim Acta 75:4917–4928

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

This study was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant Nos. 41272125 and 41472121). We thank Dr. Jia Xia for the assistance in the field. We thank Dr. Ines Mügler and five anonymous reviewers for valuable suggestions and critical comments.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Key Laboratory of Petroleum Resources, Gansu Province/Key Laboratory of Petroleum Resources Research, Institute of Geology and Geophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou, 730000, China

    Yi Duan, Yang Zhao & Yingzhong Wu

  2. School of Earth Science and Resources, Chang’an University, Xi’an, 710054, China

    Yi Duan

  3. University of Chinese Academy of Science, Beijing, 100049, China

    Yang Zhao & Yingzhong Wu

  4. China University of Mining and Technology, Xuzhou, 221116, China

    Jinxian He & Xiaoli Zhang

  5. Research Institute of Petroleum Exploration and Development, Lanzhou, 730020, China

    Li Xu

  6. Earthquake Research Institute of Lanzhou, China Earthquake Administration, Lanzhou, 730000, China

    Lanhua Ma

  7. Analytical Chemistry Branch BEAD/Office of Pesticide Programs, US EPA 701 Mapes Rd., Fort Meade, MD, 20755-5350, USA

    Raorong Qian

Authors
  1. Yi Duan
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Yang Zhao
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Yingzhong Wu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Jinxian He
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Li Xu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Xiaoli Zhang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. Lanhua Ma
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  8. Raorong Qian
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Yi Duan.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Duan, Y., Zhao, Y., Wu, Y. et al. δD values of n-alkanes in sediments from Gahai Lake, Gannan, China: implications for sources of organic matter. J Paleolimnol 56, 95–107 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10933-016-9895-1

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10933-016-9895-1

Keywords

Search

Navigation