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Hydrogen isotopes in palmitic and stearic acids in suspended particles from the Changjiang River Estuary

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  • Special Topic: Advances in organic proxies for research in climate and environmental changes
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Abstract

Hydrogen isotopes in lipid biomarkers can trace past changes in the hydrologic cycle. Recent studies have revealed the potential of hydrogen isotopes in microalgal lipids for quantitatively reconstructing water δ 2H (δD) values and salinity. In this study we collected suspended particles along a salinity gradient from the Changjiang River Estuary (CRE), and measured δD values in fatty acids in these particles. The results indicated that δD values of water were correlated highly with salinity from the CRE, in agreement with the results from other estuaries. δD values in palmitic acid and stearic acid had a positive correlation with δD values of water from the CRE. Nevertheless, in the CRE, hydrogen isotope fractionation in fatty acids relative to water increased as salinity increased, opposite the trend in hydrogen isotope fractionation with salinity found in microalgal culture and field studies. We attribute the increase in hydrogen isotope fractionation as salinity increased to light availability, which was likely lower in the particle rich mixing zone at the end of the estuary, and potentially as well to multiple sources of fatty acids in the CRE.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Key Laboratory of Marine Chemistry Theory and Technology, Ministry of Education, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, 266100, China

    Lei Xing, HaiLong Zhang, Li Li & MeiXun Zhao

  2. Qingdao Collaborative Innovation Center of Marine Science and Technology, Qingdao, 266100, China

    Lei Xing, HaiLong Zhang, Li Li & MeiXun Zhao

  3. School of Oceanography, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, 98195, USA

    Julian P. Sachs

  4. State Key Laboratory of Satellite Ocean Environment Dynamics, Second Institute of Oceanography, State Oceanic Administration, Hangzhou, 310012, China

    ZhongQiang Ji

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  1. Lei Xing
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Correspondence to MeiXun Zhao.

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Xing, L., Sachs, J.P., Zhang, H. et al. Hydrogen isotopes in palmitic and stearic acids in suspended particles from the Changjiang River Estuary. Sci. China Earth Sci. 59, 981–988 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11430-015-5228-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11430-015-5228-x

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