Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Geochemical and ecological significance of soil lipids under Rhododendron ponticum stands

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Environmental Chemistry Letters Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The bio-geographical significance of Rhododendron ponticum spp. baeticum (Ericaceae) as a relict species is well recognized. However, out of its native habitat it is an invasive exotic considered a major threat to natural ecosystems in areas of Atlantic Western Europe. The studies on the impact of Rhododendron influence on soil organic matter composition and associated ecological implications, i.e. presence of bioactive compounds with ecological significance, are limited. This work describes the soil lipid assemblage in three sites under Rhododendron stands and adjacent sites with deciduous oak (Quercus canariensis), both in their native habitats in Southern Spain (Sierra de Luna, Cádiz). The results are discussed in terms of organic matter dynamics and the presence of molecules that may be associated with Rhododendron invasive success. The soils are acid Xerochrepts formed on siliceous sands. Composite soil samples were taken at two depths (0–10 cm and 10–20 cm) and soxhlet extracted with a dichloromethane-methanol mixture (3:1). Soil lipid assemblage was studied by GC/MS after fractionation and appropriate derivatization of extracts. The qualitative chemical composition of soil extractable lipids under Rhododendron is reported here for the first time. Our results show that soil n-alkane and fatty acid distributions are compatible with an input from plant epicuticular waxes, as well as with the occurrence of selective preservation of long-chain fatty acids with depth. The pattern of short-chain n-alkanes found in surface samples indicates an anthropogenic contamination threat from nearby industrialized areas of “Campo de Gibraltar”. The presence of branched iso and anteiso C15 and C17, β-hydroxy fatty acids and the sterol brassicasterol points to high microbial soil activity. Finally, the pentacyclic triterpenes taraxerone and taraxerol were detected in soils with Rhododendron but not with Quercus. These are known bio-active plant compounds and could be related with the effectiveness of Rhododendron as an invasive exotic species.

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.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Ageta H, Ageta T (1984) Ericaceous constituents: seventeen triterpenoids isolated from the buds of Rhododendron macrocepalum. Chem Pharm Bull 32:369–372

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Aguilar-Guadarrama B, Navarro V, Leon-Rivera I, Rios MY (2009) Active compounds against tinea pedis dermatophytes from Ageratina pichinchensis var. bustamenta. Nat Prod Res 23:1559–1565

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Almendros G, Sanz J, Velasco F (1996) Signatures of lipid assemblages in soils under continental Mediterranean forest. Eur J Soil Sci 47:183–196

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Amblès A, Magnoux P, Jambu P, Jacquesy R, Fustec E (1989) Effects of addition of bentonite on the hydrocarbon fraction of a podzol soil (A1) horizon. J Soil Sci 40:685–694

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Arias ME, González-Pérez JA, González-Vila FJ, Ball AS (2005) Soil health—a new challenge for microbiologists and chemists. Int Microbiol 8:13–21

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Balsdon JA, Espelie KE, Braman SK (1995) Epicuticular lipids from Azalea (Rhododendron spp) and their potential role in host-plant acceptance by Azalea Lace Bug, Stephanitis pyrioides (Heteroptera, Tingidae). Biochem Syst Ecol 23:477

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bull ID, van Bergen PF, Nott CH, Poulton PR, Evershed RP (2000) Organic geochemical studies of soils from the Rothamsthed classical experiments. V. The fate of lipids in different long-term experiments. Org Geochem 31:389–408

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Canuel EA, Freeman KH, Wakeham SG (1997) Isotopic composition of lipid biomarker compounds in estuarine plants and surface sediments. Limnol Oceanogr 42:1570–1583

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • CEBAC (1963) Estudio agrobiológico de la provincia de Cádiz. Servicio de Publicaciones de la Diputación Provincial de Sevilla, Spain, p 357

    Google Scholar 

  • Chandler RF, Hooper SN (1979) Friedelin and associated triterpenoids. Phytochemistry 18:711–724

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Cross JR (1981) The establishment of Rhododendron ponticum in the Killarney oak woods, SW Ireland. J Ecol 69:807–824

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Erfmeier A, Bruelheide H (2004) Comparison of native and invasive Rhododendron ponticum populations: Growth, reproduction and morphology under field conditions. Flora 199:120–133

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Evans D, Knights BA, Math VB (1975) Steryl acetates in Rhododendron waxes. Phytochemistry 14:2453–2454

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Farrimond P, Flanagan RL (1996) Lipid stratigraphy of a Flandrian peat bed (Northumberland, UK)–Comparison with the pollen record. The Holocene 6:69–74

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • González-Gallero FJ, Galán-Vallejo M, Umbría A, Gervilla-Baena J (2006) Multivariate statistical analysis of meteorological and air pollution data in the ‘Campo de Gibraltar’ region, Spain. Environ Monit Assess 119:405–423

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hashimoto N, Adyama T, Shioiri T (1981) New methods and reagents in organic synthesis. A simple efficient preparation of methyl esters with trimethylsilydiazomethane (TMSCHN2) and its application to gas chromatographic analysis of fatty acids. Chem Pharm Bull 29:1475–1478

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hatcher PG, Spiker EC (1988) Selective degradation of plant biomolecules. In: Frimmel FH, Christman RF (eds) Humic substances and their role in the environment. Wiley, Chichester, pp 59–75

    Google Scholar 

  • Hempfling R, Schulten H-R (1989) Selective preservation of biomolecules during humification of forest litter studied by pyrolysis-field ionization mass spectrometry. Sci Total Environ 81(82):31–40

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hernández AJ, Pastor J (1989) Técnicas analíticas para el estudio de las interacciones suelo-planta. Henares Rev Geol 3:67–102

    Google Scholar 

  • Hernández ME, Mead R, Peralba MC, Jaffé R (2001) Origin and transport of n-Alkane-2-ones in a subtropical estuary: potential biomarkers of a seagrass-derived organic matter. Org Geochem 32:21–32

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jaffé R, Wolff GA, Cabrera AC, Carvajal-Chitty H (1995) The biogeochemistry of lipids in rivers of the Orinoco Basin. Geochim Cosmochim Acta 59:4507–4522

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jambu P, Amblès A, Dinel H, Secouet B (1991) Incorporation of natural hydrocarbons from plant residues into a hydromorphic humic podzol following afforestation and fertilization. J Soil Sci 42:629–636

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Jandl G, Leinweber P, Schulten HR (2007) Origin and fate of soil lipids in a Phaeozem under rye and maize monoculture in Central Germany. Biol Fertil Soils 43:321–332

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jansen B, Nierop KGJ, Tonneijck FH, van der Wielen FWM, Verstraten JM (2007) Can isoprenoids in leaves and roots of plants serve as biomarkers for past vegetation changes? A case study from the Ecuadorian Andes. Plant Soil 291:181–198

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Li M, Larter SR, Taylor P, Jones DM, Bowler B, Bjoroy M (1995) Biomarkers or not biomarkers? A new hypothesis for the origin of pristane involving derivation from methyltrimethyltridecychromans (MTTCs) formed during diagenesis from chlorophylland alkylphenols. Org Geochem 23:159–167

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lichtfouse E, Berthier G, Houot S, Barriuso E, Bergheaud V, Vallaeys T (1995) Stable carbon isotope evidence for the microbial origin of C14–C18 n-alkanoic acids in soils. Org Geochem 23:849–852

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lichtfouse E, Bardoux G, Mariotti A, Balesdent J, Ballentine DC, Macko SA (1997) Molecular, 13C, and 14C evidence for the allochthonous and ancient origin of C16–C18 n-alkanes in modern soils. Geochim Cosmochim Ac 61:1891–1898

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Macías-Rubalcava ML, Hernández-Bautista BE, Jiménez-Estrada M, Cruz-Ortega R, Anaya AL (2007) Pentacyclic triterpenes with selective bioactivity from Sebastiania adenophora leaves, Euphorbiaceae. J Chem Ecol 33:147–156

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mejías JA, Arroyo J, Marañón T (2007) Ecology and biogeography of plant communities associated with the post Plio-Pleistocene relict Rhododendron ponticum sbsp. baeticum in southern Spain. J Biogeogr 34:456–472

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Milne RI, Abbott RJ (2000) Origin and evolution of invasive naturalized material of Rhododendron ponticum L. in the British Isles. Mol Ecol 9:541–556

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Mitchell RJ, Marrs RH, Auld MHD (1998) A comparative study of the seedbanks of heathlands and successional habitats in Dorset, Southern England. J Ecol 86:588–596

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Naafs DFW, Van Bergen PF, De Jong MA, Oonincx A, De Leeuw JW (2004) Total lipid extracts from characteristic soil horizons in a podzol profile. Eur J Soil Sci 55:657–669

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Nakamura S, Yamada T, Wada H, Inoue T, Goto T, Hirata Y (1965) The structure of five new triterpenoids obtained from Rhododendron linearifolium. Tetrahedron Lett 6:2017–2022

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nierop KGJ, van Lagen B, Buurman P (2001) Composition of plant tissues ands oil organic matter in the first stages of a vegetation succession. Geoderma 100:1–24

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Quenea K, Derenne S, Largeau C, Rumpel C, Mariotti A (2004) Variation in lipid relative abundance and composition among different particle size fractions of a forest soil. Org Geochem 35:1355–1370

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Rontani JF, Volkman JK (2003) Phytol degradation products as biogeochemical tracers in aquatic environments. Org Geochem 34:1–35

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Salasoo I (1987) Alkane distribution in epicuticular wax of some heath plants in Norway. Biochem Syst Ecol 15:663–665

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Schwark L, Zink K, Lechterbeck J (2002) Reconstruction of postglacial to early Holocene vegetation history in terrestrial Central Europe via cuticular lipid biomarkers and pollen records from lake sediments. Geology 30:463–466

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Tasdemir D, Dönmez A, Çalıs I, Rüedi P (2004) Evaluation of biological activity of Turkish plants. Rapid screening for the antimicrobial, antioxidant, and acetylcholinesterase inhibitory potential by TLC bioautographic methods. Pharm Biol 42:374–383

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ten Haven HL, Baas M, De Leeuw JW, Schenck PA, Brinkhuis H (1987) Late Quaternary Mediterranean sapropels II. Organic geochemistry and palinology of S1 sapropels and associated sediments. Chem Geol 64:149–167

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Travis J (2003) How does invasion of Rhododendron ponticum impact on soil biodiversity and ecosystem function? Bull British Ecol Soc 34:35

    Google Scholar 

  • Van Smeerdijk DG, Boon JJ (1987) Characterisation of subfossil Sphagnum leaves, rootlets of Ericaceae and their peat by pyrolysis high resolution gas chromatography mass spectrometry. J Anal Appl Pyrolysis 11:377–402

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Volkman JK (1986) A review of sterol markers for marine and terrigenous organic matter. Org Geochem 9:83–99

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Williams LAD (1999) Rhizophora mangle (Rhizophoraceae) triterpenoids with insecticidal activity. Naturwissenschaften 86:450–452

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

The authors wish to thank Trinidad Verdejo for assisting in the GC/MS spectrometry. Thoughtful comments and the meticulous care of Eric Lichtfouse in handling this manuscript are sincerely acknowledged. They also wish thank two anonymous reviewers for their helpful comments.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. IRNAS, CSIC, P.O. Box 1052, 41080, Sevilla, Spain

    J. A. González-Pérez, F. J. González-Vila, T. Marañón & L. Clemente

  2. Universidad de Alcalá, 28871, Madrid, Spain

    M. E. Arias & J. Rodríguez

  3. Instituto Tecnológico e Nuclear, Estrada Nacional 10, 2686-953, Sacavém, Portugal

    J. M. de la Rosa

Authors
  1. J. A. González-Pérez
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. F. J. González-Vila
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. M. E. Arias
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. J. Rodríguez
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. J. M. de la Rosa
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. T. Marañón
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. L. Clemente
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to J. A. González-Pérez.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

González-Pérez, J.A., González-Vila, F.J., Arias, M.E. et al. Geochemical and ecological significance of soil lipids under Rhododendron ponticum stands. Environ Chem Lett 9, 453–464 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10311-010-0300-4

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10311-010-0300-4

Keywords

Search

Navigation