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Comparisons of lipid molecular and carbon isotopic compositions in two particle-size fractions from surface peat and their implications for lipid preservation

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Abstract

Knowledge of the possible impacts of early diagenesis on lipid biomarkers in geologic settings is important for robust applications of lipid proxies for paleoclimate reconstructions. In this study, molecular distributions and carbon isotopic compositions of lipids were compared in two particle-size fractions (<0.3 mm and >0.3 mm) of twelve surface peat samples collected from Dajiuhu peatland, central China. The average chain length (ACL) values of long-chain n-alkanes, n-fatty alcohols, n-fatty acids and n-alkan-2-ones show no significant differences between the finer and coarser fractions. In contrast, the carbon preference index values of long-chain n-alkanes, n-fatty alcohols and n-alkan-2-ones have relatively smaller values in the finer fractions than in the coarser ones. Stanols were also more abundant in the finer fractions. In addition, the δ13C values of odd-numbered n-alkanes (C23–C33) were generally less negative in the finer fractions. Our results indicate that (1) the finer fractions probably experienced stronger degradation than the coarser fractions; (2) the less negative δ13C values of odd-numbered n-alkanes (C23–C33) in the finer fractions were largely a result of greater heterotrophic reworking during degradation; (3) ACL values of long-chain n-alkyl lipids (n-alkanes, n-fatty alcohols and n-fatty acids, n-alkan-2-ones) appear to be reliable proxies to trace lipid sources and their associated paleoenvironmental signals in peat deposits.

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (41472308, 41330103), the Programme of Introducing Talents of Discipline to Universities (B08030), and the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities (CUG150618). Zhiqi Zhang from the Dajiuhu National Wetland Administration is thanked for his help in the field. Comments from the two anonymous reviewers helped us to improve the quality of this contribution.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratory of Critical Zone Evolution, School of Earth Sciences, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan, 430074, China

    Xinxin Wang, Xianyu Huang, Yu Hu & Jiantao Xue

  2. State Key Laboratory of Biogeology and Environmental Geology, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan, 430074, China

    Xianyu Huang

  3. Institute of Earth and Environmental Science, University of Potsdam, 14476, Potsdam, Germany

    Dirk Sachse

  4. Organic Surface Geochemistry Lab, Section 5.1 Geomorphology, GFZ German Research Center for Geosciences, 14473, Potsdam, Germany

    Xinxin Wang & Dirk Sachse

  5. Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, The University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109-1005, USA

    Philip A. Meyers

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  1. Xinxin Wang
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Wang, X., Huang, X., Sachse, D. et al. Comparisons of lipid molecular and carbon isotopic compositions in two particle-size fractions from surface peat and their implications for lipid preservation. Environ Earth Sci 75, 1142 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-016-5960-3

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