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Co-variation of crenarchaeol and branched GDGTs in globally-distributed marine and freshwater sedimentary archives

Fietz, S.; Huguet, C.; Bendle, J.A.; Escala, M.; Gallacher, C.; Herfort, L.; Jamieson, R.; Martínez-Garcia, A.; McClymont, E.L.; Peck, V.L.; Prahl, F.G.; Rossi, S.; Rueda, G.; Sanson-Barrera, A.; Rosell-Melé, A.

Co-variation of crenarchaeol and branched GDGTs in globally-distributed marine and freshwater sedimentary archives Thumbnail


Authors

S. Fietz

C. Huguet

J.A. Bendle

M. Escala

C. Gallacher

L. Herfort

R. Jamieson

A. Martínez-Garcia

V.L. Peck

F.G. Prahl

S. Rossi

G. Rueda

A. Sanson-Barrera

A. Rosell-Melé



Abstract

Two major types of glycerol dialkyl glycerol tetraethers (GDGTs) are commonly used in paleoecological and paleoclimatological reconstructions: isoprenoidal and branched GDGTs. In aquatic environments, it was originally assumed that isoprenoidal GDGTs, especially crenarchaeol, derive mainly from aquatic Thaumarchaeota, while branched GDGTs are an allochthonous input derived from soil Bacteria. Recently, direct co-variation of crenarchaeol and branched GDGTs has been described in two marine sedimentary records, and this observation suggests that in situ production of branched GDGTs is possible at least in some aquatic environments. After investigating 30 published and unpublished data sets from downcore and surface sediments as well as sediment traps from 19 distinct regions around the world, we found a widespread significant correlation between concentrations of branched GDGTs and crenarchaeol (p < 0.01; r2 = 0.57–0.99), even when normalized against TOC, where available. These data sets include freshwater and marine environments with varying distances from the shore, varying redox conditions and different terrestrial matter input pathways. Our findings from this large-scale data set suggest that a common or mixed source for both GDGT types is actually commonplace in lacustrine and marine settings.

Citation

Fietz, S., Huguet, C., Bendle, J., Escala, M., Gallacher, C., Herfort, L., …Rosell-Melé, A. (2012). Co-variation of crenarchaeol and branched GDGTs in globally-distributed marine and freshwater sedimentary archives. Global and Planetary Change, 92-93, 275-285. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gloplacha.2012.05.020

Journal Article Type Article
Publication Date Jul 1, 2012
Deposit Date Feb 20, 2012
Publicly Available Date Feb 13, 2015
Journal Global and Planetary Change
Print ISSN 0921-8181
Publisher Elsevier
Peer Reviewed Peer Reviewed
Volume 92-93
Pages 275-285
DOI https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gloplacha.2012.05.020

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Accepted Journal Article (696 Kb)
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Copyright Statement
NOTICE: this is the author’s version of a work that was accepted for publication in Global and planetary change. Changes resulting from the publishing process, such as peer review, editing, corrections, structural formatting, and other quality control mechanisms may not be reflected in this document. Changes may have been made to this work since it was submitted for publication. A definitive version was subsequently published in Global and planetary change, 92-93, 2012, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.gloplacha.2012.05.020





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