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The potential of biomarker proxies to trace climate, vegetation, and biogeochemical processes in peat: A review

Naafs, B.D.A.; Inglis, G.N.; Blewett, J.; McClymont, E.L.; Lauretano, V.; Xie, S.; Evershed, R.P.; Pancost, R.D.

Authors

B.D.A. Naafs

G.N. Inglis

J. Blewett

V. Lauretano

S. Xie

R.P. Evershed

R.D. Pancost



Abstract

Molecular fossils (biomarkers) are abundant in organic rich natural archives such as peats and lignites (fossilized peat), where their distribution is governed by their biological source, environmental factors, such as temperature and pH, and diagenetic reactions. As a result, biomarkers in peat have become an important tool to study past variations in vegetation, environment and climate in terrestrial settings, as well as biogeochemistry on time-scales of hundreds to millions of years ago. In recent years, significant progress has been made in understanding the controls on biomarker distributions, especially those derived from microorganisms and peat-forming plants, allowing for example, the quantification of past temperature and vegetation history during peat formation. Herein, we provide a review of a range of commonly applied biomarker proxies in peats, discuss the latest proxy developments, and explore the potential of using biomarkers in peat and lignite as paleoenvironmental proxies. We provide a framework for biomarker analyses in peat and identify possible future research directions.

Citation

Naafs, B., Inglis, G., Blewett, J., McClymont, E., Lauretano, V., Xie, S., …Pancost, R. (2019). The potential of biomarker proxies to trace climate, vegetation, and biogeochemical processes in peat: A review. Global and Planetary Change, 179, 57-79. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gloplacha.2019.05.006

Journal Article Type Article
Acceptance Date May 11, 2019
Online Publication Date May 13, 2019
Publication Date Aug 31, 2019
Deposit Date May 17, 2019
Publicly Available Date Mar 29, 2024
Journal Global and Planetary Change
Print ISSN 0921-8181
Publisher Elsevier
Peer Reviewed Peer Reviewed
Volume 179
Pages 57-79
DOI https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gloplacha.2019.05.006

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