Microbial production of long-chain n-alkanes: Implication for interpreting sedimentary leaf wax signals

摘要

Highlights?Microbial production rates ofn-alkanes in peaty soils were determined.?Anaerobic microbes only produce 19short-chain lengthn-alkanes.?Aerobic microbes produce long-chainn-alkanes (e.g.,n-C29) by up to 0.1%/yr.?Microbes can complicate the application of leaf-waxes in paleo-climate studies.AbstractRelative distributions as well as compound-specific carbon and hydrogen isotope ratios of long-chain C25to C33n-alkanes in sediments provide important paleoclimate and paleoenvironmental information. These compounds in aquatic sediments are generally attributed to leaf waxes produced by higher plants. However, whether microbes, such as fungi and bacteria, can make a significant contribu