Toggle Main Menu Toggle Search

Open Access padlockePrints

Distribution of polar membrane lipids in permafrost soils and sediments of a small high Arctic catchment

Lookup NU author(s): Dr Janet Rethemeyer, Dr Helen Talbot, Dr Martin Cooke

Downloads

Full text for this publication is not currently held within this repository. Alternative links are provided below where available.


Abstract

The distribution of bacteriohopanepolyols (BHPs) and intact polar membrane lipids (IPLs) was studied in different soil profiles and in fluvial and marine sediments along the pathway of transport in a small catchment in the high Arctic at Ny-Alesund, Svalbard (79 degrees N, 12 degrees E). Both groups of cellular membrane lipids have been used as biomarkers for determining major microbial groups and biogeochemical processes in natural environments. Little is known about their distribution and usefulness as environmental markers in the Arctic. In this study, we show that both membrane lipid groups are variably distributed in the drainage area of the Broggerbreen Glacier, with highest abundance and diversity in the organic mat overlying the mineral soils, as well as in mossy surface soil. The BHP and IPL composition and abundance both indicate a larger community of phototrophic bacteria in the organic mats and fluvial sediments. The greater diversity and abundance of BHPs relative to IPLs in sub-soils, including probable markers for cyanobacteria, suggest a greater resistance to degradation. In contrast, IPL concentration decreased strongly with soil depth, pointing to their rapid degradation. Bacterial IPLs are thus thought to reflect more reliably the biomass of viable phototrophic bacteria. The high concentrations of proposed soil marker BHPs, adenosylhopane and related structures vs. published results and their relative increase with soil depth suggest better preservation and more effective accumulation of the compounds at low temperature. (C) 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.


Publication metadata

Author(s): Rethemeyer J, Schubotz F, Talbot HM, Cooke MP, Hinrichs KU, Mollenhauer G

Publication type: Article

Publication status: Published

Journal: Organic Geochemistry

Year: 2010

Volume: 41

Issue: 10

Pages: 1130-1145

Print publication date: 15/06/2010

ISSN (print): 0146-6380

ISSN (electronic): 1873-5290

Publisher: Pergamon

URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.orggeochem.2010.06.004

DOI: 10.1016/j.orggeochem.2010.06.004


Altmetrics

Altmetrics provided by Altmetric


Funding

Funder referenceFunder name
MO1416/5-1DFG

Share