Variation in Solvent-Extractable Lipids and <i>n</i>-Alkane Compound-Specific Carbon Isotopic Compositions with Depth in a Southern China Karst Area Soil

Jingwei Cui; Junhua Huang; Philip A Meyers; Xianyu Huang; Jingjing Li; Wengui Liu

doi:10.1007/s12583-010-0101-5

Volume 21 Issue 4

Aug 2010

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Journal of Earth Science > 2010 > 21(4): 382-391.

Jingwei Cui, Junhua Huang, Philip A Meyers, Xianyu Huang, Jingjing Li, Wengui Liu. Variation in Solvent-Extractable Lipids and n-Alkane Compound-Specific Carbon Isotopic Compositions with Depth in a Southern China Karst Area Soil. Journal of Earth Science, 2010, 21(4): 382-391. doi: 10.1007/s12583-010-0101-5

Citation:

Jingwei Cui, Junhua Huang, Philip A Meyers, Xianyu Huang, Jingjing Li, Wengui Liu. Variation in Solvent-Extractable Lipids and n-Alkane Compound-Specific Carbon Isotopic Compositions with Depth in a Southern China Karst Area Soil. Journal of Earth Science, 2010, 21(4): 382-391. doi: 10.1007/s12583-010-0101-5

Citation:

Jingwei Cui, Junhua Huang, Philip A Meyers, Xianyu Huang, Jingjing Li, Wengui Liu. Variation in Solvent-Extractable Lipids and n-Alkane Compound-Specific Carbon Isotopic Compositions with Depth in a Southern China Karst Area Soil. Journal of Earth Science, 2010, 21(4): 382-391. doi: 10.1007/s12583-010-0101-5

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Variation in Solvent-Extractable Lipids and n-Alkane Compound-Specific Carbon Isotopic Compositions with Depth in a Southern China Karst Area Soil

doi: 10.1007/s12583-010-0101-5

1.
State Key Laboratory of Petroleum Resources and Prospecting, China University of Petroleum, Beijing 102249, China
2.
State Key Laboratory of Geological Processes and Mineral Resources, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan 430074, China
3.
Department of Geological Sciences, The University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109-1005 USA
4.
Key Laboratory of Biogeology and Environmental Geology of Ministry of Education, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan 430074, China

Funds:

National Natural Science Foundation of China 40572098

National Natural Science Foundation of China 40525008

National Natural Science Foundation of China 40621002

National Natural Science Foundation of China 40531004

111 Project B08030

More Information

Corresponding author: Jingwei Cui, jingwei.cui@126.com
Received Date: 10 Feb 2010
Accepted Date: 10 Apr 2010
Publish Date: 01 Aug 2010

Abstract

Abstract

Because literatures about the lipid compositions of modern soils in karst areas are scarce, we have studied the soil horizons overlying the Heshang (和尚) Cave that has provided paleoclimate records from speleothem lipid contents. Our analysis reveals a series of n-alkanes, free fatty acids, n-alkanols and n-alkan-2-ones distribution and relative abundance changing with the depth, and in which the ratios of the lower molecular weight to higher molecular weight n-alkanes, free fatty acids, n-alkanols and n-alkan-2-ones have a peak at a subsurface depth of 5 to 10 cm. An accompanying peak in 17β(H), 21β(H)-hop-22(29)-ene (diploptene) and a shift to less negative n-alkane carbon isotopic values also identify this layer in the karst soil. This pattern indicates the existence of a subsurface soil layer in which the microorganisms that produce these compounds are especially abundant. The carbon isotopic values of individual plant wax n-alkanes are about 3‰ greater at the base of the 30- to 40-cm soil profile than in the surface layer, probably as a result of selective microbial degradation of n-alkanes from different primary sources. The lipids and carbon isotopic values of individual plant wax n-alkanes study of the overlying soil show a strong microbial activity in this karst soil and help in interpreting the lipid compositions and specific carbon isotopic value of n-alkanes of the stalagmites of the Heshang Cave for paleoenvironmental reconstructions.
- lipid biomarker,
- modern soil,
- karst area,
- compound-specific carbon isotopic value,
- n-alkan-2-one

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References(50)

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