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Archaeol as a methanogen biomarker in ombrotrophic bogs

Pancost, R.D.; McClymont, E.L.; Bingham, E.M.; Roberts, Z.; Charman, D.J.; Hornibrook, E.R.C.; Blundell, A.; Chambers, F.M.; Lima, K.L.H.; Evershed, R.P.

Authors

R.D. Pancost

E.M. Bingham

Z. Roberts

D.J. Charman

E.R.C. Hornibrook

A. Blundell

F.M. Chambers

K.L.H. Lima

R.P. Evershed



Abstract

In order to develop new tools in the reconstruction of microbiological processes in ancient continental settings, we determined the concentration of archaeol and sn-2-hydroxyarchaeol in four Holocene ombrotrophic peatlands, spanning a range of European climate zones. Neither ether lipid was present in the aerobic acrotelm peat, consistent with an origin from anaerobic archaea, presumably methanogens. At the depth of the maximum seasonal water table, archaeol and sn-2-hydroxyarchaeol concentration markedly increased at all four sites, again consistent with an anaerobic source, but differed strongly among sites. The differences apparently reflect a combination of vegetation – ericaceous and graminoid plants as opposed to Sphagnum spp. and other mosses lacking root systems – and temperature influence on methanogenesis. In particular, low ether lipid concentrations in Finland probably reflect the lack of vascular vegetation possessing well-developed root systems, together with low mean annual temperature. Similarly low concentrations of archaeol and sn-2-hydroxyarchaeol in a German bog likely result from winter temperatures below 0 °C and a relatively shorter growing season. The occurrence of sn-2-hydroxyarchaeol is limited to a narrow and shallow depth range, indicating that it is poorly preserved, but archaeol persists throughout the cores. Decoupling the concentration of archaeol and the more labile sn-2-hydroxyarchaeol below ca. 50 cm suggests that the former records fossil biomass rather than living biomass. If so, then downcore variation in archaeol concentration likely reflects past changes in methane cycling, and archaeol, pending further developmental research, could serve as a new tool for reconstruction of past peatland biogeochemistry.

Citation

Pancost, R., McClymont, E., Bingham, E., Roberts, Z., Charman, D., Hornibrook, E., …Evershed, R. (2011). Archaeol as a methanogen biomarker in ombrotrophic bogs. Organic Geochemistry, 42(10), 1279-1287. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.orggeochem.2011.07.003

Journal Article Type Article
Publication Date Nov 1, 2011
Deposit Date Oct 17, 2011
Journal Organic Geochemistry
Print ISSN 0146-6380
Publisher Elsevier
Peer Reviewed Peer Reviewed
Volume 42
Issue 10
Pages 1279-1287
DOI https://doi.org/10.1016/j.orggeochem.2011.07.003
Public URL https://durham-repository.worktribe.com/output/1504642