TY - JOUR
T1 - The paleolimnologist's guide to compound-specific stable isotope analysis - An introduction to principles and applications of CSIA for Quaternary lake sediments
AU - Holtvoeth, Jens
AU - Whiteside, Jessica H.
AU - Engels, Stefan
AU - Freitas, Felipe S.
AU - Grice, Kliti
AU - Greenwood, Paul
AU - Johnson, Sean
AU - Kendall, Iain
AU - Lengger, Sabine K.
AU - Luecke, Andreas
AU - Mayr, Christoph
AU - Naafs, B. David A.
AU - Rohrssen, Megan
AU - Sepulveda, Julio
PY - 2019/3/1
Y1 - 2019/3/1
N2 - The stable isotope composition of key chemical elements for life on Earth (e.g., carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, oxygen, sulfur) tracks changes in fluxes and turnover of these elements in the biogeosphere. Over the past 15-20 years, the potential to measure these isotopic compositions for individual, source-specific organic molecules (biomarkers) and to link them to a range of environmental conditions and processes has been unlocked and amplified by increasingly sensitive, affordable and wide-spread analytical technology. Paleoenvironmental research has seen enormous step-changes in our understanding of past ecosystem dynamics. Vital to these paradigm shifts is the need for well-constrained modern and recent analogues. Through increased understanding of these environments and their biological pathways we can successfully unravel past climatic changes and associated ecosystem adaption. With this review, we aim to introduce scientists working in the field of Quaternary paleolimnology to the tools that compound-specific isotope analysis (CSIA) provides for the gain of information on biogeochemical conditions in ancient environments. We provide information on fundamental principles and applications of novel and established CSIA applications based on the carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, oxygen and sulfur isotopic composition of biomarkers. While biosynthesis, sources and associated isotope fractionation patterns of compounds such as n-alkanes are relatively well-constrained, new applications emerge from the increasing use of functionalized alkyl lipids, steroids, hopanoids, isoprenoids, GDGTs, pigments or cellulose. Biosynthesis and fractionation are not always fully understood. However, although analytical challenges remain, the future potential of deeper insights into ecosystem dynamics from the study of these compounds is also emerging. (C) 2019 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
AB - The stable isotope composition of key chemical elements for life on Earth (e.g., carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, oxygen, sulfur) tracks changes in fluxes and turnover of these elements in the biogeosphere. Over the past 15-20 years, the potential to measure these isotopic compositions for individual, source-specific organic molecules (biomarkers) and to link them to a range of environmental conditions and processes has been unlocked and amplified by increasingly sensitive, affordable and wide-spread analytical technology. Paleoenvironmental research has seen enormous step-changes in our understanding of past ecosystem dynamics. Vital to these paradigm shifts is the need for well-constrained modern and recent analogues. Through increased understanding of these environments and their biological pathways we can successfully unravel past climatic changes and associated ecosystem adaption. With this review, we aim to introduce scientists working in the field of Quaternary paleolimnology to the tools that compound-specific isotope analysis (CSIA) provides for the gain of information on biogeochemical conditions in ancient environments. We provide information on fundamental principles and applications of novel and established CSIA applications based on the carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, oxygen and sulfur isotopic composition of biomarkers. While biosynthesis, sources and associated isotope fractionation patterns of compounds such as n-alkanes are relatively well-constrained, new applications emerge from the increasing use of functionalized alkyl lipids, steroids, hopanoids, isoprenoids, GDGTs, pigments or cellulose. Biosynthesis and fractionation are not always fully understood. However, although analytical challenges remain, the future potential of deeper insights into ecosystem dynamics from the study of these compounds is also emerging. (C) 2019 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
KW - Stable isotopes
KW - Global
KW - Paleoclimatology
KW - LONG-CHAIN-ALKENONES
KW - DELTA-D VALUES
KW - SUSPENDED PARTICULATE MATTER
KW - ANAEROBIC METHANE OXIDATION
KW - BACTERIAL SULFATE REDUCTION
KW - TETRAETHER MEMBRANE-LIPIDS
KW - RECENT MARINE-SEDIMENTS
KW - PHOTIC ZONE EUXINIA
KW - MALAWI EAST-AFRICA
KW - ISO-DIABOLIC ACID
U2 - 10.1016/j.quascirev.2019.01.001
DO - 10.1016/j.quascirev.2019.01.001
M3 - Article
SN - 0277-3791
VL - 207
SP - 101
EP - 133
JO - Quaternary Science Reviews
JF - Quaternary Science Reviews
ER -