An irrigation experiment to compare soil, water and speleothem tetraether membrane lipid distributions

Andy Baker; Catherine N. Jex; Helen Rutlidge; Martijn Woltering; Alison Blyth; Martin S. Andersen; Mark O. Cuthbert; Christopher E. Marjo; Monika Markowska; Gabriel C. Rau; Stuart J. Khan

doi:10.1016/j.orggeochem.2016.01.005

An irrigation experiment to compare soil, water and speleothem tetraether membrane lipid distributions

Andy Baker, Catherine N. Jex, Helen Rutlidge, Martijn Woltering, Alison Blyth, Martin S. Andersen, Mark O. Cuthbert, Christopher E. Marjo, Monika Markowska, Gabriel C. Rau, Stuart J. Khan

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

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Abstract

Measurement of glycerol dialkyl glycerol tetraethers (GDGTs) preserved in speleothems offers a potential proxy for past temperature but, in general, their origin is unknown. To understand the source of speleothem GDGTs, we undertook an irrigation experiment to activate drip sites within a hydrogeochemically well characterised cave. The cave drip water was analysed for GDGTs, inorganic elements (major ions and trace elements), stable isotopes and dissolved organic matter concentration and character. Published speleothem GDGT records from the site have been observed to be dominated by isoprenoid GDGTs and interpreted as deriving from in situ microbial communities within the cave or vadose zone. The drip water in our irrigation experiment had a GDGT distribution distinct from that of soil and speleothem samples, providing direct evidence that the distinctive GDGT signature in speleothems is derived from a subsurface source. Analysis of GDGTs in this context allowed further elucidation of their source and transport in cave systems, enhancing our understanding of how they might be used as a temperature proxy.

Original language	English
Journal	Organic Geochemistry
Early online date	25 Jan 2016
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.orggeochem.2016.01.005
Publication status	E-pub ahead of print - 25 Jan 2016

Keywords

GDGT
Speleothem
Drip water
Paleoclimate
Temperature

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10.1016/j.orggeochem.2016.01.005

Baker_et_al_An_irrigation_experiment_Organic_Geochemistry_2016
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Cite this

@article{f956df724882480aa58e536d781d7a51,

title = "An irrigation experiment to compare soil, water and speleothem tetraether membrane lipid distributions",

abstract = "Measurement of glycerol dialkyl glycerol tetraethers (GDGTs) preserved in speleothems offers a potential proxy for past temperature but, in general, their origin is unknown. To understand the source of speleothem GDGTs, we undertook an irrigation experiment to activate drip sites within a hydrogeochemically well characterised cave. The cave drip water was analysed for GDGTs, inorganic elements (major ions and trace elements), stable isotopes and dissolved organic matter concentration and character. Published speleothem GDGT records from the site have been observed to be dominated by isoprenoid GDGTs and interpreted as deriving from in situ microbial communities within the cave or vadose zone. The drip water in our irrigation experiment had a GDGT distribution distinct from that of soil and speleothem samples, providing direct evidence that the distinctive GDGT signature in speleothems is derived from a subsurface source. Analysis of GDGTs in this context allowed further elucidation of their source and transport in cave systems, enhancing our understanding of how they might be used as a temperature proxy.",

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author = "Andy Baker and Jex, {Catherine N.} and Helen Rutlidge and Martijn Woltering and Alison Blyth and Andersen, {Martin S.} and Cuthbert, {Mark O.} and Marjo, {Christopher E.} and Monika Markowska and Rau, {Gabriel C.} and Khan, {Stuart J.}",

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AU - Baker, Andy

AU - Jex, Catherine N.

AU - Rutlidge, Helen

AU - Woltering, Martijn

AU - Blyth, Alison

AU - Andersen, Martin S.

AU - Cuthbert, Mark O.

AU - Marjo, Christopher E.

AU - Markowska, Monika

AU - Rau, Gabriel C.

AU - Khan, Stuart J.

PY - 2016/1/25

Y1 - 2016/1/25

N2 - Measurement of glycerol dialkyl glycerol tetraethers (GDGTs) preserved in speleothems offers a potential proxy for past temperature but, in general, their origin is unknown. To understand the source of speleothem GDGTs, we undertook an irrigation experiment to activate drip sites within a hydrogeochemically well characterised cave. The cave drip water was analysed for GDGTs, inorganic elements (major ions and trace elements), stable isotopes and dissolved organic matter concentration and character. Published speleothem GDGT records from the site have been observed to be dominated by isoprenoid GDGTs and interpreted as deriving from in situ microbial communities within the cave or vadose zone. The drip water in our irrigation experiment had a GDGT distribution distinct from that of soil and speleothem samples, providing direct evidence that the distinctive GDGT signature in speleothems is derived from a subsurface source. Analysis of GDGTs in this context allowed further elucidation of their source and transport in cave systems, enhancing our understanding of how they might be used as a temperature proxy.

AB - Measurement of glycerol dialkyl glycerol tetraethers (GDGTs) preserved in speleothems offers a potential proxy for past temperature but, in general, their origin is unknown. To understand the source of speleothem GDGTs, we undertook an irrigation experiment to activate drip sites within a hydrogeochemically well characterised cave. The cave drip water was analysed for GDGTs, inorganic elements (major ions and trace elements), stable isotopes and dissolved organic matter concentration and character. Published speleothem GDGT records from the site have been observed to be dominated by isoprenoid GDGTs and interpreted as deriving from in situ microbial communities within the cave or vadose zone. The drip water in our irrigation experiment had a GDGT distribution distinct from that of soil and speleothem samples, providing direct evidence that the distinctive GDGT signature in speleothems is derived from a subsurface source. Analysis of GDGTs in this context allowed further elucidation of their source and transport in cave systems, enhancing our understanding of how they might be used as a temperature proxy.

KW - GDGT

KW - Speleothem

KW - Drip water

KW - Paleoclimate

KW - Temperature

U2 - 10.1016/j.orggeochem.2016.01.005

DO - 10.1016/j.orggeochem.2016.01.005

M3 - Article

SN - 0146-6380

JO - Organic Geochemistry

JF - Organic Geochemistry

ER -

An irrigation experiment to compare soil, water and speleothem tetraether membrane lipid distributions

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Keywords

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