Long chain n-alkanes and their carbon isotopes in lichen species from western Hubei Province: implication for geological records

Abstract

Five coticolous lichen samples were collected from western Hubei Province of China to analyze the long chain n-alkanes and their carbon isotope compositions. The n-alkanes range in carbon number from C₁₇ to C₃₃ with strong odd-over-even predominance between C₂₁ and C₃₃. Lichens are dominated by n-C₂₉ in the samples of Dajiuhu, Shennongjia Mountain, but by both n-C₂₃ and n-C₂₉ at Qizimei Mountain. This difference may result from the different environmental conditions in these two sites. The δ¹³C values of long chain n-alkanes in lichen samples show the signature of C3 plants. Based on compound-specific carbon isotopic values and previous results, we state that alkane homologs>C₂₃ mainly originate from the symbiotic fungi, while symbiotic algae only contribute trace amount of long chain alkanes. Of great interesting is the occurrence of long chain 3-methylalkanes in the Qizimei samples. These anteiso compounds range from C₂₄ to C₃₂, displaying obvious even-over-odd predominance. This study reveals that the association of long chain 3-methylalkanes with n-C₂₃ alkane might be used as proxies to reconstruct the paleoecological implications of lichens in Earth history.

Keywords

lichen / alkane / 3-methylalkanes / n-C₂₃ alkane / compound specific carbon isotope

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