Seasonal variations of leaf wax n-alkane distributions and δ²H values in peat-forming vascular plants from the Dajiuhu peatland, central China

Abstract

Leaf wax n-alkane compositions have been widely applied to reconstruct paleoclimate histories in peat deposits, yet understanding of how the n-alkanes vary during seasonal plant growth remains limited. Here we report variations in the molecular and wax-derived n-alkane hydrogen isotope (δ²H_alk) in the three dominant vascular plant species (Sanguisorba officinalis, Carex argyi, Euphorbia esula) and surface peat deposits nearby from the Dajiuhu peatland over a growing season. All three species show a relatively high carbon preference index (CPI) in the beginning of the growing season, with the CPI values reaching as high as 50 in two of the three species. Two species (S. officinalis, E. esula) display relatively stable average chain length (ACL) values over the four sampling intervals, with standard derivations of 0.2–0.3. In contrast, C. argyi exhibits a significant fluctuation of ACL values (averaging 28.1±1.4) over the growing season. The δ²H_alk in all three species decreased during leaf growth. In the final stage of growth, the δ²H_alk values of the three species are similar to those in the surface peats collected from the peatland. Combining the results of our measurements of alkane concentration and δ²H values, it is likely that de novo synthesis of leaf wax n-alkanes in the peat-forming plant species is mainly at the early stage of leaf development. In the following months, the removal process exceeds renewal, resulting in a general decrease of the concentration of the total n-alkanes and the integrated δ²H_alk values. Thus the δ²H_alk values probably integrate the environmental variations at the end of the plant growth period rather than the whole period or the early growth period. These results are significant and have the potential to improve the utility of δ²H_alk values in paleoenvironmental reconstructions.

Graphical abstract

Keywords

peat-forming vascular plants / n-alkanes / δ²H ratio / seasonal variations / central China

References

[1] Andersson R A, Meyers P A, Hornibrook E, Kuhry P, Mörth C M (2012). Elemental and isotopic carbon and nitrogen records of organic matter accumulation in a Holocene permafrost peat sequence in the East European Russian Arctic. J Quat Sci, 27(6): 545–552

[2] Baas M, Pancost R, van Geel B, Sinninghe Damsté J S (2000). A comparative study of lipids in Sphagnum species. Org Geochem, 31(6): 535–541

[3] Bai Y, Fang X, Jia G, Sun J, Wen R, Ye Y (2015). Different altitude effect of leaf wax n-alkane δD in surface soils along two vapor transport pathways, southeastern Tibetan Plateau. Geochim Cosmochim Acta, 170: 94–107

[4] Bai Y, Azamdzhon M, Wang S, Fang X, Guo H, Zhou P, Chen C, Liu X, Jia S, Wang Q (2019). An evaluation of biological and climatic effects on plant n-alkane distributions and δ²H_alk in a field experiment conducted in central Tibet. Org Geochem, 135: 53–63

[5] Balascio N L, D’Andrea W J, Anderson R S, Wickler S (2018). Influence of vegetation type on n-alkane composition and hydrogen isotope values from a high latitude ombrotrophic bog. Org Geochem, 121: 48–57

[6] Bingham E M, McClymont E L, Väliranta M, Mauquoy D, Roberts Z, Chambers F M, Pancost R D, Evershed R P (2010). Conservative composition of n-alkane biomarkers in Sphagnum species: implications for palaeoclimate reconstruction in ombrotrophic peat bogs. Org Geochem, 41(2): 214–220

[7] Blackford J (2000). Palaeoclimatic records from peat bogs. Trends Ecol Evol, 15(5): 193–198

[8] Bu Z J, Rydin H, Chen X (2011). Direct and interaction-mediated effects of environmental changes on peatland bryophytes. Oecologia, 166(2): 555–563

[9] Bush R T, McInerney F A (2013). Leaf wax n-alkane distributions in and across modern plants: implications for paleoecology and chemotaxonomy. Geochim Cosmochim Acta, 117: 161–179

[10] Bush R T, McInerney F A (2015). Influence of temperature and C₄ abundance on n-alkane chain length distributions across the central USA. Org Geochem, 79: 65–73

[11] Chambers F M, Booth R K, De Vleeschouwer F, Lamentowicz M, Le RouxG, Mauquoy D, Nichols J E, van Geel B (2012). Development and refinement of proxy-climate indicators from peats. Quat Int, 268: 21–33

[12] Chikaraishi Y, Naraoka H (2006). Carbon and hydrogen isotope variation of plant biomarkers in a plant-soil system. Chem Geol, 231(3): 190–202

[13] Cisneros-Dozal L M, Heikoop J M, Fessenden J, Anderson R S, Meyers P A, Allen C D, Hess M, Larson T, Perkins G, Rearick M (2010). A 15000-year record of climate change in northern New Mexico, USA, inferred from isotopic and elemental contents in bog sediments. J Quat Sci, 25(6): 1001–1007

[14] Duan Y, Wu Y, Cao X, Yang Z, Ma L (2014). Hydrogen isotope ratios of individual n-alkanes in plants from Gannan Gahai Lake (China) and surrounding area. Org Geochem, 77: 96–105

[15] Farrimond P, Flanagan R L (1996). Lipid stratigraphy of a Flandrian peat bed (Northumberland, UK): comparison with the pollen record. Holocene, 6(1): 69–74

[16] Freimuth E, Diefendorf A, Lowell T V (2017). Hydrogen isotopes of n-alkanes and n-alkanoic acids as tracers of precipitation in a temperate forest and implications for paleorecords. Geochim Cosmochim Acta, 206: 166–183

[17] Freimuth E, Diefendorf A, Lowell T V, Wiles G C (2019). Sedimentary n-alkanes and n-alkanoic acids in a temperate bog are biased toward woody plants. Org Geochem, 128: 94–107

[18] Gao L, Burnier A, Huang Y (2012a). Quantifying instantaneous regeneration rates of plant leaf waxes using stable hydrogen isotope labeling. Rapid Commun Mass Sp, 26(2): 115–122

[19] Gao L, Tsai Y J, Huang Y (2012b). Assessing the rate and timing of leaf wax regeneration in Fraxinus americana using stable hydrogen isotope labeling. Rapid Commun Mass Sp, 26(19): 2241–2250

[20] Gao L, Edwards E J, Zeng Y, Huang Y (2014). Major evolutionary trends in hydrogen isotope fractionation of vascular plant leaf waxes. PLoS One, 9(11): e112610

[21] Gogo S, Laggoun-Défarge F, Merzouki F, Mounier S, Guirimand-Dufour A, Jozja N, Huguet A, Delarue F, Défarge C (2016). In situ and laboratory non-additive litter mixture effect on C dynamics of sphagnum rubellum and molinia caerulea litters. J Soils Sediments, 16(1): 13–27

[22] Gülz P G, Muller E (1992). Seasonal variation in the composition of epicuticular waxes of Quercus robur leaves. Z Naturforsch C, 47(11–12): 800–806

[23] He D, Nemiah Ladd S, Saunders C J, Mead R N, Jaffé R (2020). Distribution of n-alkanes and their δ²H and δ¹³C values in typical plants along a terrestrial-coastal-oceanic gradient. Geochim Cosmochim Acta, 281: 31–52

[24] Helliker B R, Ehleringer J R (2000). Establishing a grassland signature in veins: ¹⁸O in the leaf water of C₃ and C₄ grasses. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA, 97(14): 7894–7898

[25] Herrera-Herrera A V, Leierer L, Jambrina-Enríquez M, Connolly R, Mallol C (2020). Evaluating different methods for calculating the carbon preference index (CPI): implications for palaeoecological and archaeological research. Org Geochem, 146: 104056

[26] Hong Y, Wang Z, Jiang H, Lin Q, Hong B, Zhu Y, Wang Y, Xu L, Leng X, Li H (2001). A 6000-year record of changes in drought and precipitation in northeastern China based on a δ¹³C time series from peat cellulose. Earth Planet Sci Lett, 185(1–2): 111–119

[27] Huang X, Wang C, Zhang J, Wiesenberg G L B, Zhang Z, Xie S (2011). Comparison of free lipid compositions between roots and leaves of plants in the Dajiuhu Peatland, Central China. Geochem J, 45(5): 365–373

[28] Huang X, Xue J, Meyers P A, Gong L, Wang X, Liu Q, Qin Y, Wang H (2014). Hydrologic influence on the δ¹³C variation in long chain n-alkanes in the Dajiuhu peatland, central China. Org Geochem, 69: 114–119

[29] Huang X, Meyers P A, Xue J, Zhang Y, Wang X (2016). Paleoclimate significance of n-alkane molecular distributions and δ²H values in surface peats across the monsoon region of China. Palaeogeogr Palaeoclimatol Palaeoecol, 461: 77–86

[30] Huang X, Meyers P A (2018a). Assessing paleohydrologic controls on the hydrogen isotope compositions of leaf wax n-alkanes in chinese peat deposits. Palaeogeogr Palaeoclimatol Palaeoecol, 516: 354–363

[31] Huang X, Pancost R D, Xue J, Gu Y, Evershed R P, Xie S (2018b). Response of carbon cycle to drier conditions in the mid-Holocene in central China. Nat Commun, 9(1): 1369

[32] Huang X, Zhao B, Wang K, Hu Y, Meyers P A (2018c). Seasonal variations of leaf wax n-alkane molecular composition and δD values in two subtropical deciduous tree species: results from a three-year monitoring program in central China. Org Geochem, 118: 15–26

[33] Johnson K R, Ingram B L (2004). Spatial and temporal variability in the stable isotope systematics of modern precipitation in China: implications for paleoclimate reconstructions. Earth Planet Sci Lett, 220(3–4): 365–377

[34] Kahmen A, Dawson T E, Vieth A, Sachse D (2011). Leaf wax n-alkane δD values are determined early in the ontogeny of Populus trichocarpa leaves when grown under controlled environmental conditions. Plant Cell Environ, 34(10): 1639–1651

[35] Kahmen A, Schefuß E, Sachse D (2013a). Leaf water deuterium enrichment shapes leaf wax n-alkane δD values of angiosperm plants I: experimental evidence and mechanistic insights. Geochim Cosmochim Acta, 111: 39–49

[36] Kahmen A, Hoffmann B, Schefuß E, Arndt S K, Cernusak L A, West J B, Sachse D (2013b). Leaf water deuterium enrichment shapes leaf wax n-alkane δD values of angiosperm plants II: observational evidence and global implications. Geochim Cosmochim Acta, 111: 50–63

[37] Liu H, Gu Y, Yu Z, Huang C, Ge J, Huang X, Xie S, Zheng M, Zhang Z, Cheng S (2020). Holocence peatland water regulation response to 1000-year solar cycle indicated by phytoliths in central China. J Hydrol (Amst), 589: 125169

[38] Liu J, Liu W, An Z, Yang H (2016). Different hydrogen isotope fractionations during lipid formation in higher plants: implications for paleohydrology reconstruction at a global scale. Sci Rep, 6(1): 19711

[39] Liu J, An Z, Wang Z, Wu H (2017). Using δD_n-alkane as a proxy for paleo-environmental reconstruction: a good choice to sample at the site dominated by woods. Sci Total Environ, 599-600: 554–559

[40] Liu J, An Z, Liu H (2018). Leaf wax n-alkane distributions across plant types in the central Chinese Loess Plateau. Org Geochem, 125: 260–269

[41] Liu J, An Z, Wu H, Yu Y (2019). Comparison of n-alkane concentrations and δD values between leaves and roots in modern plants on the Chinese Loess Plateau. Org Geochem, 138: 103913

[42] Liu J (2021a). Seasonality of the altitude effect on leaf wax n-alkane distributions, hydrogen and carbon isotopes along an arid transect in the Qinling Mountains. Sci Total Environ, 778: 146272

[43] Liu J, An Z, Lin G (2021b). Intra-leaf heterogeneities of hydrogen isotope compositions in leaf water and leaf wax of monocots and dicots. Sci Total Environ, 770: 145258

[44] Luo P, Peng P, Lü H, Zheng Z, Wang X (2012). Latitudinal variations of CPI values of long-chain n-alkanes in surface soils: evidence for CPI as a proxy of aridity. Sci China Earth Sci, 55(7): 1134–1146

[45] Luo T, Lun Z, Gu Y, Qin Y, Zhang Z, Zhang B (2015). Plant community survey and ecological of Dajiuhu Wetland in Shennongjia Area. Wetland Sci, 13: 153–160 (in Chinese)

[46] Marzi R, Torkelson B E, Olson R K (1993). A revised carbon preference index. Org Geochem, 20(8): 1303–1306

[47] Newberry S L, Kahmen A, Dennis P, Grant A (2015). n-Alkane biosynthetic hydrogen isotope fractionation is not constant throughout the growing season in the riparian tree Salix viminalis. Geochim Cosmochim Acta, 165: 75–85

[48] Nichols J, Booth R K, Jackson S T, Pendall E G, Huang Y (2010). Differential hydrogen isotopic ratios of Sphagnum and vascular plant biomarkers in ombrotrophic peatlands as a quantitative proxy for precipitation-evaporation balance. Geochim Cosmochim Acta, 74(4): 1407–1416

[49] Nichols J E, Booth R K, Jackson S T, Pendall E G, Huang Y (2006). Paleohydrologic reconstruction based on n-alkane distributions in ombrotrophic peat. Org Geochem, 37(11): 1505–1513

[50] Nichols J E, Huang Y (2012). Hydroclimate of the northeastern United States is highly sensitive to solar forcing. Geophys Res Lett, 39(4): L04707

[51] Nichols J E, Peteet D M, Moy C M, Castanêda I S, McGeachy A, Perez M (2014). Impacts of climate and vegetation change on carbon accumulation in a south-central Alaskan peatland assessed with novel organic chemical techniques. Holocene, 24(9): 1146–1155

[52] Norström E, Katrantsiotis C, Smittenberg R H, Kouli K (2017). Chemotaxonomy in some Mediterranean plants and implications for fossil biomarker records. Geochim Cosmochim Acta, 219: 96–110

[53] Nott C J, Xie S, Avsejs L A, Maddy D, Chambers F M, Evershed R P (2000). n-Alkane distributions in ombrotrophic mires as indicators of vegetation change related to climatic variation. Org Geochem, 31(2-3): 231–235

[54] Ortiz J E, Gallego J L R, Torres T, Díaz-Bautista A, Sierra C (2010). Palaeoenvironmental reconstruction of Northern Spain during the last 8000 calyr BP based on the biomarker content of the Roñanzas peat bog (Asturias). Org Geochem, 41(5): 454–466

[55] Pancost R D, Baas M, van Geel B, Sinninghe Damsté J S (2002). Biomarkers as proxies for plant inputs to peats: an example from a sub-boreal ombrotrophic bog. Org Geochem, 33(7): 675–690

[56] Pedentchouk N, Sumner W, Tipple B, Pagani M (2008). δ¹³C and δD compositions of n-alkanes from modern angiosperms and conifers: an experimental set up in central Washington State, USA. Org Geochem, 39(8): 1066–1071

[57] Poynter J G, Farnimond P, Robinson N, Eglinton G (1989). Aeolian-derived higher plant lipids in the marine sedimentary record: links with palaeoclimate. Paleoclimatology and Paleometeorology. In: Leinen M, Sarnthein M, eds. Paleoclimatology and Paleometeoro-logy: Modern and Past Patterns of Global Atmospheric Transport: 435–462

[58] Qin Y, Payne R J, Gu Y, Huang X, Wang H (2012). Ecology of testate amoebae in Dajiuhu peatland of Shennongjia Mountains, China, in relation to hydrology. Front Earth Sci, 6(1): 57–65

[59] Rao Z, Wu Y, Zhu Z, Jia G, Henderson A (2011). Is the maximum carbon number of long-chain n-alkanes an indicator of grassland or forest? Evidence from surface soils and modern plants. Chin Sci Bull, 56(16): 1714–1720

[60] Rao Z, Zhu Z, Wang S, Jia G, Qiang M, Wu Y (2009). CPI values of terrestrial higher plant-derived long-chain n-alkanes: a potential paleoclimatic proxy. Front Earth Sci, 3(3): 266–272

[61] Rydin H, Jeglum J K (2006). The Biology of Peatlands. New York: Oxford University Press

[62] Sachse D, Billault I, Bowen G J, Chikaraishi Y, Dawson T, Feakins S J, Freeman K H, Magill C R, McInerney F A, van der Meer M T J, Polissar P, Robins R, Sachs J P, Schmidt H L, Sessions A L, White J W C, West J B, Kahmen A (2012). Molecular paleohydrology: interpreting the hydrogen-isotopic composition of lipid biomarkers from photosynthesizing organisms. Annu Rev Earth Planet Sci, 40(1): 221–249

[63] Sachse D, Gleixner G, Wilkes H, Kahmen A (2010). Leaf wax n-alkane δD values of field-grown barley reflect leaf water δD values at the time of leaf formation. Geochim Cosmochim Acta, 74(23): 6741–6750

[64] Sachse D, Kahmen A, Gleixner G (2009). Significant seasonal variation in the hydrogen isotopic composition of leaf-wax lipids for two deciduous tree ecosystems (Fagus sylvativa and Acer pseudoplatanus). Org Geochem, 40(6): 732–742

[65] Sachse D, Dawson T E, Kahmen A (2015). Seasonal variation of leaf wax n-alkane production and δ²H values from the evergreen oak tree, Quercus agrifolia. Isotopes Environ Health Stud, 51(1): 124–142

[66] Schefuß E, Ratmeyer V, Stuut J B W, Jansen J H, Sinninghe Damsté J S (2003). Carbon isotope analyses of n-alkanes in dust from the lower atmosphere over the Central Eastern Atlantic. Geochim Cosmochim Acta, 67(10): 1757–1767

[67] Seki O, Meyers P A, Kawamura K, Zhou W, Zheng Y (2009). Hydrogen isotopic ratios of plant-wax n-alkanes in a peat bog deposited in northeastern China during the last 16 kyr. Org Geochem, 40(6): 671–677

[68] Seki O, Meyers P A, Yamamoto S, Kawamura K, Nakatsuka T, Zhou W, Zheng Y (2011). Plant-wax hydrogen isotopic evidence for postglacial variations in delivery of precipitation in the monsoon domain of China. Geology, 39(9): 875–878

[69] Sessions A L (2006). Seasonal changes in D/H fractionation accompanying lipid biosynthesis in Spartina alterniflora. Geochim Cosmochim Acta, 70(9): 2153–2162

[70] Sessions A L (2016). Factors controlling the deuterium contents of sedimentary hydrocarbons. Org Geochem, 96: 43–64

[71] Shen R, Lan Z, Huang X, Chen Y, Hu Q, Fang C, Jin B, Chen J (2020). Soil and plant characteristics during two hydrologically contrasting years at the lakeshore wetland of Poyang Lake, China. J Soils Sediments, 20(9): 3368–3379

[72] Song L, Li H, Wang K, Wu D, Wu H (2014). Ecology of testate amoebae and their potential use as palaeohydrologic indicators from peatland in Sanjiang Plain, northeast China. Front Earth Sci, 8(4): 564–572

[73] Suh Y J, Diefendorf A F (2018). Seasonal and canopy height variation in n-alkanes and their carbon isotopes in a temperate forest. Org Geochem, 116: 23–34

[74] Tipple B J, Berke M A, Doman C E, Khachaturyan S, Ehleringer J R (2013). Leaf-wax n-alkanes record the plant-water environment at leaf flush. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA, 110(7): 2659–2664

[75] Wang J, Xu Y, Zhou L, Shi M, Axia E, Jia Y, Chen Z, Li J, Wang G (2018). Disentangling temperature effects on leaf wax n-alkane traits and carbon isotopic composition from phylogeny and precipitation. Org Geochem, 126: 13–22

[76] Xia Z, Zheng Y, Stelling J M, Loisel J, Huang Y, Yu Z (2020). Environmental controls on the carbon and water (H and O) isotopes in peatland Sphagnum mosses. Geochim Cosmochim Acta, 277: 265–284

[77] Xie S, Nott C J, Avsejs L A, Volders F, Maddy D, Chambers F M, Gledhill A, Carter J F, Evershed R P (2000). Palaeoclimate records in compound-specific δD values of a lipid biomarker in ombrotrophic peat. Org Geochem, 31(10): 1053–1057

[78] Yan C, Zhang Y, Zhang Y, Zhang Z, Huang X (2020). Habitat influence on the molecular, carbon and hydrogen isotope compositions of leaf wax n-Alkanes in a subalpine basin, central China. J Earth Sci, 31(4): 845–852

[79] Yang X, Huang X (2020). Different patterns of molecular, carbon and hydrogen isotope compositions of n-alkanes between heterotrophic plant and its hosts. Front Earth Sci, 14(4): 783–788

[80] Yu S, Kang Z, Zhou W (2012). Quantitative palaeoclimate reconstruction as an inverse problem: a bayesian inference of Late-Holocene climate on the Eastern Tibetan Plateau from a peat cellulose δ¹⁸O record. Holocene, 22(4): 405–412

[81] Zhao B, Zhang Y, Huang X, Qiu R, Zhang Z, Meyers P A (2018). Comparison of n-alkane molecular, carbon and hydrogen isotope compositions of different types of plants in the Dajiuhu peatland, central China. Org Geochem, 124: 1–11

[82] Zheng Y, Singarayer J S, Cheng P, Yu X, Liu Z, Valdes P J, Pancost R D (2014). Holocene variations in peatland methane cycling associated with the Asian summer monsoon system. Nat Commun, 5(1): 4631

[83] Zhou W, Xie S, Meyers P A, Zheng Y (2005). Reconstruction of late glacial and Holocene climate evolution in southern China from geolipids and pollen in the Dingnan peat sequence. Org Geochem, 36(9): 1272–1284

RIGHTS & PERMISSIONS

Higher Education Press