Lipid biomarkers in high mountain lakes from the Cantabrian range (Northern Spain)

Coupling the interplay between natural and anthropogenic drivers

Bibliographic Data

ID5253452
AuthorsJosé E Ortiz (0000-0002-5699-2593, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, corresponding author), Yolanda Sánchez-Palencia, Yolanda Sánchez‐palencia (0000-0002-2816-1987, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid), Ignacio López-Cilla, Ignacio López‐cilla (0000-0002-0637-5626, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid), César Morales-Molino, César Morales‐molino (0000-0002-9464-862X, Universidad de Alcalá), Jon Gardoki (0000-0001-9096-3633, University of the Basque Country), Trinidad Torres, Trinidad J De Torres Pérez Hidalgo (0000-0001-5260-4525, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid), Mario Morellón (0000-0003-2067-2202, Universidad Complutense de Madrid)
Year2024
Volume46
Pages100431
Publication date2024-06-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueAnthropocene (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 2213-3054
PublisherElsevier BV (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1016/j.ancene.2024.100431
OpenAlexW4392481257
LanguageEN
References cited137

The lipid content of a high mountain lake (Lake Isoba) allowed the reconstruction of the paleoenvironmental changes and anthropic influence in Northern Spain during the last 550 years. Fatty acids (FAs) and n-alkan-2-ones indicate little degradation of OM. Three units were delimited. During Unit A (ca. 1460-1780 CE) high carbon preference index values, predominance of high-molecular-weight saturated FAs, and good correspondence between the predominant n-alkane and saturated FA chains indicate higher OM input and evidence of minimal degradation, linked to the cold and dry Little Ice Age, that favoured the OM input derived mainly from land plants, and the reduced bacterial activity. In Unit B (ca. 1780-2006 CE) the n-alkane and saturated FA profiles showed a remarkable mismatch suggestive of preferential microbial synthesis of long chain saturated FAs from primary OM and/or bacterial activity (predominance of low-molecular-weight saturated FAs but with a bimodal distribution), in coincidence with a decrease in OM input, which could be linked to the global warming that started in the second half of the 19th century. Although OM continued deriving mainly from terrigenous plants, aquatic macrophytes increased their contribution to the OM indicating the amelioration of environmental conditions. Evidence of considerable phytoplankton productivity and microbial activity was significant in Unit C (ca. 2006-2018 CE) coinciding with the highest concentrations of n-alkanes and saturated FAs, linked to warmer and drier conditions, and to greater anthropogenic influence. In addition, organic sulfur and gammacerane indicates loss of oligotrophy, and the record of faecal stanols, particularly that of 24-ethylcoprostanol, strongly evidences notable and rising water pollution associated with increasing cattle ranching in the lake catchment during the past 10-15 years

Biology · Geochemistry · Hopanoids · Macrophyte · Sedimentary rock · Source rock · Terrigenous sediment · Total organic carbon · δ13C · Chemistry · Environmental Science · Geology and Paleoclimatology Research · Hydrocarbon exploration and reservoir analysis · Metabolomics and Mass Spectrometry Studies · Ecology · Environmental Chemistry · Geology

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