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    The paleolimnologist's guide to compound-specific stable isotope analysis - An introduction to principles and applications of CSIA for quaternary lake sediments

    Holtvoeth, J. and Whiteside, J.H. and Engels, Stefan and Freitas, F.S. and Grice, K. and Greenwood, P. and Johnson, S. and Kendall, I. and Lengger, S.K. and Lücke, A. and Mayr, C. and Naafs, B.D.A. and Rohrssen, M. and Sepúlveda, J. (2019) The paleolimnologist's guide to compound-specific stable isotope analysis - An introduction to principles and applications of CSIA for quaternary lake sediments. Quaternary Science Reviews 207 , pp. 101-133. ISSN 0277-3791.

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    Abstract

    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.

    Metadata

    Item Type: Article
    School: Birkbeck Faculties and Schools > Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences > School of Social Sciences
    Depositing User: Stefan Engels
    Date Deposited: 11 Feb 2019 09:50
    Last Modified: 02 Aug 2023 17:48
    URI: https://eprints.bbk.ac.uk/id/eprint/26153

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