Application of a linear unmixing algorithm to selected lipids of recent salt marsh sediments
The normal alkanes (C/sub 15/-C/sub 33/), pristane, phytane and the fatty acids (C/sub 10/-C/sub 28/) of 14 surface and 30 subsurface sediment samples from a salt marsh at the University of South Carolina Baruch Field laboratory, near Georgetown, South Carolina were separated and analyzed by gas chromatography. The peak areas of selected alkane and fatty acid fractions were normalized separately and combined to form a single pattern for each sample. These combined patterns were then submitted to an unmixing algorithm developed by Klovan and Imbrie (1971) and modified by Miesch (1971), Klovan and Miesch (1976), Full, Ehrlich and Klovan (1981) and Full, Ehrlich and Bezdek (1982) for large multivariate data sets. The procedure indicates that the salt marsh sediment patterns could be explained by various contributions of end members composed of the combined alkane and fatty acid fractions. These end members patterns are similar to patterns produced by above ground marsh plants, algae and bacteria. Proportioning of the sediment between end members suggest the alkane and fatty acid patterns reflect contributions from surface vegetation as well as direct input from algae and bacteria. At depth, results suggest further modification by bacteria and demonstrate the complex nature of the organic material in the marsh subsurface. The ability of the algorithm to determine rapidly the patterns of specific organic source suggests that it may be a possible alternative to the use of biomarkers for some situations. In fact, results of the algorithm can be used to determine specific components or groups of components which may be used to separate organic sources.
- Research Organization:
- Univ. of South Carolina, Columbia (USA)
- OSTI ID:
- 6194190
- Report Number(s):
- CONF-8510489-
- Journal Information:
- Geol. Soc. Am., Abstr. Programs; (United States), Vol. 17; Conference: 98. annual meeting of the Geological Society of America, Orlando, FL, USA, 28 Oct 1985
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
Geolipids in the oil shale from Aleksinac (Yugoslavia)
Seasonal variations in production and consumption rates of dissolved organic carbon in an organic-rich coastal sediment
Related Subjects
MARSHES
SEDIMENTS
BIOGEOCHEMISTRY
CHEMICAL COMPOSITION
SOUTH CAROLINA
ALGORITHMS
ALKANES
CARBOXYLIC ACIDS
GAS CHROMATOGRAPHY
LIPIDS
AQUATIC ECOSYSTEMS
CHEMISTRY
CHROMATOGRAPHY
ECOSYSTEMS
FEDERAL REGION IV
GEOCHEMISTRY
HYDROCARBONS
MATHEMATICAL LOGIC
NORTH AMERICA
ORGANIC ACIDS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
SEPARATION PROCESSES
USA
WETLANDS
580400* - Geochemistry- (-1989)