Marine ciliates as a widespread source of tetrahymanol and hopan-3. beta. -ol in sediments

Journal Article · Thu Oct 31 23:00:00 EST 1991 · Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/0016-7037(91)90496-R· OSTI ID:5220908

Harvey, H R; McManus, G B ^[1]

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1. Univ. of Maryland System, Solomons (United States)

The authors observed tetrahymanol (gammaceran-3{beta}-ol) as a principal neutral lipid in eight marine ciliate species, most of which were scuticociliates, a group of ciliates that feeds mainly on bacteria. Tetrahymanol abundance in pure cultures and field samples (sediment traps, water column particulates, and enrichments from coastal and estuarine environments) shows good agreement with ciliate biovolume (R{sup 2} = 0.89), suggesting that tetrahymanol is a specific marker for marine ciliates that feed on bacteria. Hopan-3{beta}-ol was also positively identified in several ciliates, but did not occur in all species examined. Because of their widespread distribution in modern marine systems, these organisms provide a likely source for the common appearance of tetrahymanol in many marine sediments. By analogy, the presumed presence of ciliates in ancient seas may explain the occurrence of its diagenetic product, gammacerane, in more mature sediments and crude oils.

• OSTI ID: 5220908
• Journal Information: Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta; (United States), Journal Name: Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta; (United States) Vol. 55:11; ISSN GCACA; ISSN 0016-7037
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

02 PETROLEUM
020200* -- Petroleum-- Reserves
Geology
& Exploration
ANIMALS
BIOGEOCHEMISTRY
BIOLOGICAL MARKERS
CHEMICAL COMPOSITION
CHEMISTRY
CILIATA
DIAGENESIS
ENERGY SOURCES
FOSSIL FUELS
FUELS
GEOCHEMISTRY
INTERFACES
INVERTEBRATES
LIPIDS
MICROORGANISMS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORIGIN
PETROLEUM
PROTOZOA
SEDIMENT-WATER INTERFACES
SEDIMENTS