A photoautotrophic source for lycopane in marine water columns

Journal Article · Fri Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1993 · Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/0016-7037(93)90476-D· OSTI ID:7064672

Wakeham, S G; Freeman, K H; Pease, T K ^[1]; Hayes, J M ^[2]

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1. Skidaway Inst. of Oceanography, Savannah, GA (United States)
2. Indiana Univ., Bloomington (United States)

Suspended particulate matter and recent sediments from diverse oceanic sites have been investigated for their contents of lycopane. Lycopane was present in all samples, including both oxic and anoxic water column and sediments. The highest concentrations in the water column were found in surface waters of the central Pacific gyre (1.5 ng/L) and in the anoxic waters of the Cariaco Trench (1.1 ng/L) and the Black Sea (0.3 ng/L). Vertical concentration profiles suggest that lycopane is probably algal in origin. Moreover, biogeochemical conditions in anoxic zones apparently result in a secondary production of lycopane from an as yet unidentified precursor. Compound-specific carbon isotopic analyses have been carried out on lycopane from water column and sediment samples. Isotopic compositions of lycopane range between [minus]23.6[per thousand] and [minus]32.9[per thousand] and are consistent with a photoautotrophic origin. The authors postulate that some lycopane is produced in surface waters of the ocean, while additional lycopane is produced in anoxic zones by anaerobic microbial action on an algal precursor. 40 refs., 3 figs., 1 tab.

• DOE Contract Number: FC03-90ER61010
• OSTI ID: 7064672
• Journal Information: Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta; (United States), Journal Name: Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta; (United States) Vol. 57:1; ISSN GCACAK; ISSN 0016-7037
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
400100 -- Analytical & Separations Chemistry
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
540310* -- Environment
Aquatic-- Basic Studies-- (1990-)
ALGAE
ALKANES
ANAEROBIC CONDITIONS
ANAEROBIC DIGESTION
BIOCONVERSION
BLACK SEA
CHEMICAL ANALYSIS
DIGESTION
ECOLOGICAL CONCENTRATION
ENERGY SOURCES
FOSSIL FUELS
FUELS
HYDROCARBONS
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
ISOTOPE RATIO
MANAGEMENT
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORIGIN
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PETROLEUM
PLANTS
PRECURSOR
PROCESSING
PRODUCTION
SEAS
SEDIMENTS
SURFACE WATERS
WASTE MANAGEMENT
WASTE PROCESSING
WATER