Journal Article

FZJ-2020-03097

http://join2-wiki.gsi.de/foswiki/pub/Main/Artwork/join2_logo100x88.png Petrological and geochemical characteristics of xylites and associated lipids from the First Lusatian lignite seam (Konin Basin, Poland): Implications for floral sources, decomposition and environmental conditions

Bechtel, A. (Corresponding author) ; Widera, M. ; Lücke, A.FZJ* ; Groß, D. ; Woszczyk, M.

2020
Elsevier Science Amsterdam [u.a.]

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Please use a persistent id in citations: http://hdl.handle.net/2128/25717  doi:10.1016/j.orggeochem.2020.104052

Abstract: Single pieces of fossil wood fragments (xylites) were collected from the middle Miocene First Lusatian lignite seam at the Adamów, Jóźwin IIB and Tomisławice opencast mines and are characterized by maceral variety, cellulose contents and their molecular and isotopic composition. Biomarker composition of xylites and δ13C of their total organic matter, lipids and cellulose are used to provide insights into woody plant community and the effects of wood decomposition.The investigated xylites represent fragments of fossil wood from conifers, most likely species of Cupressaceae, indicated by terpenoid biomarkers characteristic for conifers and by the δ13C values of the extracted cellulose. This conclusion is confirmed by paleobotanical data highlighting Taxodium and Nyssa as the main elements of the wet forest swamps. Due to the wet swamp habitat and the higher-decay resistance exclusively wood fragments of conifers are found in the lignite seam. Minor abundances of angiosperm-derived triterpenoids in the xylites are explained by impurities from inherent detritic lignite.The xylites are characterized by minor to moderate extents of gelification, but elevated to high cellulose decomposition. The relationship between δ13C values of xylites and their cellulose contents reflects wood decomposition removing preferentially the 13C-enriched compounds, but decomposition did not affect the δ13C of cellulose. Despite of similar δ13C of xylites and detritic lignite, differences in isotopic composition of hopanoids argue for slightly different microbial communities involved in the decomposition of the respective OM. Thus, we conclude that wood decomposition proceeded in a freshwater environment under acidic conditions by fungi and bacteria.Variations in water availability during growth periods of the conifers are suggested as the most probable cause for the observed minor variations in isotopic composition of plant lipids. The positive relationship found between δ2H and δ13C of plant biomarkers, and cellulose of xylites can be explained by the ability of vascular plants to minimize evapotranspiration during dryer phases resulting in plant OM enriched in 13C and 2H. The significant differences in δ2H between diterpenoids of different structural types and n-alkanes are most likely caused by differences in isotopic fractionation during lipid biosynthesis.

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Contributing Institute(s):

1. Agrosphäre (IBG-3)

Research Program(s):

1. 255 - Terrestrial Systems: From Observation to Prediction (POF3-255) (POF3-255)

Appears in the scientific report 2020

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Database coverage:
; ; ; Clarivate Analytics Master Journal List ; Current Contents - Physical, Chemical and Earth Sciences ; Ebsco Academic Search ; Essential Science Indicators ; IF < 5 ; JCR ; NCBI Molecular Biology Database ; Nationallizenz ; SCOPUS ; Science Citation Index ; Science Citation Index Expanded ; Web of Science Core Collection

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