Sedimentary pigments as markers for environmental change in an Antarctic lake

Fossil pigments were identified in a sediment core from Kirisjes Pond, a small lake in the Larsemann Hills, east Antarctica, using reversed-phase HPLC and LC–MS/MS. Chlorophyll a- and b-derived components indicate the presence of oxygenic primary producers; steryl chlorin esters provide evidence of grazing, while shifts in their esterifying sterol composition record changes in the primary producer community. Bacteriochlorophyll c- and d-derived components, indicative of photic zone anoxia, were identified with structural variations including extensive alkylation in the macrocycle up to C6. The pigment distribution reveals a change from oxygenated freshwater to a stratified water body with development of photic zone anoxia. This coincides with a marine incursion identified from diatom records and is followed by re-isolation and reversion to oxygenated freshwater conditions

Details

Publication status:
Published
Author(s):
Authors: Squier, A.H., Hodgson, D.A. ORCIDORCID record for D.A. Hodgson, Keely, B.J.

On this site: Dominic Hodgson
Date:
1 January, 2002
Journal/Source:
Organic Geochemistry / 33
Page(s):
1655-1665
Digital Object Identifier (DOI):
https://doi.org/10.1016/S0146-6380(02)00177-8