Can sedimentary leaf waxes record D/H ratios of continental precipitation? Field, model, and experimental assessments

Hou, Juzhi; D'Andrea, W. J.; Huang, Yongsong

doi:10.1016/j.gca.2008.04.030

Cited by 261 publications

(209 citation statements)

References 38 publications

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“…Differences in modeled precipitation δ 2 H values are not unexpected; however, mean annual precipitation δ 2 H values are used commonly to model leaf-wax δ 2 H values from plants (19,(33)(34)(35) and sediments (9,36). Often when mean annual precipitation δ 2 H values are used to calculate the apparent fractionation between the δ 2 H values of leaf wax and source waters, the resulting fractionation is smaller than expected (i.e., leaf waxes are more enriched in 2 H than predicted).…”

Section: In Deciduous Species δ 2 H Values Reflect Plant Environment mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Environmental and climate transect studies have shown that δ 2 H values of higher plant n-alkanes and environmental waters are correlated (9,10), but temporal observations of δ 2 H values of n-alkanes have produced conflicting data on the nature of this relationship (11)(12)(13)(14)(15) that require clarification to elucidate how δ 2 H values of ancient n-alkanes can be interpreted. To reconcile these issues and to provide the critical constraints for climate reconstructions using δ 2 H values of n-alkanes, carefully designed and controlled biologic experiments are needed that consider plant physiology and phenology (1).…”

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confidence: 99%

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Leaf-wax n -alkanes record the plant–water environment at leaf flush

Tipple

Berke

Doman

et al. 2013

Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.

177

103

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Leaf-wax n-alkanes 2 H/ 1 H ratios are widely used as a proxy in climate reconstruction. Although the broad nature of the relationship between n-alkanes δ 2 H values and climate is appreciated, the quantitative details of the proxy remain elusive. To examine these details under natural environmental conditions, we studied a riparian broadleaf angiosperm species, Populus angustifolia, growing on water with a constant δ 2 H value and monitored the δ 2 H values of leaf-wax n-alkanes and of stem, leaf, stream, and atmospheric waters throughout the entire growing season. Here we found the δ 2 H values of leaf-wax n-alkanes recorded only a 2-wk period during leaf flush and did not vary for the 19 weeks thereafter when leaves remained active. We found δ 2 H values of leaf-wax n-alkanes of P. angustifolia record conditions earlier in the season rather than fully integrating the entire growing season. Using these data, we modeled precipitation δ 2 H values during the time of wax synthesis. We observed that the isotope ratios of this precipitation generally were 2 H-enriched compared with mean annual precipitation. This model provides a mechanistic basis of the often-observed 2 H-enrichment from the expected fractionation values in studies of broadleaf angiosperm leaf-wax δ 2 H. In addition, these findings may have implications for the spatial and temporal uses of n-alkane δ 2 H values in paleoapplications; when both plant community and growth form are known, this study allows the isolation of the precipitation dynamics of individual periods of the growing season.biomarkers | compound-specific isotope analysis | geographic information system | isoscape | stable isotopes S table isotopes serve as tracers and integrators of both environmental and physiological signals within plant materials. Terrestrial plant leaf waxes (i.e., n-alkanes, n-acids, and others) and their isotope ratios have attracted much interest as a higher plant-specific biomarker for paleoclimate reconstruction (1), because these compounds are easily identified and isolated from a variety of geologic materials and are relatively robust to geologic alteration (2). The environmental information recorded in hydrogen isotope ratios of leaf waxes have become a prevalent proxy to reconstruct ancient climates (3-5), mountain building events (6, 7), and floral transitions (8). However, critical questions related to the interpretation of ancient higher plant biomarkers remain unanswered, especially with respect to the extent of the leaf life cycle recorded by this proxy.Environmental and climate transect studies have shown that δ 2 H values of higher plant n-alkanes and environmental waters are correlated (9, 10), but temporal observations of δ 2 H values of n-alkanes have produced conflicting data on the nature of this relationship (11-15) that require clarification to elucidate how δ 2 H values of ancient n-alkanes can be interpreted. To reconcile these issues and to provide the critical constraints for climate reconstructions using δ 2 H values of n-alkanes, car...

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Section: In Deciduous Species δ 2 H Values Reflect Plant Environment mentioning

confidence: 99%

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Leaf-wax n -alkanes record the plant–water environment at leaf flush

Tipple

Berke

Doman

et al. 2013

Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.

177

103

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Similar results were observed previously (Duan and Wu, 2009), in which the difference is 32‰ for Zoigê region, 37‰ for Nanning region, and 55‰ for Dianchi region. Hou et al (2008) also found that n-alkane δD values from trees are about 40‰ to 50‰ higher than those from grasses. This difference in δD value between herbaceous and woody plants may be explained by the use of water from a distinct depth in the soil by these plants (Liu et al, 2006).…”

Section: Hydrogen Isotopic Composition Of N-alkanesmentioning

confidence: 85%

δD values of individual n-alkanes in sediments from the Chaka salt lake (China) and terrestrial plants from the surrounding area

et al. 2014

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“…For example, δ 2 H n-alkanes from terrestrial higher plants (e.g., nC 27 , nC 29 and nC 31 ) have the potential to record the δ 2 H signal of meteoric water (Jia et al, 2008;Luo et al, 2011), while δ 2 H n-alkanes from aquatic organisms (including nC 17 and nC 19 from lower organisms, such as algae, and nC 23 and nC 25 from submerged and floating aquatic macrophytes) have the potential to record the δ 2 H information of lake water (Hou et al, 2008;Mügler et al, 2008;Rao et al, 2014). The δ 2 H values of short-to intermediate-chain n-alkanes exhibit obvious episodic patterns in the Houjingou section corresponding to the black and oil shale deposits (Fig.…”

Section: Sedimentary Environments Of the Late Santonian Lower Nenjianmentioning

confidence: 99%