Early diagenesis of vascular plant tissues: Lignin and cutin decomposition and biogeochemical implications

Opsahl, Stephen P.; Benner, Ronald

doi:10.1016/0016-7037(95)00348-7

Cited by 364 publications

(350 citation statements)

References 37 publications

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“…The unsaturated fatty acid (5) may have been depleted by microbial action and oxidation, or possibly oxidative polymerisation (Versteegh et al, 2004). Our study reflects results showing that polysaccharides are rapidly degraded by fungi and bacteria in the early aerobic stages of decomposition, in contrast to the lignin-related phenolics, which are relatively well preserved (Benner et al, 1984;Kirk and Farrell, 1987;Young and Frazer, 1987;Lewis and Yamamoto, 1990;Opsahl and Benner, 1995;Akin et al, 1996;Huang et al, 1998). The rapid initial decomposition of the Juncus seeds concurs with mass loss estimates from short term studies of litter degradation in peat bogs during the first few years after burial (e.g.…”

Section: Diagenetic Changes In Juncus Seed Coats After Burial -Influesupporting

confidence: 66%

“…doi:10. /j.orggeochem.2007 1990; Akin et al, 1996;Huang et al, 1998), while in the deeper anaerobic catotelm, bacteria are the decomposers, degrading polysaccharides (Benner et al, 1984;Young and Frazer, 1987;Opsahl and Benner, 1995). It has long been recognised that the plant remains comprising the peat mass are well preserved owing to the slow, inefficient biodegradation in the permanently waterlogged catotelm (Clymo, 1984(Clymo, , 1991.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Decomposition of Juncus seeds in a valley mire (Faroe Islands) over a 900 year period

Yeloff

Blokker

Bartlett

et al. 2008

Organic Geochemistry

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The influence of past depositional environments on the chemistry of sub-fossil Juncus seed coats (testa) from the top 1 m (corresponding to ca. 900 years of peat accumulation) of a peat bog in the Faroe Islands was examined. The chemistry of the testa of fresh Juncus seeds were characterised using thermally assisted pyrolysis and methylation (THM) in the presence of tetramethyl ammonium hydroxide (TMAH) and 'type' compounds were identified, representative of the major chemical groups in the testa (cellulose-related sugars, lignin-related phenolics, fatty acids). The abundance of the 'type' compounds in the products from sub-fossil testae (the internal tissues of the seeds do not survive beyond the very early stages of decomposition) was then quantified at contiguous 1 cm depth intervals. Major losses of C 18 unsaturated fatty acid methyl esters and sugars were associated with the fresh to sub-fossil transition at ca. 7 cm depth. The preservation of the phenolic ferulic acid in the seed testa appears to be favoured by the input of small basaltic particles from the nearby stream channel. The mechanism by which inwash of inorganic material may be responsible for the improved chemical preservation of the Juncus seed testa is, however, unclear. The sugars were easily metabolised by microorganisms under aerobic conditions of low water table and preserved under anoxic conditions with high water table, suggesting that a drier mire surface may result in the more efficient depletion of polysaccharides and cellulose during the initial stage of decomposition in the acrotelm.

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Section: Diagenetic Changes In Juncus Seed Coats After Burial -Influesupporting

confidence: 66%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Decomposition of Juncus seeds in a valley mire (Faroe Islands) over a 900 year period

Yeloff

Blokker

Bartlett

et al. 2008

Organic Geochemistry

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“…These compounds have different reactivities, and previous studies indicate preferential degradation of C and S over V monomers (Zeigler et al, 1986). This is also supported by increase in proxies for lignin oxidation ratios (Ad/Ald v,s ; Opsahl and Benner, 1995;Zaccone et al, 2008).…”

Section: Phenolic Componentssupporting

confidence: 55%

Multi-proxy study of soil organic matter dynamics in permafrost peat deposits reveal vulnerability to climate change in the European Russian Arctic

et al. 2014

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Soil organic carbon (SOC) in permafrost terrain is vulnerable to climate change.Perennially frozen peat deposits store large amounts of SOC, but we know little about its chemical composition and lability. We used plant macrofossil and biomarker analyses to reconstruct the Holocene paleovegetation and paleoenvironmental changes in two peat plateau profiles from the European Russian Arctic. Peat plateaus are the main stores of permafrost soil C in the region, but during most of the Holocene peats developed as permafrost-free rich fens with woody vegetation, sedges and mosses. Around 2200 cal BP, permafrost aggraded at the site resulting in frost heave and a drastic reduction in peat accumulation under the drier uplifted surface conditions. The permafrost dynamics (aggradation, frost-heave and thaw) ushered changes in plant assemblages and carbon accumulation, and consequently in the biomarker trends too. 2Detailed biomarker analyses indicate abundant neutral lipids, which follow the general pattern: n-alkanols > sterols ≥ n-alkanes ≥ triterpenols. The lignin monomers are not as abundant as the lipids and increase with depth. The selected aliphatic and phenolic compounds are source specific, and they have different degrees of lability, which is useful for tracing the impact of permafrost dynamics (peat accumulation and/or decay associated with thawing). However, common interpretation of biomarker patterns, and perceived hydrological and climate changes, must be applied carefully in permafrost regions. The increased proportion (selective preservation) of n-alkanes and lignin is a robust indicator of cumulative decomposition trajectories, which is mirrored by functional compounds (e.g. n-alkanol, triterpenol, and sterol concentrations) showing opposite trends. The distribution of these compounds follows first order decay kinetics, and concurs with the downcore diagenetic changes. In particular, some of the biomarker ratios (e.g. stanol/sterol and higher plant alkane index) seem promising for tracing SOC decomposition despite changes in botanical imprint, and sites spanning across different soil types and locations. Carbon accumulation rate calculated at these sites varies from 18.1 to 31.1 gC m -2 yr -1 , and it is evident selective preservation, molecular complexity of organic compounds, and freezing conditions enhance the long-term stability of SOC. Further, our results suggest permafrost dynamics strongly impact the more undecomposed SOC that could be rapidly remobilized through ongoing thermokarst expansion.

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“…The C/ V ratio sensitively decreases by aerobic degradation of lignin (Hedges and Weliky, 1989;Opsahl and Benner, 1995). However, little correlation exists between C/V and (Ad/Al) v ratios (r = -0.05) in this core, implying that the variation of the C/V ratio was not altered by aerobic degradation.…”

Section: Fig 6 Changes In the Concentrations Of Short-chain C 14 -Cmentioning

confidence: 77%

Late Pleistocene variation in lignin and fatty acids from core TKN-2004 in a small mountain basin in central Japan

2014

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We generated a record of lignin and fatty acid compositions from the TK-2004 core in Takano Basin, central Japan, during 39-162 ka by TMAH-thermochemolysis-GC/MS. We tested lignin and fatty acid compositions in the sediments of a small lake (1.88 km 2 watershed) as a paleovegetation proxy to understand the responses of terrestrial vegetation in central Japan to global climate change. Variation in terrestrial organic carbon contents estimated by C/N and ∑8 was parallel to the total organic content (TOC) variation, suggesting that the inflow of terrestrial organic matter was a major factor determining the TOC. The ratio of mid-chain C 20 -C 24 n-fatty acids to short-chain C 14 -C 18 n-fatty acids (MFA/SFA ratio) and the ratio of cinnamyl to vanillyl phenols (C/V ratio) of lignin gradually increased from mid-MIS 6 to early MIS 3. The increase in both parameters suggested increase in the contribution of submerged and floating plants as the flats were expanded in the lake margin. The ratio of syringyl to vanillyl phenols (S/V ratio) corresponded to the pollen vegetation index. This correspondence indicated that the S/V ratio reflected the relative abundance of angiosperms to gymnosperms in the Takano Basin. The consistency of the S/V ratio at the site of core TKN-2004 and the other two locations suggests that the S/V ratio in a small basin is a robust proxy for terrestrial vegetation on a regional scale.

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Early diagenesis of vascular plant tissues: Lignin and cutin decomposition and biogeochemical implications

Cited by 364 publications

References 37 publications

Decomposition of Juncus seeds in a valley mire (Faroe Islands) over a 900 year period

Decomposition of Juncus seeds in a valley mire (Faroe Islands) over a 900 year period

Multi-proxy study of soil organic matter dynamics in permafrost peat deposits reveal vulnerability to climate change in the European Russian Arctic

Late Pleistocene variation in lignin and fatty acids from core TKN-2004 in a small mountain basin in central Japan

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