Insights into floral and climatic changes from biomarker and isotopic composition of land plant organic matter – A review

Abstract

Biomarkers and isotopic composition of coal and plant tissue enable insights into floral assemblage and paleoenvironment. Abundance, distribution, and d13C values of leaf wax lipids (i.e. n-alkanes) differ between angiosperm and gymnosperm plants. Terpenoid hydrocarbons are used to assess the contributions of gymnosperms versus angiosperms. The influence of varying contributions of angiosperms and gymnosperms on d13C of coal can be overcome by the analyses of fossil wood remains for their isotopic composition. Angiosperms and gymnosperms show similar H-isotope fractionation between n-alkanes and water. Diterpenoids yield lower d2H values compared to angiosperm-derived triterpenoids, due to different biosynthetic pathways. Differences in mean annual precipitation affect d13C of bulk leaf organic matter. Co-variations in d13C and d2H of lipids reflect changes in water availability to the plants. Temperature variations, based on branched glycerol dialkyl glycerol tetraethers (brGDGTs), and d2H values of n-C29 alkane from Lake Van sediments reveal warm-humid climate during interglacials and cooler and drier climate during glacials. Based on the methylation of brGDGTs, a calibrated paleothermometer is available for peats and lignites.