Reconstructing the palaeoecology of a middle Permian alkaline lake using molecular fossils, case study of the Lucaogou Formation in the Junggar Basin, NW China

The lacustrine Lucaogou Formation was deposited during the middle Permian in the Junggar Basin, northwestern China. The depositional environment was an alkaline, brackish to saline lake. The biological diversity of the Lucaogou Formation was reconstructed using biologically informative molecules such as n-alkanes, steranes, and hopanes, and the δ¹³C composition of organic matter. C₃₀ 4α-methyl-24-ethylsterane, C₃₁ lanostane, and abundant C₃₀ − C₃₁ 3β-methylhopanes were detected in the organic matter, suggesting the presence of type Ⅰ aerobic methanotrophs including the Methylococcaceae. C₃₀ − C₃₁ 2α-methylhopanes and 7- and 8-methylheptadecanes are suggestive of the presence of cyanobacteria. Cyanobacteria and green algae are proposed to have made the dominant contribution to the organic matter. The presence of more ¹³C-enriched hopanoids in the lower unit compared to the upper unit of the Lucaogou Formation suggest a greater contribution of cyanobacteria to the organic matter in the lower unit. The high abundances of C₂₈ and C₂₉ steranes relative to C₂₇ steranes are likely due to green algae from the Chlorophyta, including the class Chlorophyceae. Dinosteranes that are diagnostic for dinoflagellates were not detected. The low concentrations of C₄₀ isorenieratane, renieratane, β-isorenieratane, renierapurpurane, and β-renierapurpurane that are indicative of photosynthetic green and purple sulfur bacteria indicate a minor contribution from Chlorobiaceae and Chromatiaceae to the organic matter. It is inferred that low to moderate amounts of ciliates grew at or below the relatively unstable chemocline in the lake. The presence of C₁₉-norisopimarane, 8β(H)-labdane, and 4β(H)-19-norisopimarane suggests the presence of coniferous plants growing around the lake, probably including Pinaceae, Araucariaceae, Cupressaceae.