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Utility of the MBT/CBT paleotemperature proxy in lake sediments: Spatial variation in bacteria and bacterial lipid distribution in two New Zealand lake catchments

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posted on 2022-07-28, 00:05 authored by Robyns, Melody Angharad

Branched glycerol dialkyl glycerol tetraethers (GDGTs), produced by unidentified bacteria, have been found ubiquitously in terrestrial and marine environments. The methylation and cyclisation of branched GDGTs is known to change in soils due to mean annual air temperature and pH, respectively. The identification of branched GDGTs produced within the water column and sediments of lakes indicates strong potential for the development of a temperature proxy for lake environments. In order to help develop the applicability of using branched bacterial GDGT lipids as a temperature proxy in lacustrine environments, this research set out to determine the distribution and provenance of bacterial communities and their corresponding GDGT lipids present in lake sediments in two small New Zealand lakes, the Karori Upper Dam and Lake Pounui. The Karori Upper Dam is a small lake, directly fed by two tributaries. Lake Pounui, in comparison, is much larger and fed by tributaries which are buffered by swamps.

Water and sediment samples from Lake Pounui and its catchment indicate a predominantly autochthonous production of branched GDGTs. However, the lake calibrated MBT/CBT paleotemperature proxy is not applicable to sites similar to that of the Karori Upper Dam which have a strong terrestrial branched GDGT signature. This research concluded that it can be expected that a terrestrial GDGT signature of some extent will be present in all lacustrine sites; however, only some sites will display a strong authochthonous lacustrine GDGT signal suitable for the application of the MBT/CBT paleotemperature proxy. Through the use of ARISA DNA analysis this research identified bacterial species which statistically explain a significant portion of variance in branched GDGT abundances. Based on the seasonal fluctuations of measured environmental controls it can be assumed that species abundance will also fluctuate. Future work will need to be undertaken in order to further understand this relationship as the sample size for this research was too small to determine the seasonal pattern of these bacteria.

History

Copyright Date

2014-01-01

Date of Award

2014-01-01

Publisher

Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington

Rights License

Author Retains Copyright

Degree Discipline

Physical Geography

Degree Grantor

Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington

Degree Level

Masters

Degree Name

Master of Science

ANZSRC Socio-Economic Outcome code

970104 Expanding Knowledge in the Earth Sciences

Victoria University of Wellington Item Type

Awarded Research Masters Thesis

Language

en_NZ

Victoria University of Wellington School

School of Geography, Environment and Earth Sciences

Advisors

Newnham, Rewi; Vandergoes, Marcus