Predominance of hexamethylated 6-methyl branched glycerol dialkyl glycerol tetraethers in the Mariana Trench: source and environmental implication

Xiao, Wenjie; Wang, Yasong; Liu, Yongsheng; Zhang, Xi; Shi, Linlin; Xu, Yunping

doi:https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-17-2135-2020

Articles | Volume 17, issue 7

https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-17-2135-2020

© Author(s) 2020. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.

https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-17-2135-2020

© Author(s) 2020. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.

Articles | Volume 17, issue 7

Research article

|

17 Apr 2020

Research article |

| 17 Apr 2020

Predominance of hexamethylated 6-methyl branched glycerol dialkyl glycerol tetraethers in the Mariana Trench: source and environmental implication

Wenjie Xiao, Yasong Wang, Yongsheng Liu, Xi Zhang, Linlin Shi, and Yunping Xu

Supplement

https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-17-2135-2020-supplement

Data sets

Raw data about brGDGTs in Mariana Trench and global environmental settings Wenjie Xiao, Yasong Wang, Yongsheng Liu, Xi Zhang, Linlin Shi, and Yunping Xu https://doi.org/10.6084/m9.figshare.9896120.v1

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Short summary

The hadal zone (6–11 km depth) is the least explored habitat on Earth. We studied microbial branched glycerol dialkyl glycerol tetraethers (brGDGTs) in the Challenger Deep, Mariana Trench. One unique feature is the strong predominance of 6-methyl brGDGT, which likely reflects an adaption of brGDGT-producing bacteria to alkaline seawater and low temperature. BrGDGTs, with elemental and isotopic data, suggest an autochthonous product for brGDGT. A new approach is proposed for brGDGT sourcing.