Articles | Volume 23, issue 1
https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-23-21-2026
© Author(s) 2026. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-23-21-2026
© Author(s) 2026. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Research article
| 
05 Jan 2026
Research article |
| 05 Jan 2026
| 05 Jan 2026
Archaeal lipostratigraphy of the Scotian Slope shallow sediments, Atlantic Canada
Narges Ahangarian
CORRESPONDING AUTHOR
Department of Geology, Saint Mary's University, 923 Robie Street, Halifax, Nova Scotia B3H 3C3, Canada
Unyime U. Umoh
Department of Geology, Saint Mary's University, 923 Robie Street, Halifax, Nova Scotia B3H 3C3, Canada
Natasha MacAdam
Nova Scotia Department of Energy, 1690 Hollis St., Halifax, Nova Scotia B3J 3J9, Canada
Adam MacDonald
Nova Scotia Department of Energy, 1690 Hollis St., Halifax, Nova Scotia B3J 3J9, Canada
Patricia Granados
Centre for Environmental Analysis and Remediation, Saint Mary's University, 923 Robie Street, Halifax, Nova Scotia B3H 3C3, Canada
Jeremy N. Bentley
Department of Geology, Saint Mary's University, 923 Robie Street, Halifax, Nova Scotia B3H 3C3, Canada
Elish Redshaw
Department of Geology, Saint Mary's University, 923 Robie Street, Halifax, Nova Scotia B3H 3C3, Canada
Martin G. Fowler
Applied Petroleum Technology (Canada) Ltd., Calgary, AB T3A 2M3, Canada
Venus Baghalabadi
Department of Geology, Saint Mary's University, 923 Robie Street, Halifax, Nova Scotia B3H 3C3, Canada
Department of Pharmacology, Dalhousie University, 5850 College St, Halifax, Nova Scotia, B3H 4R2, Canada
Department of Geology, Saint Mary's University, 923 Robie Street, Halifax, Nova Scotia B3H 3C3, Canada
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Short summary
This study documents previously unknown, shallow sediment stratigraphic archaeal zones that extend over a large section of the Scotian Slope of Northeastern Canada. These zones appear to be geochemically and not lithologically controlled. They are also not detectable by using traditional lipid biomarker ratios. They indicate subsurface microbial community structures to be more complex and tractable over large expanses of the continental margins.
This study documents previously unknown, shallow sediment stratigraphic archaeal zones that...
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