Sebastiaan W. Rampen

A diatomaceous origin for long-chain diols and mid-chain hydroxy methyl alkanoates widely occurring in quaternary marine sediments: Indicators for high nutrient conditions

For the first time a biological source for the long-chain alkyl 1,14-diols and 12-hydroxy methyl alkanoates, lipids widely occurring in the marine water column and sediments, has been identified. Cultures of Proboscia indica and Proboscia alata, rhizosolenoid diatoms belonging to the widespread diatom genus Proboscia, contain C28, C28:1, C30, and C30:1 alkyl 1,14-diols, and C27 and C29 12-hydroxy methyl alkanoates as major neutral lipids. These components form a substantial fraction of lipid fractions from sediment traps or sediments, especially in areas with an elevated primary production such as upwelling regions. Examination of literature data reveals that as much as 20 to 35% of the total lipid flux in the Arabian Sea is derived from Proboscia diatoms during the start of the upwelling season. Their rapid transfer to the water-sediment interface may explain why corresponding 1,14-keto-ols, inferred oxidation products of diols, are hardly formed. These interpretations are supported by compound-specific carbon isotopic analysis of long-chain keto-ols and diols in surface sediments of the Arabian Sea. The data indicate that long-chain alkyl 1,14-diols and 12-hydroxy methyl alkanoates can be applied as indicators for high-nutrient conditions in the photic zone.

On the origin of 24-norcholestanes and their use as age-diagnostic biomarkers

24-norcholestanes have been shown to be useful biomarkers to assess the age of sediments and petroleum, but until now, the biological sources of their precursors, i.e., 24-norsterols, were unclear. We have unambiguously identified relatively high concentrations of 24- norcholesta-5,22-dien-3β-ol in the diatom Thalassiosira aff. antarctica (6%–10% of total sterols) and, in much lower concentrations, in the dinoflagellate Gymnodinium simplex (0.2% of total sterols). These identifications and other reports of 24-norsterols in dinoflagellates suggest that both diatom and dinoflagellate species are major sources for 24-norcholestanes in sediments and petroleum. The evolutionary history of these organisms suggests that observed increases of 24-norcholestane concentration in the Jurassic and the Cretaceous are related to dinoflagellate expansion, whereas an increase in the Oligocene-Miocene is likely caused by diatom expansion. Our results also explain the biogeographical distribution of 24-norcholestanes, i.e., high concentrations at high (paleo)latitudes are likely caused by diatoms, while low concentrations at lower (paleo)latitudes are likely caused by dinoflagellates.

Sea surface temperature variations in the western Mediterranean Sea over the last 20 kyr: A dual‐organic proxy (UK′37 and LDI) approach

A high-resolution sea surface temperature (SST) reconstruction of the western Mediterranean was accomplished using two independent, algae-based molecular organic proxies, i.e., the U-37(K) index based on long-chain unsaturated ketones and the novel long-chain diol index (LDI) based on the relative abundances of C-28 and C-30 1,13- and 1,15-diols. Two marine records, from the western and eastern Alboran Sea basin, spanning the last 14 and 20kyr, respectively, were studied. Results from the surface sediments suggest that the two proxies presently reflect seasons with similar SST or simply annual mean SST. Both proxy records reveal the transition from the Last Glacial Maximum to the Holocene in the eastern Alboran Sea with an SST increase of approximately 7 degrees C for U-37(K) and 9 degrees C for LDI. Minimum SSTs (10-12 degrees C) are reached at the end of the Last Glacial Maximum and during the last Heinrich event with a subsequent rapid SST increase in LDI-SST toward the beginning of the Bolling period (20 degrees C), while U-37(K)-SST remains constantly low (similar to 12 degrees C). The Bolling-Allerod period is characterized by a rapid increase and subsequent decrease in U-37(K)-SST, while the LDI-SST decrease continuously. Short-term fluctuations in U-37(K)-SST are probably related to the availability of nutrients and seasonal changes. The Younger Dryas is recorded as a short cold interval followed by progressively warmer temperatures. During the Holocene, the general lower U-37(K)-derived temperature values in the eastern Alboran (by approximately 1.5-2 degrees C) suggest a southeastward cold water migration by the western Alboran gyre and divergence in the haptophyte blooming season between both basins. Key Points High-resolution SST reconstruction is performed in the westernmost Mediterranean Two algae-based proxies show the temperature evolution for the last 20 kyr Derived SSTs suggest different growth seasons of alkenone and diol producers

Holocene changes in Proboscia diatom productivity in shelf waters of the north-western Antarctic Peninsula.

Abstract Diatoms are important primary producers in present day Antarctic waters but their relative significance in the past is less clear. In this study we used long-chain diols to reconstruct Proboscia diatom productivity in shelf waters of the western Antarctic Peninsula over the last 8500 yr. Biomarker lipid analysis revealed the presence of a suite of long-chain diols in the sediments, mainly comprising the C28 and C30 1,14-diol isomers derived from Proboscia diatoms and C28 and C30 1,13-diols derived from other unknown algae. The relative importance of Proboscia diatoms was assessed using the relative abundances of 1,14-diols versus 1,13-diols, which showed that Proboscia diatoms were relatively more abundant during the Late Holocene, suggesting that stronger upwelling of circumpolar waters occurred at that time. The variations in the diol index strongly correlate with melt events in the Siple Dome ice core, suggesting that the climatic processes responsible for changes in mean summer temperature, open marine influence and atmospheric cyclonic activity recorded at Siple Dome, also controlled the productivity of Proboscia diatoms on the western Antarctic Peninsula region.

PHYLOGENETIC POSITION OF ATTHEYA LONGICORNIS AND ATTHEYA SEPTENTRIONALIS (BACILLARIOPHYTA)1

The phylogenetic position of diatoms belonging to the genus Attheya is presently under debate. Species belonging to this genus have been placed in the subclasses Chaetocerotophycidae and Biddulphiophycidae, but published phylogenetic trees based on 18S rDNA, morphology, and sexual reproduction indicate that this group of diatoms may be a sister group of the pennates. To clarify the position of Attheya, we studied the morphology, 18S rDNA, 16S rDNA of the chloroplasts, the rbcL large subunit (LSU) sequences of the chloroplasts, and the sterol composition of three different strains of Attheya septentrionalis (Østrup) R. M. Crawford and one strain of Attheya longicornis R. M. Crawford et C. Gardner. These data were compared with data from more than 100 other diatom species, covering the whole phylogenetic tree, with special emphasis on species belonging to the genera that have been suggested to be related to the genus Attheya. All data suggest that the investigated Attheya species form a separate group of diatoms, and there is no indication that they belong to either the Chaetocerotophycidae or the Biddulphiophycidae. Despite applying these various approaches, we were unable to determine the exact phylogenetic position of the investigated Attheya species within the diatoms.