Co-variation of crenarchaeol and branched GDGTs in globally-distributed marine and freshwater sedimentary archives

Two major types of glycerol dialkyl glycerol tetraethers (GDGTs) are commonly used in paleoecological and paleoclimatological reconstructions: isoprenoidal and branched GDGTs. In aquatic environments, it was originally assumed that isoprenoidal GDGTs, especially crenarchaeol, derive mainly from aquatic Thaumarchaeota, while branched GDGTs are an allochthonous input derived from soil Bacteria. Recently, direct co-variation of crenarchaeol and branched GDGTs has been described in two marine sedimentary records, and this observation suggests that in situ production of branched GDGTs is possible at least in some aquatic environments. After investigating 30 published and unpublished data sets from downcore and surface sediments as well as sediment traps from 19 distinct regions around the world, we found a widespread significant correlation between concentrations of branched GDGTs and crenarchaeol (p < 0.01; r2 = 0.57–0.99), even when normalized against TOC, where available. These data sets include freshwater and marine environments with varying distances from the shore, varying redox conditions and different terrestrial matter input pathways. Our findings from this large-scale data set suggest that a common or mixed source for both GDGT types is actually commonplace in lacustrine and marine settings.

► We present a comparative GDGT study from a wide range of aquatic environments.
► Crenarchaeol and branched GDGTs are strongly correlated in 27 of 30 data sets.
► Even when normalized against TOC, where available
► Various scenarios of cascading effects are plausible for specific sites.
► But globally, our findings indicate mixed sources for both GDGT types.