Distributions and origins of lipid biomarkers in surface sediments from the southern Yellow Sea

This paper reports on the spatial distribution patterns and investigates the controlling mechanisms of phytoplankton biomarkers (brassicasterol for diatoms, alkenones for haptophytes, dinosterol for dinoflagellates) and terrestrial biomarkers (odd C number long-chain (C27 + C29 + C31) n-alkanes) in surface sediments from the southern Yellow Sea (SYS). The contents of the phytoplankton biomarkers in the SYS surface sediments reveals a clear spatial pattern, with low values near the coasts and increased values seaward, caused by higher phytoplankton primary productivity and low sedimentation rates in the basin. The contents of terrestrial biomarkers show high values in the northern part of the study areas off the Shandong Peninsula and Jiangsu coast, caused by inputs of materials from the modern Huanghe River and the old Huanghe delta, respectively. The results also indicate that biomarker ratios offer the best approach for reconstructing marginal sea C cycles, as these proxies can be used to estimate the contributions of both terrestrial and marine organic matter and to reconstruct paleoproductivity and paleoecological changes in the SYS.

► Distributions of terrestrial and marine biomarker in Yellow Sea sediments are unlike.
► Productivity and sedimentation rate control the distribution of marine biomarkers.
► Biomarkers are reliable proxies for reconstruction of carbon cycle and ecosystem changes in the YS.