Microbial glycerol dialkyl glycerol tetraethers from river water and soil near the Three Gorges Dam on the Yangtze River

► Impact of Three Gorges Dam (TGD) on distribution of GDGTs in the Yangtze River was studied. ► GDGT proxies (MBT/CBT and TEX86) were not significantly affected by the dam. ► TEX86 likely reflects seasonal RST, but is affected by rainfall, soil runoff and water stagnation. ► The MBT/CBT indices for SPM likely reflect MAAT instead of seasonal variation.