Carbon chain length distribution in n-alkyl lipids: A process for evaluating source inputs to Lake Qinghai

► Distributions of n-alkanes and n-fatty acids (FAs) in representative modern plants round Lake Qinghai were determined. ► Average chain length (ACL) of the C16-C32n-acids was significantly different between terrestrial (23.3) and aquatic plants (18.6). ► Results suggest that the FAs in the surface sediments originated mainly from aquatic input. ► More attention should be paid to input sources and their relationship with other proxies in future studies of lake sediments.