Spatial heterogeneity of sources of branched tetraethers in shelf systems: The geochemistry of tetraethers in the Berau River delta (Kalimantan, Indonesia)

The bulk organic matter composition (total organic carbon (TOC) content and δ13CTOC) and composition of isoprenoid and branched glycerol dialkyl glycerol tetraethers (GDGT) in surface sediments from 43 stations in the Berau River delta (east Kalimantan, Indonesia), including two coast-shelf transects and stations within the river mouth, were examined to reveal the spatial heterogeneity in these parameters in order to assess the impact of a tropical river loaded with suspended matter on the sedimentary organic matter in the shelf system. The high-resolution study showed that, despite the extensive transport of eroded soil material by the river to the sea, terrestrial organic matter and brGDGTs are only deposited on a relatively small part of the shelf. The concentrations of brGDGTs are highest (up to 120 μg g−1 TOC) in sediments deposited in and close to the mouth of the Berau River and their distribution indicates that they represent a mixture of soil-derived and river in-situ produced brGDGTs. Crenarchaeol concentrations reach 700 μg g−1 TOC in sediments deposited on the outer shelf due to Thaumarchaeotal production in shelf waters. This results in a strong gradient (0.93-0.03) in the BIT index, with high values in the river mouth and low values on the shelf. The decline in the BIT index is caused by both decreasing concentrations of the brGDGTs and increasing concentrations of crenarchaeol. The BIT index shows a highly significant but non-linear relationship with δ13CTOC. On the shelf, in the area not under the direct influence of the Berau River, cyclic brGDGTs become relatively dominant, most probably due to in-situ production in the alkaline pore waters of the surface sediments. The spatial heterogeneity of sources of brGDGTs on the Berau shelf complicates the use of brGDGTs as temperature proxies. Application of the global soil calibration to sedimentary mixtures of brGDGTs in the river-influenced area of the shelf results in a severe underestimation of mean annual air temperature (MAT) by 6 °C. This is due to the mixed origin of the brGDGTs, which are not only derived from soil erosion but, likely, also from riverine production, as has been observed for other river systems.Comparison of the Berau shelf other shelf systems indicates that in-situ production of brGDGTs in shelf sediments is a widespread phenomenon that is especially pronounced at water depths of ca. 50-300 m. It is hypothesized that this is so because benthic in-situ production of heterotrophic brGDGT-producing bacteria is fueled by the higher delivery of fresh organic matter to these sediments as the consequence of higher primary productivity in shelf waters and a decreased mineralization due to the relatively short settling times of particles on the shelf. For palaeoclimatic studies of marine shelf sediments the application of brGDGTs as proxies is severely complicated by the heterogeneity of sources of brGDGTs. Comparison of the brGDGT composition of soils with those of shelf sediments may assist in deciding if sedimentary brGDGTs are predominantly derived from soil erosion. Several methods to do so are discussed.