Distribution patterns and stable carbon isotopic composition of alkanes and alkan-1-ols from plant waxes of African rain forest and savanna C3 species

The findings were compared to previously published data of typical C4 grass waxes of tropical and subtropical Africa. Generally, trends to longer n-alkane chains and less negative carbon isotopic values are evident from rain forest over C3 savanna to C4 vegetation. For n-alkanols of rain forest plants the maximum of the averaged distribution pattern is between those of C3 savanna plants and C4 grasses. The averaged presentations for tropical and subtropical vegetation and their characteristics may constitute useful biomarker proxies for studies analysing the expansion and contraction of African vegetation zones.