Molecular organic geochemistry of ornithogenic sediment from Svalbard, Arctic

The molecular biomarker compositions of the ornithogenic sediments (YN), from Svalbard, Arctic were investigated. The results showed that n-alkanes had a bimodal pattern and their odd-even preference was not obvious. The alkanes contained unresolved complex mixtures (UCM) and relatively high levels of pristine and retene, indicating pollution from the nearby coal mines. The n-alkanols in the sediments had even-to-odd preference, and they might originate mainly from modern biota. Sistosterol, the main sterol in herbivores feces, was the dominant sterol, indicating that sitosterol might be a good biomarker of input from the birds feces in the sediments. The fatty acids of the sediments showed acid. The α-hydroxyl acids and ω-hydroxyl fatty acids were also detected in the sediments. In summary, the organic matters in the YN sediments were from the adjacent coal mines, bird feces, and plants.     

北极新奥尔松地区鸟粪土的分子有机地球化学研究

本文研究了位于北极地区的斯瓦尔巴(Svalbard)群岛上的新奥尔松(Ny-lesund)地区的鸟粪土层(YN)的分子有机地球化学组成特征。YN沉积物的烷烃呈双峰分布,奇偶优势不明显,烷烃组分包含UCM(不可分辨成分),姥鲛烷、惹烯是烷烃的主峰,表明烷烃组分受到附近三叠纪含煤地层的强烈影响。脂肪醇类组分偶奇优势明显,主要为现代生物来源。甾醇以谷甾醇为主,由于谷甾醇是草食动物粪便的主要甾醇,所以YN沉积物中谷甾醇可能来源于鸟粪。脂肪酸类组分的偶奇优势同样十分明显,不饱和脂肪酸以C18∶1为主,除脂肪酸外,还检测到β-羟基酸和ω-羟基酸。综合YN生物标志物的组成与分布特征,认为YN既受到附近含煤地层的影响,也受到附近的鸟粪和植被的影响。