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Modern plant-derived terpenoids in an upper Michigan river basin and implications for studying ancient terpenoids

Giri, Sharmila J
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ucin1378195346

Abstract Details

2013, MS, University of Cincinnati, Arts and Sciences: Geology.
Modern fluvial systems can be used as ancient river analogs to provide information on the utility of terrestrial plant terpenoids as geologic proxies by defining their potential flux and the processes that control their transport, deposition and degradation in both forested soils and river sediments. Di- and triterpenoids are taxonomically specific terrestrial plant biomarkers, which are produced by conifers and angiosperms, respectively. Because of this source specificity, these compounds are often used in basin-wide reconstructions of paleovegetation. However, the physical and chemical processes that influence the dispersal and sedimentary fate of terpenoids in the geologic record are poorly understood. Here, I quantify di- and triterpenoid concentrations in modern conifer and angiosperm trees, soils, sediments, particulate organic matter and dissolved organic matter in Miners River drainage basin (Upper Peninsula of Michigan) to determine if the contribution of terpenoids from source vegetation is reflected in forested soil and river sediments, and to constrain the dispersal of these compounds in fluvial systems. In the Miners River drainage basin, evergreen conifer trees are less abundant than deciduous angiosperm trees yet contribute substantially more terpenoids to the sediments, when scaled for leaf litter production and present vegetation cover. The ratio of di- to triterpenoids in source vegetation does not match that in forested and river sediments, suggesting that some process, or combination of processes, preferentially removes diterpenoids from sediments. Terpenoids are transported in the particulate and dissolved organic matter fractions in Miners River. Despite potential challenges to reconstructing paleovegetation, sediment terpenoid concentrations can be used to predict the present plant community composition.
Aaron Diefendorf, Ph.D. (Committee Chair)
Brooke Crowley, Ph.D. (Committee Member)
Thomas Lowell, Ph.D. (Committee Member)
Jodi Shann, Ph.D. (Committee Member)
110 p.
Geology
Terpenoids; Paleovegetation Proxies; Fluvial Transport

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Giri, S. J. (2013). Modern plant-derived terpenoids in an upper Michigan river basin and implications for studying ancient terpenoids [Master's thesis, University of Cincinnati]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ucin1378195346

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Giri, Sharmila. Modern plant-derived terpenoids in an upper Michigan river basin and implications for studying ancient terpenoids. 2013. University of Cincinnati, Master's thesis. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ucin1378195346.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Giri, Sharmila. "Modern plant-derived terpenoids in an upper Michigan river basin and implications for studying ancient terpenoids." Master's thesis, University of Cincinnati, 2013. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ucin1378195346

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

ucin1378195346
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© 2013, all rights reserved.
This open access ETD is published by University of Cincinnati and OhioLINK.