Source and composition of sedimentary organic matter in the head of Three Gorges Reservoir: a multiproxy approach using δ[superscript 13]C, lignin phenols, and lipid biomarker analyses

Abstract

A multiproxy approach including bulk organic carbon, δ[superscript 13]C, lignin phenols, and lipid biomarker analyses were applied to characterize the source and composition of sedimentary organic matter in the head part of Three Gorges Reservoir. OM consisted of both natural (autochthonous and allochthonous) and anthropogenic inputs. The natural OM included input from vascular plants, especially non-woody angiosperms. The allochthonous input included plankton and microbial production, likely due to localized eutrophication. Anthropogenic inputs likely derived from petroleum input and/or urban activities. Other anthropogenic inputs were untreated sewage waste. These influences were concluded to be regionally specific point sources of pollution based on relative distributions and on the fact that molecular characteristics of sedimentary OM were not distributed smoothly along a gradient.