Research Outputs
Development of global temperature and pH calibrations based on bacterial 3-hydroxy fatty acids in soils
Gram-negative bacteria produce specific membrane lipids, i.e. 3-hydroxy fatty acids with 10 to 18 C atoms. They have been recently proposed as temperature and pH proxies in terrestrial settings. Nevertheless, the existing correlations between pH or temperature and indices derived from 3-OH FA distribution are based on a small soil dataset (ca. 70 samples) and only applicable regionally. The aim of this study was to investigate the applicability of 3-OH FAs as mean annual air temperature (MAAT) and pH proxies at the global level. This was achieved using an extended soil dataset of 168 topsoils distributed worldwide, covering a wide range of temperatures (5 to 30 ∘C) and pH (3 to 8). The response of 3-OH FAs to temperature and pH was compared to that of established branched glycerol dialkyl glycerol tetraether (GDGT)-based proxies (MBT'5Me/CBT). Strong linear relationships between 3-OH-FA-derived indices (RAN15, RAN17 and RIAN) and MAAT or pH could only be obtained locally for some of the individual transects. This suggests that these indices cannot be used as palaeoproxies at the global scale using simple linear regression models, in contrast with the MBT'5Me and CBT. However, strong global correlations between 3-OH FA relative abundances and MAAT or pH were shown by using other algorithms (multiple linear regression, k-NN and random forest models). The applicability of the three aforementioned models for palaeotemperature reconstruction was tested and compared with the MAAT record from a Chinese speleothem. The calibration based on the random forest model appeared to be the most robust. It generally showed similar trends with previously available records and highlighted known climatic events poorly visible when using local 3-OH FA calibrations. Altogether, these results demonstrate the potential of 3-OH FAs as palaeoproxies in terrestrial settings.
Intraspecific differences in leaf chemical traits from five common evergreen species in contrasting climate conditions (temperature and precipitation) from northern Patagonian rainforest (42–44°S)
Background and aims: Soil properties and climate influence leaf chemical traits producing intraspecific variation in plants. Studies evaluating their importance in the South American Temperate Forest (STF) species are scarce. This study aimed to evaluate the intraspecific differences in five evergreen species of the rainforest considering two contrasting areas (i.e. temperature and precipitation), linking soil and climate with plants traits. Methods: Soil properties (Corg%, N%, C/N, δ13C, δ15N, pH and temperature), climate variables (mean annual precipitation and temperature [MAP; MAT]) and leaf chemical traits (C%, N% and P%, C/N, N/P, δ13C and δ15N) were measured and compared between two areas in the Northern Patagonia (42°- 44°S). In addition, the relationship of leaf chemical traits with soil and climate was assessed. Results: Significant differences were found in soil (Corg%, C/N and pH; p < 0.05) and climate (p < 0.05), with MAP identified as the most common factor controlling soil properties (Corg%, C/N and δ15N). Intraspecific differences in leaf chemical traits were found between areas, but not in all traits. The most common leaf chemical trait with significant differences was C%. Higher mean C% values were found in the island in plants and soils. High number of correlations (n = 13 correlations; p < 0.05) were found between leaf chemical traits. On the other hand, only MAP was a significant predictor of δ13C in the leaves. Conclusion: The leaf chemical traits variability suggests a species-specific response to the soil and climate conditions, with important influence of precipitation as the most common predictor of soil properties and δ13C in the leaves.