Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Anthropogenically driven differences in n-alkane distributions of surface sediments from 19 lakes along the middle Yangtze River, Eastern China

  • Research Article
  • Published:
Environmental Science and Pollution Research Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

During the past few decades, the Yangtze River basin has undergone massive anthropogenic change. In order to evaluate the impacts of human interventions on sediment n-alkanes of lakes across this region, the aliphatic hydrocarbon fractions of 19 surface sediment samples collected from lakes along the middle reaches of the Yangtze River (MYR) were analyzed using gas chromatography–mass spectrometry. The n-alkanes extracted from the sediments contained a homologous series from C15 to C34, with a notable predominance of odd carbon compounds except for sediments from the more intensively industrialized Lake Daye, in which > C21 n-alkanes showed no odd/even predominance, and carbon preference index (CPI) approached unity. Abundance values of middle-chain (C21, C23, and C25) and long-chain (C27, C29, C31, and C33) n-alkanes in Lake Daye were approximately 4 to 3 times greater than the average for other lakes, reaching 272.4 and 486.3 μg/g TOC, respectively, in the study. Short-chain n-alkanes (C15, C17, and C19) in the sediments varied in abundance from 10.0 to 76.2 μg/g TOC across the study and showed a moderate correlation with total phosphorus (TP) concentrations in the overlying water. The results indicated anthropogenic eutrophication enhanced the accumulation of short-chain n-alkanes in sediments because the primary producers in which they are synthesized are highly susceptible to nutrient forcing. Middle-chain n-alkane abundances were less affected by eutrophication and generally enriched in macrophyte lakes, while long-chain n-alkanes tend to be low in sediments from more eutrophic water. In the case of Lake Daye, direct discharges of petroleum products from heavy industry have introduced quantities of petroleum n-alkanes (> C21), far exceeding the amounts of biogenic input, and the sediment > C21 n-alkanes detected in this study showed typical characteristics of petroleum source. In other lakes, inputs of petroleum products from surface runoff of vehicle/traffic emissions associated with urbanization and economic growth contributed comparatively few n-alkanes to sediments, resulting in declines in CPI for > C21 n-alkanes, most obviously in Lakes Huanggai, Donghu, and Futou. Calculated CPI values suggest that a major proportion of the n-alkanes present in these lakes are derived from biogenic input. The results of this study provided evidences that n-alkane profiles of lake sediments respond sensitively to human-induced eutrophication and different sources of petroleum pollution.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Ankit Y, Mishra PK, Kumar P, Jha DK, Kumar VV, Ambili V, Anoop A (2017) Molecular distribution and carbon isotope of n-alkanes from Ashtamudi Estuary, South India: assessment of organic matter sources and paleoclimatic implications. Mar Chem 196:62–70

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bechtel A, Schubert CJ (2009) A biogeochemical study of sediments from the eutrophic Lake Lugano and the oligotrophic Lake Brienz, Switzerland. Org Geochem 40:1100–1114

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bianchi TS, Canuel EA (2011) Chemical biomarkers in aquatic ecosystems. Princeton University Press, Princeton, pp 1–396

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Blumer M, Guiliard RRL, Chase T (1971) Hydrocarbons of marine phytoplankton. Mar Biol 8:183–189

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bourbonniere RA, Meyers PA (1996) Sedimentary geolipid records of historical changes in the watersheds and productivities of Lake Ontario and Erie. Limnol Oceanogr 41:352–359

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bourbonniere BA, Telford SL, Ziolkowski LA, Lee J, Evans MS, Meyers PA (1997) Biogeochemical marker profiles in cores of dated sediments from large north American lakes. In: Eganhouse R, Symposium Series ACS (eds) Molecular markers in environmental geochemistry. American Chemical Society, Washington DC

    Google Scholar 

  • Bragée P, Choundhary P, Routh J, Boyle JF, Hammarlund D (2013) Lake ecosystem responses to catchment disturbance and airborne pollution: an 800-year perspective in southern Sweden. J Paleolimnol 50:545–560

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chevalier N, Savoye N, Dubois S, Lama ML, David V, Lecroart P, Ménach K, Budzinski H (2015) Precise indices based on n-alkane distribution for quantifying sources of sedimentary organic matter in coastal systems. Org Geochem 88:69–77

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Choudhary P, Routh J, Chakrapani GJ (2009) An environmental record of changes in sedimentary organic matter from Lake Sattal in Kumaun Himalayas, India. Sci Total Environ 407:2783–2795

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Cranwell PA (1982) Lipids of aquatic sediments and sedimenting particulates. Process Lipid Res 21:271–308

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Cranwell PA (1984) Lipid geochemistry of sediments from Upton Broad, a small productive lake. Org Geochem 7:25–37

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Cranwell PA, Eglinton G, Robinson N (1987) Lipids of aquatic organisms as potential contributors to lacustrine sediments. Org Geochem 11:513–527

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Daskalou V, Vreća P, Muri G, Stalikas C (2009) Recent environmental changes in the shallow Lake Pamvotis (NW Greece): evidence from sedimentary organic matter, hydrocarbons, and stable isotopes. Arch Environ Contam Toxicol 57:21–31

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Derrien M, Yang L, Hur J (2017) Lipid biomarker and spectroscopic indices for identifying organic matter source in aquatic environments: a review. Water Res 112:58–71

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Dong XH, Anderson NJ, Yang XD, Chen X, Shen J (2012) Carbon burial by shallow lakes on the Yangtze floodplain and its relevance to regional carbon sequestration. Glob Chang Biol 18:2205–2217

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Doskey PV (2001) Spatial variations and chronologies of aliphatic hydrocarbons in Lake Michigan sediments. Environ Sci Technol 35:247–254

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Eglinton G, Hamilton RJ (1967) Leaf epicuticular waxes. Science 156:1322–1335

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Elias VO, Cardoso JN, Simoneit BRT (2000) Acyclic lipids in Amazon shelf waters. Estuar Coast Shelf Sci 50:231–243

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Fang J, Wu F, Xiong Y, Li F, Du X, An D, Wang L (2014) Source characterization of sedimentary organic matter using molecular and stable carbon isotopic composition of n-alkanes and fatty acids in sediment core from Lake Dianchi, China. Sci Total Environ 473-474:410–421

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Fang J, Wu F, Xiong Y, Wang S, Yang H (2017) A comparison of the distribution and sources of organic matter in surface sediments collected from northwestern and southwestern plateau lakes in China. J Limnol 76:571–580

    Google Scholar 

  • Ficken KJ, Li B, Swain DL, Eglinton G (2000) An n-alkane proxy for the sedimentary input of submerged/floating freshwater aquatic macrophytes. Org Geochem 31:745–749

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Gan Y, Guo Y (2004) Evaluation analysis and remedy strategy for eutrophication in Lake Donghu, Wuhan. Resources and environment in the Yangtze Basin, vol 13, pp 277–281 In Chinese

    Google Scholar 

  • Gao X, Chen S (2008) Petroleum pollution in surface sediments of Daya Bay, South China, revealed by chemical fingerprinting of aliphatic and alicyclic hydrocarbons. Estuar Coast Shelf Sci 80:95–102

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Gao X, Chen S, Xie X, Long A, Ma F (2007) Non-aromatic hydrocarbon in surface sediments near the Pearl River estuary in the South China Sea. Environ Pollut 148:40–47

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Han J, Calvin M (1969) Hydrocarbon distribution of algae and bacteria and microbiological activity in sediments. PNAS 64:436–443

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Harji RR, Yvenat A, Bhosle NB (2008) Sources of hydrocarbons in sediments of the Mandovi estuary and the Marmugoa harbour, west coast of India. Environ Int 34:959–965

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • He Y, Sun D, Wu J, Sun Y (2015) Factors controlling the past ~ 150-year ecological dynamics of Lake Wuliangsu in the upper reaches of the Yellow River, China. The Holocene 25:1394–1401

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hostettler FD, Pereira WE, Kvenvolden KA, van Green A, Luoma SN, Fuller CC, Anima R (1999) A record of hydrocarbon input to San Francisco Bay as traced by biomarker profiles in surface sediment and sediment core. Mar Chem 64:115–127

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hu J, Zhang G, Li K, Peng P, Chivas AR (2008) Increased eutrophication offshore Hong Kong, China during the past 75 years: evidence from high-resolution sedimentary records. Mar Chem 110:7–17

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hu J, Peng P, Chivas AR (2009) Molecular biomarker evidence of origins and transport of organic matter in sediments of the Pearl River estuary and adjacent South China Sea. Appl Geochem 24:1666–1676

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Jaffé R, Rushdi AI, Medeiros PM, Simoneit BRT (2006) Natural product biomarkers as indicators of sources and transport of sedimentary organic matter in a subtropical river. Chemosphere 64:1870–1884

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kennicutt MC II, Barker C, Brooks JM, DeFreitas DA, Zhu GH (1987) Selected organic matter source indicators in the Orinoco, Nile and Changjiang deltas. Org Geochem 11:41–51

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kim JH, Lee DH, Yoon SH, Jeong KS, Choi B (2017) Contribution of petroleum-derived organic carbon to sedimentary organic carbon pool in the eastern Yellow Sea (the northwestern Pacific). Chemosphere 168:1389–1399

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kim D, Kim JH, Kim MS, Ra K, Shin KH (2018) Assessing environmental changes in Lake Shihwa, South Korea, based on distribution and stable carbon isotopic compositions of n-alkanes. Environ Pollut 240:105–115

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Li Z, Xu X, Ji M, Wang G, Han R, Ma J, Yan X, Liu J (2018) Estimating sedimentary organic matter sources by multi-combined proxies for spatial heterogeneity in a large and shallow eutrophic lake. J Environ Manag 224:147–155

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Liu L, Wei G, Wang J, Guan Y, Wong CS, Wu F, Zeng EY (2013) Anthropogenic activities have contributed moderately to increased inputs of organic materials in marginal seas off China. Environ Sci Technol 47:11414–11422

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lu Y, Meyers PA (2009) Sediment lipid biomarkers as recorders of the contamination and cultural eutrophication of Lake Erie, 1909–2003. Org Geochem 40:912–921

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lytle JS, Lytle TF, Gearing JN, Gearing PJ (1979) Hydrocarbons on benthic algae from the eastern Gulf of Mexio. Mar Biol 51:279–288

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Medeiros PM, Bícego MC, Castelao RM, Rosso CD, Fillmann G, Zamboni AJ (2005) Natural and anthropogenic hydrocarbon inputs to sediments of Patos lagoon estuary, Brazil. Environ Int 31:77–87

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Meyers PA (1997) Organic geochemical proxies of paleoceanographic, paleolimnologic, and paleoclimatic processes. Org Geochem 27:213–250

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Meyers PA (2003) Applications of organic geochemistry to paleolimnological reconstruction: a summary of examples from the Laurentian Great Lakes. Org Geochem 34:261–289

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Paerl HW (1998) Nuisance phytoplankton blooms in coastal, estuarine, and inland waters. Limnol Oceanogr 33:823–847

    Google Scholar 

  • Peters KE, Walters CC, Moldowan JM (2005) The biomarker guide. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, pp 1–1155

    Google Scholar 

  • Pisani O, Oros DR, Oyo-Ita OE, Ekpo BO, Jaffé R, Simoneit BRT (2013) Biomarkers in surface sediments from the Cross River and estuary system, SE Nigeria: assessment of organic matter sources of natural and anthropogenic origins. Appl Geochem 31:239–250

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Routh J, Meyers PA, Hjorth T, Baskaran M, Hallberg R (2007) Sedimentary geochemical record of recent environmental changes around Lake Middle Marviken, Sweden. J Paleolimnol 37:529–545

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Routh J, Choudhary P, Meyers PA, Kumar B (2009) A sediment record of recent nutrient loading and trophic state change in Lake Norrviken, Sweden. J Paleolimnol 42:325–341

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rushdi AI, Al-Mutlaq KF, El-Mubarak AH, Al-Saleh MA, El-Otaibi MT, Ibrahim SMM, Simoneit BRT (2016) Occurrence and sources of natural and anthropogenic lipid tracers in surface soils from arid urban areas of Saudi Arabia. Environ Pollut 208:696–703

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Scheffer M, Hosper SH, Meijer ML, Moss B, Jeppesen E (1993) Alternative equilibria in shallow lakes. Trends Ecol Evol 8:275–279

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Silva LSV, Piovano EL, Azevedo DA, Aquino Neto FR (2008) Quantitative evaluation of sedimentary organic matter from Laguna mar Chiquita, Argentina. Org Geochem 39:450–464

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Silva TR, Lopes SRP, Spörl G, Knoppers BA, Azevedo DA (2013) Evaluation of anthropogenic inputs of hydrocarbons in sediment cores from a tropical Brazilian estuarine system. Microchem J 109:178–188

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Smith VH, Tilman GD, Nekola JC (1999) Eutrophication: impacts of excess nutrient inputs on freshwater, marine and terrestrial ecosystems. Environ Pollut 100:179–196

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sojinu SO, Sonibare OO, Ekundayo O, Zeng EY (2012) Assessing anthropogenic contamination in surface sediments of Niger Delta, Nigeria with fecal sterols and n-alkanes as indicators. Sci Total Environ 441:89–96

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Tolosa I, Fiorini S, Gasser B, Martín J, Miquel JC (2013) Carbon sources in suspended particles and surface sediments from Beaufort Sea revealed by molecular lipid biomarkers and compound-specific isotope analysis. Biogeosciences 10:2061–2087

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wang S, Dou H (1998) Memoirs of lakes in China. Science Press, Beijing (In Chinese, pp 1–580

    Google Scholar 

  • Wang Y, Yang H, Zhang J, Gao W, Huang C, Xie B (2015) Characterization of n-alkanes and their carbon isotopic composition in sediments from a small catchment of the Dianchi watershed. Chemosphere 119:1346–1352

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wang S, Liu G, Yuan Z, Da C (2018) n-Alkanes in sediments from the Yellow River Estuary, China: occurrence, sources and historical sedimentary record. Ecotoxicol Environ Saf 150:199–206

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wetzel RG (2001) Limnology: lake and river ecosystems, 3rd edn. Academic Press, California, pp 1–1006

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Wu J, Zeng H, Yu H, Ma L, Xu L, Qin B (2012) Water and sediment quality in lakes along the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River, China. Water Resour Manag 26:3601–3618

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Xiong Y, Wu F, Fang J, Wang L, Li Y, Liao H (2010) Organic geochemical record of environmental changes in Lake Dianchi, China. J Paleolimnol 44:217–231

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Xu H, Paerl HW, Qin B, Zhu G, Gao G (2010) Nitrogen and phosphorus inputs control phytoplankton growth in eutrophic Lake Taihu, China. Limnol Oceanogr 55:420–432

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Yan Z, Yang H, Dong H, Ma B, Sun H, Pan T, Jiang R, Zhou R, Shen J, Liu J, Lu G (2018) Occurrence and ecological risk assessment of organic micropollutants in the lower reaches of the Yangtze River, China: a case study of water diversion. Environ Pollut 239:223–232

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Youngblood WW, Blumer M, Guiliard RL, Fiore F (1971) Saturated and unsaturated hydrocarbons in marine benthic algae. Mar Biol 8:190–201

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zaghden H, Kallel M, Elleuch B, Oudot J, Saliot A (2007) Sources and distribution of aliphatic and polyaromatic hydrocarbons in sediments of Sfax, Tunisia, Mediterranean Sea. Mar Chem 105:70–89

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zech M, Krause T, Meszner S, Faust D (2013) Incorrect when uncorrected: reconstructing vegetation history using n-alkane biomarkers in loess-paleosol sequences – a case study from the Saxonian loess region, Germany. Quat Int 296:108–116

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zhang J, Li Z, Chen J, Wang M, Tao R, Liu D (2014) Assessment of heavy metal contamination status in sediments and identification of pollution source in Daye Lake, Central China. Environ Earth Sci 72:1279–1288

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zhang Y, Su Y, Liu Z, Chen X, Yu J, Jin M (2016) A sediment record of environmental change in and around Lake Lugu, SW China, during the past two centuries. J Paleolimnol 55:259–271

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zhang Y, Su Y, Liu Z, Yu J, Jin M (2017) Lipid biomarker evidence for determining the origin and distribution of organic matter in surface sediments of Lake Taihu, Eastern China. Ecol Indic 77:397–408

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zhang Y, Su Y, Liu Z, Sun K, Kong L, Yu J, Jin M (2018a) Sedimentary lipid biomarker record of human-induced environmental change during the past century in Lake Changdang, Lake Taihu basin, Eastern China. Sci Total Environ 613-614:907–918

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zhang Y, Su Y, Liu Z, Kong L, Yu J, Jin M (2018b) Aliphatic hydrocarbon biomarkers as indicators of organic matter source and composition in surface sediments from shallow lakes along the lower Yangtze River, Eastern China. Org Geochem 122:29–40

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zhao Z, Zhang L, Wu J (2016) Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) in sediments from lakes along the middle-lower reaches of the Yangtze River and the Huaihe River of China. Limnol Oceanogr 61:47–60

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

Special thanks go to Prof. Yang Xiangdong for discussion of this manuscript. We are grateful to Philip Meyers and a anoymous reviewer for constructive comments which greatly improved the manuscript. 

Funding

The study was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant Nos. 41530753, 41673046, and 41303036), “135” Strategic Planning of Nanjing Institute of Geography and Limnology, CAS (Grant No. NIGLAS2017GH01), and the National Key Basic Research Program (Grant No. 2017YFA0605201).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Geography, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, 510631, China

    Yongdong Zhang

  2. State Key Laboratory of Lake Science and Environment, Nanjing Institute of Geography & Limnology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing, 210008, China

    Yaling Su, Jinlei Yu, Zhengwen Liu, Yingxun Du & Miao Jin

  3. Department of Ecology and Hydrobiology, Jinan University, Guangzhou, 510632, China

    Zhengwen Liu

  4. Sino-Danish Center, University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China

    Zhengwen Liu

Authors
  1. Yongdong Zhang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Yaling Su
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Jinlei Yu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Zhengwen Liu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Yingxun Du
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Miao Jin
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding authors

Correspondence to Yongdong Zhang or Zhengwen Liu.

Additional information

Responsible editor: Ester Heath

Publisher’s note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Zhang, Y., Su, Y., Yu, J. et al. Anthropogenically driven differences in n-alkane distributions of surface sediments from 19 lakes along the middle Yangtze River, Eastern China. Environ Sci Pollut Res 26, 22472–22484 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-019-05536-w

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-019-05536-w

Keywords

Search

Navigation