In:
The Paleontological Society Papers, Cambridge University Press (CUP), Vol. 18 ( 2012-11), p. 115-132
Abstract:
Microbial communities adjust the chemical structure of their cell membranes in response to environmental temperature. This enables the development of lipid-based paleothermometers such as the glycerol dialkyl glycerol tetraether (GDGT) proxies described here. Surface-sediment calibrations establish a strong empirical relationship between the relative distribution of GDGTs and temperature. GDGT proxies can be used in marine, lacustrine, and paleosol sequences as long as the organic material is not thermally mature. Thus far, GDGT proxies have been applied to sediments dating back to the middle Jurassic. Many of the key uncertainties of these proxies are related to our emerging understanding of archaeal (and for the branched GDGTs, bacterial) ecology.
Type of Medium:
Online Resource
ISSN:
1089-3326
,
2399-7575
DOI:
10.1017/S1089332600002588
Language:
English
Publisher:
Cambridge University Press (CUP)
Publication Date:
2012
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