4.5 Article

Short-chain n-alkanes in benthic mats and mosses from the Larsemann Hills, East Antarctica

Journal

ORGANIC GEOCHEMISTRY
Volume 179, Issue -, Pages -

Publisher

PERGAMON-ELSEVIER SCIENCE LTD
DOI: 10.1016/j.orggeochem.2023.104587

Keywords

Ultraviolet radiation; Antarctica; Larsemann Hills; Benthic mat; Moss; n-alkanes

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Variation in n-alkanes in freshwater lake benthic mats and mosses from Larsemann Hills in East Antarctica were studied. It was found that the relatively light-colored mosses and benthic mats had a higher abundance of n-alkanes, which is linked to UV-B exposure. The research proposes that Antarctic mosses and benthic mats synthesize n-alkanes, specifically short-chain n-alkanes, for protection against UV-B radiation.
Variation in leaf colour (green, red and grey) of mosses and lake benthic mats in Antarctica is often linked to water stress and ultraviolet light (UV-B) exposure. Changes in the abundance of organic compounds, such as pectin and phenols, are associated with mechanisms protecting against desiccation and UV radiation. However, the function of n-alkanes, especially against UV radiation, is rarely examined. Here, gas chromatography-mass spectrometry and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy analyses were performed to study the variation in n-alkanes in freshwater lake benthic mats and mosses collected from the Larsemann Hills in East Antarctica. Stable isotopes of organic carbon and nitrogen, environmental DNA characterisation and microscopy-based analyses are used to estimate the presence of cyanobacteria, algae and diatoms in moss and benthic mat consortia. Variation in the short-chain (n-C17 to n-C20) versus long-chain (n-C21 to n-C30) n-alkanes in the mosses and benthic mats with their colour were noted. The research links the relative abundance of short-chain n-alkanes to the UV-B exposure and proposes that Antarctic mosses and benthic mats synthesise short-chain n-alkanes for protection against UV-B.

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