NASA Logo

NTRS

NTRS - NASA Technical Reports Server

Back to Results
2-Methylhopanoids: Biomarkers for Cyanobacteria and for Oxygenic PhotosynthesisThis paper reports new biomarker and carbon isotopic data for cultured cyanobacteria, cyano-bacterially- dominated ecosystems and ancient sedi-ments and petroleum. We found that cyanobacteria are the predominant source of a distinctive membrane lipid biomarker, namely 2- methylbacteriohopanepolyol (2-Me-BHP). We then sought evidence for a geochemical record of the fossil hydrocarbon analogues of these compounds (2- methylhopanes) and found a trend toward their in-creased relative abundance in marine sediments going back through geological time to 2500 Ma. We conclude that cyanobacteria were the dominant form of phytoplankton and source of molecular oxygen in the Proterozoic ocean. Extending the geological record of cyanobacteria further to Archean times is now a matter of finding a suitably preserved rock record. Additional information is contained in the original extended abstract.
Document ID
20000109470
Acquisition Source
Ames Research Center
Document Type
Conference Paper
Authors
Summons, R. E.
(Australian Geological Survey Organisation, Canberra Australian Capital Territory, Australia)
Jahnke, L. L.
(NASA Ames Research Center Moffett Field, CA United States)
Hope, J. M.
(Australian Geological Survey Organisation, Canberra Australian Capital Territory, Australia)
Logan, G. A.
(Australian Geological Survey Organisation, Canberra Australian Capital Territory, Australia)
Date Acquired
August 19, 2013
Publication Date
August 1, 1999
Publication Information
Publication: Ninth Annual V. M. Goldschmidt Conference
Subject Category
Life Sciences (General)
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Work of the US Gov. Public Use Permitted.

Available Downloads

There are no available downloads for this record.
No Preview Available