Methoxy n-fatty acids in surface soils from the Gongga and Kunlun Mountains: Ecological implications

GC-MS characteristics of surface soil samples from the eastern and northern Tibetan Plateau provide tentative identification of 8(–14)-Methoxy hexadecanoic acid (iME-16:0) and 9(–17)-methoxy octadecanoic acid (iME-18:0). Sixty surface soil samples were collected from the eastern slope of Gongga Mountain, at elevations ranging from ~1230 to 4500 m (eastern Tibetan Plateau), and from the northern slope of West Kunlun Mountains, ranging from ~1300 to 5500 m (northern Tibetan Plateau). This study also analyzed the methoxy n-fatty acids (MFAs) of Gongga Mountain tree leaves from six common living species, at the elevation of 2900–4200 m. MFAs dominate these samples, with more centrally located methoxy groups eluting earlier than those with methoxy groups located closer to the end of the main carbon chain. MFAs occur prominently in most of the Gongga Mountain soil samples (and from six tree samples) from dominantly coniferous and deciduous broadleaved forests. Other than in two narrow vegetation zones between 4000–4350 m and 2900–3300 m, no MFAs were found in 19 Kunlun Mountains soil samples from areas covered mainly with montane desert and alpine desert steppe vegetation. Based on the inventory of plants and soils from which MFAs have been isolated, we conclude that the MFAs most probably originate from specific woody plants. If we can exclude some particular grasses as sources, MFAs may be specific woody plants-derived biomarkers; thus they would serve as an important additional proxy for comprehensive and precise ecological reconstructions.