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Elsevier, Organic Geochemistry, (67), p. 99-102, 2014

DOI: 10.1016/j.orggeochem.2013.12.005

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Leaf wax n-alkanes and d13C values of CAM plants from arid southwest Africa

Journal article published in 2014 by A. Boom ORCID, A. S. Carr, Brian M. Chase ORCID, H. L. Grimes, M. E. Meadows
This paper is available in a repository.
This paper is available in a repository.

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Abstract

We analysed leaves from 42 plants from the South African Succulent Karoo. Whole leaf d 13 C values clearly differentiated 3 different populations, consisting of plants operating under obligate CAM (crassulacean acid metabolism), facultative CAM and C 3 modes. In contrast, the leaf wax n-alkane d 13 C data from these metabolic groups showed a broader overlapping distribution. CAM plants operating under full CAM mode produced a wide range of apparent 13 C fractionation. Succulent/CAM plant wax yield was considerable (up to 23 mg/g in our plants), so its contribution to soil composition and sedimentary leaf wax composition should not be dismissed. The presence of CAM plant wax n-alkanes in sedimentary n-alkanes could therefore be a problem for accessing ecosystem scale C 3 –C 4 proportion.