To trace the origin of branched glycerol dialkyl glycerol tetraethers (brGDGTs), their distribution in soils and suspended particulate matter (SPM) of Amazonian rivers and floodplain lakes (várzeas) was studied. Differences in distribution between river SPM and surrounding (lowland) soils suggests an additional brGDGT source to eroded soils in the lowland drainage basin. Erosion of high Andean soils (above 2500 m in altitude) has no major influence because its brGDGT distribution differs substantially from that in river SPM. Furthermore, SPM in the Tapajó s River, a tributary that does not derive from the Andes, has a virtually identical brGDGT distribution to that of the Amazon main stem. The higher proportion of phospholipid-derived brGDGTs in river SPM compared to soils indicates that in situ production in the Amazon is an additional source for riverine brGDGTs. This affects the methylation and cyclization index of brGDGTs (MBT-CBT), resulting in slightly lower MBT-CBT-derived temperatures and slightly higher CBT-derived pH values, i.e., between the pH of the basin soil and that of the river. Since the difference between MBT-CBT-derived temperatures of Amazon River SPM and the surrounding soils is relatively small (2uC) compared to other aquatic systems (for lakes a difference of , 10uC has been observed), it might still be possible to trace large climate changes in the Amazon basin with the MBT-CBT using river fan cores. However, variations in in situ production of brGDGTs in the Amazon River over time and space have to be evaluated in the future. Likewise, in situ production may affect the application of the MBT-CBT paleothermometer in other river systems. Our results also show that crenarchaeol is primarily produced in the Amazon River and that its varying production influences the branched vs. isoprenoid tetraether (BIT) index. This indicates that the BIT index not only represents the input of soil organic carbon to the river but is also affected by in situ production of brGDGTs and crenarchaeol.

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Suspended particulate matter (SPM) was collected along the Amazon River in the central Amazon basin and in three tributaries during the rising water (RW), high water (HW), falling water (FW) and low water (LW) season. Changes in the concentration and the distribution of branched glycerol dialkyl glycerol tetraethers (brGDGTs), i.e., the methylation index of branched tetraethers (MBT) and the cyclization of brGDGTs (CBT), were seen in the Amazon main stem. The highest concentration of core lipid (CL) brGDGTs normalized to particulate organic carbon (POC) was found during the HW season. During the HW season the MBT and CBT in the Amazon main stem was also most similar to that of lowland Amazon (terra firme) soils, indicating that the highest input of soil-derived brGDGTs occurred due to increased water runoff. During the other seasons the MBT and CBT indicated an increased influence of in situ production of brGDGTs even though soils remained the main source of brGDGTs. Our results reveal that the influence of seasonal variation is relatively small, but can be clearly detected. Crenarchaeol was mostly produced in the river. Its concentration was lower during the HW season compared to that of the other seasons. Hence, our study shows the complexity of processes that influence the GDGT distribution during the transport from land to ocean. It emphasizes the importance of a detailed study of a river basin to interpret the MBT/CBT and BIT records for paleo reconstructions in adjacent marine setting.

Abstract. In this study, we investigated the seasonal and spatial pattern of sedimentary organic matter (SOM) in five floodplain lakes of the central Amazon basin (Cabaliana, Janauaca, Canaçari, Mirituba and Curuai) which have different morphologies, hydrodynamics and vegetation coverages. Surface sediments were collected in four hydrological seasons: low water (LW), rising water (RW), high water (HW) and falling water (FW) in 2009 and 2010. We investigated commonly used bulk geochemical tracers such as the C : N ratio and the stable isotopic composition of organic carbon (δ 13 C org ). These results were compared with lignin phenol parameters as an indicator of vascular plant detritus and branched glycerol dialkyl glycerol tetraethers (brGDGTs) to trace the input of soil organic matter (OM) from land to the aquatic settings. We also applied the crenarchaeol as an indicator of aquatic (rivers and lakes) OM. Our data showed that during the RW and FW seasons, the surface sediments were enriched in lignin and brGDGTs in comparison to other seasons. Our study also indicated that floodplain lake sediments primarily consisted of allochthonous, C 3 plant-derived OM. However, a downstream increase in C 4 macrophyte-derived OM contribution was observed along the gradient of increasing open waters -i.e., from upstream to downstream. Accordingly, we attribute the temporal and spatial difference in SOM composition to the hydrological dynamics between the floodplain lakes and the surrounding flooded forests.