The long-term burial of organic carbon in marginal seas plays a critical role in Earth’s carbon cycle and climate change. However, the mechanism of organic carbon (OC) burial in the Okinawa Trough (OT) during glacial-interglacial timescales remains unclear. In this study, we analyzed the foraminiferal carbon isotopes, total organic carbon (TOC), and δ13C-TOC over the past 200 ka in core Z1 collected in the central OT. We aimed to reveal the history of OC burial in the middle Okinawa Trough during the past 200 ka, and we combined our findings with relevant paleoenvironmental indices to reveal underlying mechanisms. We found reduced surface primary productivity during MIS 6, which may indicate changes in the pathways of the Kuroshio Current (KC). Furthermore, we observed decoupling between high TOC flux and low OC burial during glacial periods. We proposed that the dilution effect caused by the high sedimentation rate and poor OC preservation during the glacial period resulted in the low TOC content. Ventilation of the North Pacific Intermediate Water (NPIW) regulated the redox conditions of the intermediate water in the Okinawa Trough. Additionally, the intensified Kuroshio Current during interglacial phases led to water column stratification, creating reducing conditions in the bottom water and facilitating improved OC preservation. Subsequently, the enhanced water column oxygenation resulting from the oxygen carried by the intensified glacial NPIW weakened the burial of OC. This study sheds new light on our understanding of the carbon cycle in marginal seas on a glacial-interglacial timescale.

n-Alkyl lipids including n-alkanes, n-alkanols, and n-alkanoic acids, are essential biomarkers in oceanic sediments and have been widely employed in both modern-and paleo-ecological and environmental studies. The selection of appropriate extraction methods for different research purposes, particularly for compounds with different polarities, remains a challenge. In this study, we compared the efficacy of Bligh-Dyer extraction (BDE), ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE), accelerated solvent extraction (ASE), as well as a combination of BlighDyer extraction and ultrasound-assisted extraction (BD + UAE) to extract n-alkanes, free n-alkanols, and free n-alkanoic acids from ocean sediments. Our findings indicate that BD + UAE is a suitable method for extracting n- alkanes, ASE is an optimal for extracting free n-alkanols, and BDE provides a suitable method for simultaneous extraction of free n-alkanoic acids with intact polar lipids (IPLs). Additionally, BDE exhibited a preference for compounds with an odd carbon number and short chains, whereas the UAE favored compounds with an even carbon number and long chains, particularly for n-alkanes. These results offer novel insights into the investigation of past paleoclimate and sediment chemistry and serve as a basis for future research on organic matter extraction from ocean sediments.

Archaeal ammonia oxidation is the most important intermediate pathway in regulating the oceanic nitrogen cycle; however, the study of its specific role on a geological time scale is restricted to a specific part of marginal seas; thus far, only in the southern South China Sea (SCS). To explore the spatial pattern of the role of archaeal ammonia oxidation in the SCS, the GDGT-[2]/[3] ratio (Glycerol Dialkyl Glycerol Tetraether), an indicator of the archaeal ammonia oxidation rate, was analyzed and examined from the collected data profiles since the last glacial period in the northern SCS. The results showed that the GDGT-[2]/[3] ratio in the northern SCS was opposite to that in the southern SCS, with higher GDGT-[2]/[3] values during the Holocene compared to the last glacial period. Based on existing published depths of thermocline (DOT) data in the northern SCS since 30 ka, we believe that hydrological structural variations induced by mesoscale eddies caused this difference. Therefore, physical processes are very important factors that control the nitrogen cycle over a long-time scale. This study may provide new insights into the understanding of the role of archaeal ammonia oxidation within the marine nitrogen cycle over geological time scale.

The hypothesis that eukaryotes originated from within the domain Archaea has been strongly supported by recent phylogenomic analyses placing Heimdallarchaeota-Wukongarchaeota branch from the Asgard superphylum as the closest known archaeal sister-group to eukaryotes. However, our understanding is still limited in terms of the relationship between eukaryotes and archaea, as well as the evolution and ecological functions of the Asgard archaea. Here, we describe three previously unknown phylum-level Asgard archaeal lineages, tentatively named Sigyn-, Freyr- and Njordarchaeota. Additional members in Wukongarchaeota and Baldrarchaeota from distinct environments are also reported here, further expanding their ecological roles and metabolic capacities. Comprehensive phylogenomic analyses further supported the origin of eukaryotes within Asgard archaea and a new lineage Njordarchaeota was supposed as the known closest branch with the eukaryotic nuclear host lineage. Metabolic reconstruction suggests that Njordarchaeota may have a heterotrophic lifestyle with capability of peptides and amino acids utilization, while Sigynarchaeota and Freyrarchaeota also have the potentials to fix inorganic carbon via the Wood-Ljungdahl pathway and degrade organic matters. Additionally, the Ack/Pta pathway for homoacetogenesis and de novo anaerobic cobalamin biosynthesis pathway were found in Freyrarchaeota and Wukongrarchaeota, respectively. Some previously unidentified eukaryotic signature proteins for intracellular membrane trafficking system, and the homologue of mu/sigma subunit of adaptor protein complex, were identified in Freyrarchaeota. This study expands the Asgard superphylum, sheds new light on the evolution of eukaryotes and improves our understanding of ecological functions of the Asgard archaea.

The hypothesis that eukaryotes originated from within the domain Archaea has been strongly supported by recent phylogenomic analyses placing Heimdallarchaeota from the Asgard superphylum as the closest known archaeal sister-group to eukaryotes. At present, only seven phyla are described in the Asgard superphylum, which limits our understanding of the relationship between eukaryotes and archaea, as well as the evolution and ecological functions of Asgard archaea. Here, we describe five novel phylum-level Asgard archaeal lineages, tentatively named Tyr-, Sigyn-, Freyr-, Hoder- and Balderarchaeota. Comprehensive phylogenomic analyses supported a new Asgard lineage Tyrarchaeota was identified as a deeper branching lineage cluster with the eukaryotic nuclear host lineage than Heimdallarchaeota that were previously considered as the closest archaeal relatives of eukaryotes. Metabolic reconstruction of Tyrarchaeota suggests a mixotrophic lifestyle of this archaea, capable of peptides and amino acids utilization while having the potential using the Wood-Ljungdahl pathway for carbon fixation and acetogenesis. This study largely expands the Asgard superphylum, provides additional evidences to support the 2-domain life tree thus sheds new light on the evolution and geochemical functions of the Asgard archaea.

西菲律宾海作为西太平洋暖池的一部分,重建其在地质历史时期的热力学变化、陆源输入变化,对于理解西太平洋暖池在全球地质时间尺度上的作用具有重要意义.利用古菌与细菌的细胞膜质甘油二烷基甘油四醚(glycerol dialkyl glycerol tetraethers,GDGTs)对西菲律宾海XT-47孔沉积物的陆源输入及其上方水体温度的变化进行重建,发现该沉积柱顶部(0～260 cm,约16.6～18.8 ka)BIT指标为0.01～0.2,TEXH86重建的上层海水平均温度为22.5℃,而底部(260～632 cm,约18.8～4000 ka)TEXH86重建得到的上层海水温度绝对值波动剧烈(0.6～26℃),在此范围内BIT>0.3,并呈现逐渐增加的趋势,超过BIT界定的陆源输入对TEXH86重建古温度有效性的阈值,这导致了该深度范围内TEXH86重建古温度变化的严重偏差.以260和470 cm为界,该沉积柱的沉积相出现明显变化,上层为大量纹层硅藻席沉积,中层为远洋黏土和硅藻泥互层,下层为远洋黏土沉积;同时,支链GDGTs(branched GDGTs,br GDGTs)的组成也出现明显差异,说明其来源可能有所不同.基于以上分析,提出260 cm以浅,brGDGTs可能主要为海相原位自生为主;而260 cm深度以下,主要以风尘输送的陆源brGDGTs为主.该结果显示陆源输入的变化可以间接反映东亚冬季风的强弱,本研究为高低纬之间的海陆相互作用研究提供了新的视角.