The alkyl glycerol ether lipid composition of heterotrophic sulfate reducing bacteria strongly depends on growth substrate

•Mono and dialkyl glycerol ethers (MAGEs and DAGEs) common in sulfate reducing bacteria.•Ether lipid composition of heterotrophic bacteria strongly influenced by growth substrate.•More than 50 homologues of alkyl glycerols can be produced from a single substrate.•Long chain (C14–C18) n-alkyl substrates yielded a limited diversity of ether lipids.•Chain length and branching of MAGEs and DAGEs maintained in controlled proportions.