Hopanoids of a recent sediment from Lake Constance as eutrophication markers

Abstract

Bio- and geohopanoid distributions with depth from the upper sediment layers (25 cm) of Lake Constance (Germany) indicate that hopanoid producing bacteria were present in significant amounts either in the water column above the sediment or in the top layer of the sediment. Dihomohopan-32-ol is shown to be representative of the total hopanoid content of the sediment and its distribution is tentatively correlated with the eutrophication process which has occurred in Lake Constance over the past 50 years.