C23–C31 n-alkan-2-ones are biomarkers for the genus Sphagnum in freshwater peatlands

Long chain, odd carbon-numbered n-alkan-2-ones are abundant in peatland sediments. We show that they are present in all species of Sphagnum we have examined but are absent from ten other plant species most common to ombrotrophic bogs. Combined with literature data, we conclude that n-alkan-2-ones are viable biomarkers for Sphagnum in ombrotrophic bogs.