•       C/N ratios – algae <8; land plants >20

•       d^13C values – C[3] plants (-25‰ to -30‰)                                     C[4] plants
(-10‰ to -15‰)

•       d^15N values – land plants and cyanobacteria (~0‰);

              phytoplankton (+3‰ to +8‰)

•       Biomarker molecules

  –     Plant wax hydrocarbons (C[27], C[29], C[31], C[33])

  –     Algal hydrocarbons (C[15], C[17], C[19])

  –     Fatty acids (C[16], C[16:1], C[18], C[18:1] and C[24], C[26], C[28])





•       d^13C values – C[3] plants (-25‰ to -30‰) - moist                     C[4] plants (-10‰ to
-15‰) – dry

•       dD (or d^2H) values – meteoric water balance

•       Compound-specific d^13C and dD values

•       ACL (Average Chain Length) - temperature record

  –     Plant wax hydrocarbons (C[27], C[29], C[31], C[33])

  –     Plant wax fatty acids (C[24], C[26], C[28])