Journal of Siberian Federal University. Biology / Spatial Distribution of Fecal Stanols in Upper Sediments of Lake Shira (Khakassia, Siberia)

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Issue
Journal of Siberian Federal University. Biology. 2026 19 (2)
Authors
Shmurova, Anna A.; Boyandin, Anatoly N.; Zykov, Vladimir V.; Pak (Sinner), Elizaveta K.; Rogozin, Denis Yu.
Contact information
Shmurova, Anna A. : Siberian Federal University (Krasnoyarsk, Russian Federation); Boyandin, Anatoly N.: Institute of Biophysics SB RAS, Federal Research Center “Krasnoyarsk Science Center SB RAS” (Krasnoyarsk, Russian Federation); ORCID: 0000-0002-9190-2792; Zykov, Vladimir V. : Institute of Biophysics SB RAS, Federal Research Center “Krasnoyarsk Science Center SB RAS” (Krasnoyarsk, Russian Federation); ORCID: 0000-0002-3382-9339; Pak (Sinner), Elizaveta K.: Siberian Federal University (Krasnoyarsk, Russian Federation); Institute of Biophysics SB RAS, Federal Research Center “Krasnoyarsk Science Center SB RAS” (Krasnoyarsk, Russian Federation); Rogozin, Denis Yu. : Siberian Federal University (Krasnoyarsk, Russian Federation); Institute of Biophysics SB RAS, Federal Research Center “Krasnoyarsk Science Center SB RAS” (Krasnoyarsk, Russian Federation); ; ORCID: 0000-0002-9350-2936
Keywords
fecal stanols; coprostanol; bottom sediments; Lake Shira; anthropogenic load
Abstract

The concentrations and ratios of stanols – coprostanol, epicoprostanol, 5α-cholestanol, and 5α-stigmastanol – as well as cholesterol, were analyzed in surface sediments of Lake Shira (Republic of Khakassia) in samples collected from various locations within the water body. The results demonstrate significant spatial heterogeneity in stanol concentrations. The lowest stanol concentrations were found in sediments located at shallow depths in the aerobic zone, while in sediments from the central deepwater part of the lake, located in the sulfide zone, stanol concentrations were significantly higher. The low stanol concentrations in the intertidal zone are most likely associated with the degradation of stanols in shallow coastal areas, in an oxidizing environment, rather than with a lack of stanol inputs. Coprostanol is a marker of human feces, and epicoprostanol is a product of its bacterial degradation. The calculated anthropogenic load indices R 1 and R 2, which reflect the proportion of coprostanol in total stanols, were high at deep-water sampling positions and low at coastal sampling positions, which is most likely associated with stanol degradation in oxidized sediments. Thus, it has been demonstrated that, because of the oxidation of stanols in coastal sediments, coprostanol analysis is not an adequate method for identifying current local sources of fecal pollution around the lake. However, assessing stanol concentrations in bottom sediments of the anaerobic zone demonstrates their spatial stability in the anaerobic zone, making it a suitable approach for integrated assessment of fecal input dynamics in Lake Shira

Pages
312–324
EDN
LAIVCA
Paper at repository of SibFU
https://elib.sfu-kras.ru/handle/2311/159248

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