Occurrence of diploptene in moss species from the Dajiuhu Peatland in southern China

Diploptene is present in four moss species (Sphagnum palustre, Aulacomnium palustre, Polytrichum commune and Hypnum revolutum) and some surface samples collected from the Dajiuhu Peatland in southern China. It exists in enhanced amounts in surface peat samples taken from a site dominated by H. revolutum, the specie that contains the greatest content of diploptene. By comparison of the carbon isotopic values of n-alkanes and diploptene in the four moss species and the peat, we postulate that the moss could be an important contributor of diploptene, especially in environmental settings such as peatlands.