Abstract
An applicability of quinone biomarker as tracer to the analysis of hillslope runoff was investigated. At first, vertical quinone profile in the under and central parts of a hillslope was examined. Quinone content, which corresponds to the amount of bacteria, decreased with depth in both parts. The predominant ubiquinone (Q) and menaquinone (MK) species were Q-10 and MK-10 (H4), respectively. Then, the dynamic changes in quinone species included in three different types of runoff under different rainfall events and ground water levels were examined. The three different runoff pathways brought distinct quinone profile. Consequently, the behavior of specific quinone species in the runoff was evaluated with aid of the vertical quinone profile of the hillslope. Q-10, which existed aspredominant quinone species in the hillslope, probably becomes an index for runoff through a surface soil layer in the hillslope. Furthermore, Q-8 and Q-11 are expected to represent base flow and runoff through a deep soil layer, respectively.
