Table 6.

Phospholipid fatty acids (PLFAs) used as biomarkers

Microbial group	Fattyacidtype	Phospholipids fatty acid signatures	Reference
Gram-positive bacteria	a−/I-branched fatty acids	12:0 iso, 13:0 iso, 13:0 anteiso, 14:0 iso, 15:0 iso, 15:0 anteiso, 16:0 iso, 16:0 anteiso, 17:0 iso, 17:0 anteiso, 18:0 iso, 19:0 iso, 19:0 anteiso, 20:0 iso	[60, 61]
Gram-negative bacteria	monounsaturated fatty acids and cyclopropane fatty acids	11:0; 10:0 2OH, 2OH 12:0;3OH i14:0;14:1 w5c, 15:1 w5c,15:1 w6c, 16:1 w9c, 16:1 w7c, 16:0 2OH, 17:1 w8c, 17:1 w7c, 18:1 w7c, 18:1 w5c, 20:1 w9c, 3OH 12:0; 2OH 13:0; 3OH i12:0; 3OH i15:0; 3OH i16:0; 3OH i17:0; 12:0; 14:0, 15:0, 17:0,	[2, 61, 62]
Actinomycetes	Methyl branched fatty acids	16:0 10-methyl, 17:0 10-methyl, 18:0 10-methyl	[60]
Fungi		18:2 w6c, 18:2w9c	[63]
Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi		16:1 w5c	[64]