Contents of sterols and stanols (in µg kg−1 soil) of selected pit fillings, the respective adjacent subsoils ( = control) and the Early Weichselian humic zone ( = reference).

Standard deviation of the laboratory replicates is given in parentheses.n.q. detectable, but not quantifiable (under quantification limit; 5 µg kg−1 soil for coprostanol and epi-coprostanol, and 10 µg kg−1 soil for all other steroids); n.d. not detectable (under detection limit);*mark mainly animal-derived steroids. The sources of the other unmarked steroids are plant litter, root exudates, and faeces (of herbivores and omnivores).Contents of sterols and stanols (in µg kg−1 soil) of selected pit fillings, the respective adjacent subsoils ( = control) and the Early Weichselian humic zone ( = reference).