Abstract: In recent years, the development of new techniques in molecular biology offers a new way for understanding the evolution of lake ecosystem. Ancient DNA could well record the migration and evolution of animals, plants, algae and even microbes, and thus has become an effective tool to reconstruct paleoclimate and paleoenvironment. Studies on the ancient DNA preserved in lake sediments have provided abundant information and high-resolution data that are needed for reconstruction of ancient microbial, plant, or animal community, as well as the ancient environmental conditions. Here, we firstly introduced the preservation characteristics of the ancient DNA and DNA extraction methods from lake sediments, and then reviewed the latest molecular biology techniques for studying ancient DNA preserved in lake sediments. We also discussed the application of ancient DNA in lake sediments including reconstruction of paleoclimate, paleoecology and the impacts of human activities on paleoenvironment. Finally, some problems and possible trends on the research of ancient DNA in lake sediments were summarized.

Key words: carbon and nitrogen stable isotopes, Coreius, interspecies diet relationship, Yibin reach.