Assessing intra-basin spatial variability in geochemical and isotopic signatures in the sediments of a small neotropical lake

Taylor, Zachary P.; Horn, Sally P.; Finkelstein, David

doi:10.1007/s10933-015-9859-x

Cited by 12 publications

(28 citation statements)

References 60 publications

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“…In this paper, we present a δ 2 H alkane record from Laguna Zoncho, Costa Rica, that spans the past 3600 years. In conjunction with stable carbon isotope (Taylor et al, 2013a(Taylor et al, , 2015 and pollen data from Laguna Zoncho (Clement and Horn, 2001), our δ 2 H alkane records indicate that southern Pacific Costa Rica experienced drought coincident with the TCD in the Yucatan, which resulted in agricultural decline.…”

Section: Introductionsupporting

confidence: 64%

“…Comparisons between cores recovered from near the shore and a core from the center of the lake revealed the center core lags approximately 100 years behind the outer cores as sediment reworking processes transported material to the center of the lake. Both the geochemical proxies described in Taylor et al (2015) and the maize pollen concentrations in the same network of cores (Taylor et al, 2013b) indicated that the core at the center of the lake represented an average of basin-wide inputs. The high-resolution records from the 2007 cores also provided information on the connections between agriculture and climate.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 91%

“…Based on agricultural indictors, Taylor et al (2015) identified three stratigraphic zones across five cores recovered from Laguna Zoncho in 2007. Zone 1 (2000-1000 cal yr BP) was dominated by agricultural signals; Zone 2 (1000-675 cal yr BP) was a transitional period during which agriculture declined; and Zone 3 (675 cal yr BP-present) was the post-agricultural period.…”

Section: Paleohydrology Of Laguna Zoncho From δ 2 H Alkanesmentioning

confidence: 99%

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A 3600-year record of drought in southern Pacific Costa Rica

Taylor

Lane

Horn³

2020

Quat. res.

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We analyzed the δ2H composition of n-alkanes isolated from Laguna Zoncho, a small lake in southern Pacific Costa Rica, to reconstruct paleohydrology. Using a core that spans the past 3600 years, we found evidence of dry periods, most notably during the Terminal Classic Drought (TCD; ~1200 cal yr BP) and the Little Ice Age (~400 cal yr BP). Previous work at Laguna Zoncho, using bulk sedimentary δ13C and geochemical analysis, found that agriculture began to decline during the TCD. Our δ2H records confirm the occurrence of arid conditions coincident with the TCD at Laguna Zoncho and show that, despite receiving more than 3000 mm of precipitation per year, this region is susceptible to multidecadal droughts.

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Section: Introductionsupporting

confidence: 64%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 91%

Section: Paleohydrology Of Laguna Zoncho From δ 2 H Alkanesmentioning

confidence: 99%

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A 3600-year record of drought in southern Pacific Costa Rica

Taylor

Lane

Horn³

2020

Quat. res.

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“…2,7m (Anchukaitis & Horn, 2005), indicating a post-Conquest sedimentation rate of 0,6 cm/year, which is less than half the rate at Laguna Carse. Multiple cores from Laguna Zoncho (50Km southeast of Laguna Carse; Clement & Horn, 2001;Taylor, Horn & Finkelstein, 2015) indicate an average post-Conquest sedimentation rate of ca. 0,2 cm/ yr.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Initial limnological observations at five small lakes in southern Pacific Costa Rica

Horn

Johanson

Haberyan

et al. 2018

URJ

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Costa Rica has hundreds of lakes, many of which have never been described or sampled by limnologists. Here we summarize initial observations of five small (0.2–1.7ha) lakes located at low elevation (365–490m) in the cantón of Buenos Aries. We collected basic limnological data and samples during visits in 2013 and 2014, and compiled environmental and archaeological data for their surroundings as a contribution to the documentation of lake diversity in Costa Rica, and to support parallel investigations of indicators of environmental history preserved in the sediments of the lakes. Lagunas Carse, Los Mangos, Danta, and Ojo de Agua all appear to owe their origin to landslide events, while Laguna Junquillo is an artificial impoundment. Radiocarbon dates on plant macrofossils near the bases of sediment cores from three of the natural lakes provide minimum ages for lake formation; results indicate that Laguna Los Mangos formed over 4 100 years ago, while Laguna Danta formed prior to 1 320 CE and Laguna Carse formed ca. 1 550 CE, near the time of the Spanish Conquest. More than two dozen archaeological sites are located within 1–3Km of the natural lakes, documenting pre-Columbian human occupation and likely use of lake resources. Lake water temperatures and water chemistry were in keeping with observations at lakes throughout Costa Rica. All five lakes are probably polymictic lakes that turn over frequently; none evinced stratification. The surface lake sediments showed similar organic matter content (22,1–28,8%), with values falling near the middle of the range of lakes previously sampled in Costa Rica. Phytoplankton samples included taxa previously reported from small lowland lakes, but differed between lakes and included dominant taxa that were subdominant or uncommon at other lakes surveyed. Our investigation adds to knowledge of lake characteristics and diversity in Costa Rica, and provides benchmarks for assessing future changes in these lakes and their watersheds resulting from human activity, natural disturbances, and regional and global climate change.

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“…These other analyses, as yet unpublished, grew from the present study; they are collaborations that also involve Horn and Lane, with University of Tennessee Ph.D. candidate Matthew Kerr, and Costa Rican archaeologists. Other studies of stable isotopes in Costa Rica with application to archaeology include work on stable carbon and nitrogen isotopes in collagen in human bones from prehistoric burials (Norr, 1991(Norr, , 1996, and studies of stable carbon and nitrogen isotopes in lake-sediment cores (Lane, Horn, & Mora, 2004;Lane, Horn, Taylor, & Mora, 2009;Taylor, Horn, & Finkelstein, 2013, 2015Kerr, 2014;Horn & Haberyan, 2016;Johanson, 2016) and soils (Kerr, Boehm, Lane, & Horn, 2014) at archaeological sites.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Stable carbon and nitrogen isotope ratios of surface food residues in pre-Columbian ceramics from the southern Pacific of Costa Rica as evidence of prehistoric human diets

Sánchez

Horn

Lane

2019

URJ

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Introduction: to understand and interpret the consumption of plants and animals by humans in the past requires the investigation of different lines of evidence. Identifiable macroscopic remains of plants and animals, for example seeds and bones, are frequently found at archaeological sites and provide key data on food resources. Their analysis is complemented by the study of pollen grains or phytoliths of cultivated plants within archaeological horizons or in sediment cores recovered from lakes and wetlands near archaeological sites. Another important source of information on human diets in the past consists of food residues preserved in or on artefacts excavated from archaeological sites. Objective: to examine food residues in archaeological pottery from coastal and interior sites in the southern Pacific region of Costa Rica. Methods: we focus on isotopic analysis of carbonized food residues preserved on the inner surfaces of ceramic pots, plates, and other ceramic pieces from archaeological excavations in the intermediate zone (elevations 500-1500m) and coastal zone of the southern Pacific region of Costa Rica. Isotopic analysis of surface food residues on pottery relies on the fact that stable isotopes of carbon (12C and 13C) and nitrogen (14N and 15N) in foods differ based on the photosynthetic pathway of plants and on trophic level. Results: in our analysis of material from twelve sites we found evidence of diets with high amounts of C4 plants (likely maize), legumes, herbivores, and mixtures, but we did not find robust evidence of food residues with isotopic signatures characteristic of reef animals and mollusks, even though some sites are shell mounds. Conclusion: our research represents one of the first studies of surface food residues from Costa Rican pottery, and indicates the potential for studies of this type to strengthen understanding of indigenous subsistence patterns through time and across Costa Rican archaeological regions.

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Assessing intra-basin spatial variability in geochemical and isotopic signatures in the sediments of a small neotropical lake

Cited by 12 publications

References 60 publications

A 3600-year record of drought in southern Pacific Costa Rica

A 3600-year record of drought in southern Pacific Costa Rica

Initial limnological observations at five small lakes in southern Pacific Costa Rica

Stable carbon and nitrogen isotope ratios of surface food residues in pre-Columbian ceramics from the southern Pacific of Costa Rica as evidence of prehistoric human diets

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