Fish otolith microchemistry: Snapshots of lake conditions during early human occupation of Lake Mungo, Australia

Long, Kelsie; Wood, Rachel; Williams, Ian S.; Kalish, John M.; Shawcross, Wilfred; Stern, Nicola; Grün, Rainer

doi:10.1016/j.quaint.2016.10.026

Cited by 8 publications

(10 citation statements)

References 59 publications

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“…To test the potential influence of matrix effects on our analyses, we used published data collected using the same instrumentation used in this study (SHRIMP II) from three otoliths of Golden Perch ( Macquaria ambigua ) . The Golden Perch were originally caught in 2007 and 2008 from two locations in the Lachlan River, Brewster Weir, and downstream of Lake Cargelligo, New South Wales, Australia.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…They were then kept in tanks at the Narrandera Fisheries Centre for 5–6 years under known environmental conditions. The outer 50 μm increments of the three otoliths were micro‐milled along the age increments related to tank occupation, analyzed on a Thermo MAT 253 + Kiel IV dual inlet isotope ratio mass spectrometer (Thermo MAT, Bremen, Germany) and revealed little to no offset between IRMS and SIMS measurements (<0.1‰, n = 3) . However, the potential for systematic offsets between analytical methods warrants further investigation, highlights the need for a common standard material, and is subject to ongoing research.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Calibrating temperature reconstructions from fish otolith oxygen isotope analysis for California's critically endangered Delta Smelt

Willmes

Lewis

Davis

et al. 2019

Rapid Comm Mass Spectrometry

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Rationale: Oxygen isotope ratios (δ 18 O values) of fish otoliths (ear bones) are valuable geochemical tracers of water conditions and thermal life history. Delta Smelt (Hypomesus transpacificus) are osmerid forage fish endemic to the San Francisco Estuary, California, USA, that are on the verge of extinction. These fish exhibit a complex life history that allows them to survive in a dynamic estuarine environment; however, a rapidly warming climate threatens this thermally sensitive species. Here we quantify the accuracy and precision of using δ 18 O values in otoliths to reconstruct the thermal life histories of Delta Smelt. Methods: Delta Smelt were reared for 360 days using three different water sources with different ambient δ 18 O water values (−8.75‰, −5.28‰, and −4.06‰) and different water temperatures (16.4°C, 16.7°C, 18.7°C, and 20.5°C). Samples were collected after 170 days (n = 28) and 360 days (n = 14) post-hatch. In situ δ 18 O values were measured from the core of the otolith to the dorsal edge using secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS) to reconstruct temporally resolved thermal life histories. Results: The δ 18 O otolith values for Delta Smelt varied as a linear inverse function of water temperature: 1000 ln α = 18.39 (±0.43, 1SE)(10 3 TK −1 ) − 34.56 (±1.49, 1SE) and δ 18 O otolith(VPDB) − δ 18 O water (VPDB) = 31.34(±0.09, 1SE) − 0.19(±0.01, 1SE) × T°C. When the ambient δ 18 O water value is known, this species-specific temperature-dependent oxygen isotope fractionation model facilitated the accurate (0.25°C) and precise (±0.37°C, 2σ) reconstruction of the water temperature experienced by the fish. In contrast, the use of existing general fractionation equations resulted in inaccurate temperature reconstructions. Conclusions: The species-specific δ 18 O otolith fractionation equation allowed for accurate and precise reconstructions of water temperatures experienced by Delta Smelt. Characterization of ambient δ 18 O water values remains a critical next step for reconstructing thermal life histories of wild Delta Smelt. This tool will provide new insights into habitat utilization, potential thermal refugia, and resilience to future warming for this critically endangered fish.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Calibrating temperature reconstructions from fish otolith oxygen isotope analysis for California's critically endangered Delta Smelt

Willmes

Lewis

Davis

et al. 2019

Rapid Comm Mass Spectrometry

Self Cite

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“…However, Dufour, Cappetta, Denis, Dauphin, and Mariotti (2000) showed that Pliocene otoliths entirely composed of aragonite exhibit altered microstructure and anomalous δ 18 O values. Long et al (2018) postulated a diagenetic alteration of Pleistocene otoliths from Lake Mungo (Australia) based on high Ba/Ca ratios obtained from areas close to the surface, although the mineralogical composition was not verified.…”

Section: Archaeological Significancementioning

confidence: 99%

“…Secondary aragonite or calcite in otoliths has not yet been reported, however, this should be considered a likely scenario in view of the abovementioned studies on speleothems and mollusk shells. The degree of preservation of aragonite and the presence of calcite should be verified using XRD or FTIR before dating (Long et al, 2014, 2018). Calcite should be removed by specific gravity or abrasion rather than etching in acid.…”

Section: Archaeological Significancementioning

confidence: 99%

The significance of aragonite in the interpretation of the microscopic archaeological record

Toffolo

2020

Geoarchaeology

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Aragonite is one of the metastable polymorphs of calcium carbonate and is commonly found at archaeological sites in the form of mollusk shells and speleothems. Other occurrences include corals, fish otoliths, seed endocarps, wood ash, and lime plaster. These materials contain microscopic embedded information of fundamental importance for the assessment of the state of preservation of the archaeological record, the reconstruction of paleoenvironments, the identification of pyrotechnological processes, and the establishment of absolute chronologies. However, this information can be used only if the aragonite found at archaeological sites preserves its pristine structure and chemistry. Aragonite is metastable at ambient conditions and tends to dissolve and recrystallize into secondary aragonite or calcite, a process that entails the loss of its original elemental and isotopic signature. Therefore, well‐grounded archaeological interpretations depend on the correct identification of aragonite and the careful characterization of its basic properties. This article reviews the dissolution processes of different types of aragonite, the methods used for their identification, and the archaeological information that can be extracted. Particular emphasis is given to the discussion of key issues regarding absolute dating and postdepositional processes of archaeological sediments, and to a detailed overview of the recently observed pyrogenic aragonite.

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“…The presence of incipient soils indicates reduced geomorphic activity under more stable conditions, sufficient to increase enrichment in organic matter close to the contemporary surface. Despite the opportunity provided by these reactivated lunette sediments to investigate local Holocene geomorphological and climatic history, the focus of scientific study to date in the Willandra has largely remained on the late Pleistocene (Bowler, 1998;Bowler et al, 2012;Fitzsimmons, 2017;Fitzsimmons et al, 2015;Long et al, 2014Long et al, , 2018.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Holocene and recent aeolian reactivation of the Willandra Lakes lunettes, semi-arid southeastern Australia

2019

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The Willandra Lakes in semi-arid southeastern Australia provide some of the most continuous combined palaeoenvironmental and archaeological records on the continent. These are best preserved within the transverse shoreline (lunette) dunes on their downwind margins. Following final lake retreat c. 15 ka avulsion of the dominant fluvial inflow eastwards, the Willandra lunettes periodically reactivated, experiencing erosion, aeolian redeposition and alluvial sheetwash. These reworked sedimentary archives reflect regional climatic conditions rather than those of the entire catchment. Yet the focus of most study in the region to date has remained on the late Pleistocene. The general paucity of Holocene data has contributed to a perception that people largely abandoned the area in favour of the perennial Murray and Darling Rivers to the south and west. Our study reconstructs past geomorphological conditions and patterns of human mobility in adjacent Lakes Mungo and Durthong over the last c. 15 ka subsequent to final lake retreat, including the most recent 150 years since Europeans established pastoralism in the region. Our data show that Indigenous people did not abandon the area as previously assumed, but developed effective strategies for responding to the changed environmental conditions. Final lake retreat transitioned into a phase of aeolian accumulation c. 15-12 ka, indicating locally dry conditions. Subsequent aeolian reactivation peaked during arid phases experiencing less rainfall in the early Holocene and twice in the most recent 1000 years prior to European settlement in the area. Alluvial sheetwash was deposited onto lake floors during the mid-Holocene, and again in the early decades of European settlement. Aeolian reactivation, likely driven by European pastoral activities, increases in the most recent 150 years. Our study underscores the necessity of integrating geomorphological and archaeological investigations over landscape scales in order to optimise our understanding of interactions between people and their environment through time.

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Fish otolith microchemistry: Snapshots of lake conditions during early human occupation of Lake Mungo, Australia

Cited by 8 publications

References 59 publications

Calibrating temperature reconstructions from fish otolith oxygen isotope analysis for California's critically endangered Delta Smelt

Calibrating temperature reconstructions from fish otolith oxygen isotope analysis for California's critically endangered Delta Smelt

The significance of aragonite in the interpretation of the microscopic archaeological record

Holocene and recent aeolian reactivation of the Willandra Lakes lunettes, semi-arid southeastern Australia

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