Integrating charcoal morphology and stable carbon isotope analysis to identify non-grass elongate charcoal in tropical savannas

Rehn, Emma; Rowe, Cassandra; Ulm, Sean; Woodward, Craig; Zawadzki, Atun; Jacobsen, Geraldine; Bird, Michael I.

doi:10.1007/s00334-021-00836-z

Cited by 5 publications

(4 citation statements)

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“…Likewise, pioneering research calibrating charcoal morphometry to fuel types was conducted in high latitude North America (Umbanhowar and Mcgrath, 1998), although subsequent studies have been conducted in new regions (Crawford and Belcher, 2014; Li et al, 2019; Ogura, 2007; Pereboom et al, 2020; Zhang and Lu, 2006). More broadly, the tendency of paleofire research to focus on forested regions has been noted in the literature (Leys et al, 2018; Rehn et al, 2022; Vachula et al, 2020). Differences in fuel types, fuel loads, and fire frequency in these other biomes represent important points of resolution for the reliable transferability and application of paleofire approaches in new regions.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Second, we constrained particle size to mimic sieving of three charcoal particle size fractions (e.g., >125 µm, > 60 µm, and 60-125 µm; Table 1). These size fractions were chosen to be comparable with size fractions that have been the subject of recent charcoal calibration research (Rehn et al, 2022;, as well as to be comparable with sieving size boundaries typically used in paleofire research (Vachula, 2019). Third, we implemented two sets of particle characteristic constraints (Table 1) for each of these size fractions to mimic the likely ranges of charcoal derived from wood and grass.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Sedimentary charcoal records are among the most ubiquitous paleofire archives (Hawthorne et al, 2018; Power et al, 2008; Remy et al, 2018) and have provided unique insight into the dynamic relationships between fire, climate, vegetation, and humans (Marlon, 2020; Whitlock et al, 2010). Despite the continuous development of paleofire research, many uncertainties remain regarding the interpretation and controls of paleofire archives and proxies (Hennebelle et al, 2020; Rehn et al, 2022; Vachula, 2021; Vachula and Cheung, 2021).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Modeled dispersal patterns for wood and grass charcoal are different: Implications for paleofire reconstruction

Vachula

Rehn

2022

The Holocene

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Sedimentary charcoal records provide useful perspectives on the long-term controls and behavior of fire in the Earth System. However, a comprehensive understanding of the nuances, biases, and limitations of charcoal as a fire proxy is necessary for reliable paleofire interpretations. Here, we use a charcoal dispersal model to answer the following questions: (1) How does the dispersal of wood and grass charcoal particles differ? (2) Do traditional conceptual models of charcoal dispersal reliably characterize grass charcoal dispersal? We find that small differences in shape (length:width (L:W)) and density of grass and wood charcoal can cause substantial differences in particle dispersal and source area. Whereas the modeled dispersal of wood charcoal shows a localized deposition signal which decays with distance, grass charcoal shows more diffuse deposition lacking a localized center (for both >125 µm and >60 µm). Although paleofire research has typically not distinguished between fuel types when interpreting source area, we show that the dispersal of charcoal derived from different fuels is unlikely to be uniform. Because differences in localization, production, and preservation could bias aggregate charcoal accumulation, caution should be taken when interpreting wood and grass-derived charcoal particles preserved in the same record. Additionally, we propose an alternative, dual background conceptual model of grass charcoal dispersal, as the traditional, two-component (peak and background) conceptual model does not accurately characterize the modeled dispersal of grass charcoal. Lastly, this mismatch of conceptualizations of dispersal mechanics implies that grass charcoal may not fit the criteria necessary for peak analysis techniques.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Modeled dispersal patterns for wood and grass charcoal are different: Implications for paleofire reconstruction

Vachula

Rehn

2022

The Holocene

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“…For example, sedimentary charcoal assemblages made up of small twigs and leaves are likely to be products of relatively cool fires, whereas woody charcoal might be indicative of hotter fires. At the microscopic level, charcoal morphology has been defined in various studies and allows researchers to differentiate charcoal particles from woody plants such as trees and shrubs from elongated charcoal particles that derive from burning grasses and sedges (Figure 10; Mustaphi & Pisaric 2014;Rehn et al 2022;Umbanhowar & McGrath 1998). Another approach is to use carbon isotopic analysis to find out whether the charcoal came from plants with a C 3 or C 4 photosynthetic pathway, potentially discriminating between savanna grasses (which photosynthesise using the C 4 pathway) and most other plants (which use the C 3 pathway; Rehn et al 2022).…”

Section: Fuel Composition In the Pastmentioning

confidence: 99%

Cultural Burning

David,

Fletcher,

Connor

et al. 2024

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This Element addresses a burning question – how can archaeologists best identify and interpret cultural burning, the controlled use of fire by people to shape and curate their physical and social landscapes? This Element describes what cultural burning is and presents current methods by which it can be identified in historical and archaeological records, applying internationally relevant methods to Australian landscapes. It clarifies how the transdisciplinary study of cultural burning by Quaternary scientists, historians, archaeologists and Indigenous community members is informing interpretations of cultural practices, ecological change, land use and the making of place. This title is also available as Open Access on Cambridge Core.

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Tree demographics and soil charcoal evidence of fire disturbances in an inaccessible forest atop the Mount Lico inselberg, Mozambique

Courtney Mustaphi,

Platts,

Willcock

et al. 2024

Plants People Planet

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Societal Impact StatementHighland forests of Mozambique have been strongly modified by human activities for millennia. Some highlands have sheer rock cliffs and are highly inaccessible to people and appear relatively undisturbed. Evidence from the forest and soils of inaccessible Mount Lico show that the fire regime has changed over the recent millennia. As climate and fire regimes continue to change, management of highland ecosystems will be crucial to sustain the high biodiversity and mountain‐water resources that provide key ecosystem services to people living close to these forests.Summary The sheer rock cliffs of the Mount Lico inselberg, northern Mozambique, is relatively inaccessible to people. A 0.57 km2 forest covers the top of the isolated mountain, and the tree demographics and soil offer an opportunity to investigate the long‐term fire ecology of the forests of the western, leeside of the mountain and potential for changing regional hydroclimate of the Late Holocene. On the western side of the mountaintop, a 20 × 20 m plot was surveyed for tree taxa, heights and bole diameters. A 220 cm deep pit was dug into the forest soil and analysed to describe the soil texture and carbon content. Charcoal was quantified on sieved subsamples and classified into charcoal morphologies that were then grouped by how readily entrainable on an index score. Three radiocarbon dates were collected from pieces charcoal. The forest is a combination of montane and woodland tree taxa that differed from the older, more mesic eastern side and reflected differential disturbance patterns. The reddish loam soils dated to the Middle Holocene. Charcoal was present in all soil subsamples and varied little until increasing consistently during the past millennium. The charcoal morphologies suggested a combination of locally derived charcoal and charcoal derived from the surrounding lowlands with the latter increasing in the past centuries. Few Holocene paleoenvironmental records have been developed from tropical soils in Africa and are useful in locations that do not host lakes and wetlands. Both tree demographics and soil charcoal suggest that changing forest disturbance regimes began during the past millennium. An understanding of history informs future conservation and appropriate management of these special places.

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Integrating charcoal morphology and stable carbon isotope analysis to identify non-grass elongate charcoal in tropical savannas

Abstract: and Bird, Michael I. (2022) Integrating charcoal morphology and stable carbon isotope analysis to identify non-grass elongate charcoal in tropical savannas. Vegetation History and Archaeobotany, 31 (1) pp.

Cited by 5 publications

References 60 publications

Modeled dispersal patterns for wood and grass charcoal are different: Implications for paleofire reconstruction

Modeled dispersal patterns for wood and grass charcoal are different: Implications for paleofire reconstruction

Cultural Burning

Tree demographics and soil charcoal evidence of fire disturbances in an inaccessible forest atop the Mount Lico inselberg, Mozambique

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