Article
Environmental Sciences
Xiaojing Zhang, Shengwei Zhang, Junping Lu, Ruishen Li, Xi Lin, Wenlong Gao
Summary: Studying the sources of suspended particulate organic matter (SPOM) in reservoirs located in desert grassland areas is crucial for understanding the carbon and nitrogen cycles. This study focused on the impact of atmospheric deposition on reservoirs in regions with little rainfall and a dusty climate. Using isotope techniques, the study analyzed the composition and sources of SPOM in the reservoir and its watershed during dry and wet seasons. The results revealed that atmospheric deposition and terrestrial C3 plants were the main sources of carbon in SPOM, while atmospheric nitrogen deposition and soil erosion were the primary sources of nitrogen.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Heng Xiao, Changping Mao, Shuai Wang, Zhimin Jia, Wenbo Rao
Summary: The construction of the Three Gorges Dam has altered the hydrology and sediment trapping in the Three Gorges Reservoir, resulting in changes in the composition and export of organic matter in the Yangtze River. Surface sediment samples from the reservoir were analyzed to determine the seasonal variations and sources of organic matter, with results showing that soil organic matter, river plankton, and aquatic vascular plants are the main sources. The analysis of nitrogen isotopes further revealed the presence of external pollutants, mainly from nitrogen fertilizers and domestic sewage. This study highlights the need for fine nitrogen management to reduce pollution in the Three Gorges Reservoir.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Article
Soil Science
Di Wu, Mehmet Senbayram, Ghazal Moradi, Ramona Moerchen, Claudia Knief, Erwin Klumpp, Davey L. Jones, Reinhard Well, Ruirui Chen, Roland Bol
Summary: The research shows that despite being one of the driest regions in the world, the soils of the Atacama Desert still have the capability to support microbial growth, including denitrification. Extreme weather events and aridity have relatively minor impacts on soil microbial communities, but could potentially lead to nitrate loss and increased N2O emissions in the region.
SOIL BIOLOGY & BIOCHEMISTRY
(2021)
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Felix L. Arens, Alessandro Airo, Jenny Feige, Christof Sager, Uwe Wiechert, Dirk Schulze-Makuch
Summary: The study in the Atacama Desert in Chile investigated mineralogy, salt abundance, and sulfate stable isotopic composition in four soil profiles. It was found that sulfates are the dominant salts with a transition from gypsum to anhydrite observed in all profiles. This transition is accompanied by an increase of highly soluble salts and a decrease of sulfate delta S-34 and delta O-18 values.
Article
Environmental Sciences
C. Heredia, S. Guedron, D. Point, V Perrot, S. Campillo, C. Verin, M. E. Espinoza, P. Fernandez, C. Duwig, D. Acha
Summary: Cultural eutrophication is a major cause of water quality degradation worldwide. Carbon and nitrogen stable isotopes are simple and integrative tools for evaluating the degree of eutrophication in anthropogenically impacted aquatic ecosystems. The study found that carbon isotopes increased and nitrogen isotopes decreased with distance from the wastewater source in macrophytes and suspended particulate matter. The distribution of aquatic plants on the slope was influenced by both anthropogenic discharges and carbon uptake pathway. A binary mixing model allowed the assessment of anthropogenically derived carbon and nitrogen incorporation in macrophytes. Eutrophication was naturally attenuated within 6 to 8 km from the wastewater source.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2022)
Article
Geography, Physical
Carolina Gamboa, Linda Godfrey, Javier Urrutia, Christian Herrera, Xin Lu, Teresa Jordan
Summary: This study investigates the sources of recharge to the aquifers in the Atacama Desert using isotopic data and remote sensing methods. The results show that the Pacific Ocean is an important source of moisture for the region, and this source should be taken into account in paleoclimate studies and evaluations of groundwater resources.
GLOBAL AND PLANETARY CHANGE
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Benjamin T. Wilder, Amanda T. Becker, David L. Dettman
Summary: In island systems, nitrogen-rich seabird guano acts as a marine subsidy, shaping terrestrial plant communities. The allochthonous input of nitrogen, in the form of seabird guano, stimulates the growth of dense cactus populations. The soil and cactus on seabird islands have significantly higher δN-15 values compared to mainland ecosystems and non-seabird islands, indicating a higher solubilized nitrogen source provided by seabird-mediated marine nutrient deposits.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Civil
C. Herrera, L. Godfrey, J. Urrutia, E. Custodio, C. Gamboa, J. Jodar, E. Lam, J. Fuentes
Summary: This paper presents a multi-isotopic study to investigate the origin of saline groundwater in the Cordillera de la Costa, northern Chile. The chemical and isotopic compositions of coastal springs primarily reflect the concentration of salts from atmospheric deposition. The deep saline groundwater is influenced by ancient marine water remnants, mineral alteration, and interaction with volcanic rocks.
JOURNAL OF HYDROLOGY
(2023)
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Yixin Dong, Ying Cui, Jiuyuan Wang, Hongde Chen, Feifei Zhang, Yuyang Wu, Ziheng Li, Peng Zhu, Shijun Jiang
Summary: The carbon isotope records of C-3 land plants in Paleozoic sediments and marine carbonates provide insights into the global carbon cycle. The data suggest an increase in organic carbon burial, controlled by factors such as sea level, nutrient availability, and life innovation. Proxy-based paleotemperature records indicate a correlation between elevated paleotemperatures and higher pCO2 levels in the Late Devonian.
EARTH-SCIENCE REVIEWS
(2021)
Article
Ecology
Avery W. Driscoll, Nicholas Q. Bitter, James R. Ehleringer
Summary: Plants make trade-offs between photosynthesis and water loss, favoring conservative water-use strategies in arid environments and aggressive strategies in mesic environments. Intrinsic water-use efficiency (iWUE) serves as an indicator of the balance between carbon assimilation and water loss, influencing plant performance across interannual fluctuations. Relationships between iWUE, water availability, and plant performance are complex and vary depending on factors such as leaf nitrogen content and individual plasticity in response to aridity fluctuations.
Article
Geology
J. A. Kidder, M. I. Leybourne, D. Layton-Matthews
Summary: Epithermal deposits are economically important sources of precious and base metals found in many metallogenic belts globally. However, exploration efforts are hindered by post-mineral cover in prospective districts. Hydrogeochemistry, the study of water-rock interaction, shows promise as an exploration tool in these environments. A case study of the Vaquillas epithermal deposit in northern Chile demonstrates the potential of hydrogeochemistry to identify anomalies and provide valuable insights for exploration in areas with significant post-mineral cover.
INTERNATIONAL GEOLOGY REVIEW
(2022)
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Franko Arenas-Diaz, Barbara Fuentes, Mark Reyers, Stephanie Fiedler, Christoph Boehm, Eduardo Campos, Yaping Shao, Roland Bol
Summary: The Atacama Desert is one of the driest and oldest deserts on Earth. Aerosols are the main inputs of exogenous material to this system. However, despite its aridity, large dust outbreaks from the Atacama Desert are rare.
EARTH-SCIENCE REVIEWS
(2022)
Article
Geochemistry & Geophysics
Mostafa Monged, Stefanie Poetz, Mareike Noah, Heinz Wilkes, Hans-Martin Schulz, Mohamed M. Y. Bakr
Summary: FT-ICR-MS analysis, along with ESI-N and APPI-P analyses, and compound-specific carbon isotope measurements were used to study 13 crude oil samples from Cretaceous reservoirs in the Western Desert of Egypt. The study aimed to identify the origin, maturity, alteration level, and petroleum relationships of these oils. The results revealed five oil families and differentiated crude oils with different organic matter input types. The study also provided insights into the source rocks' depositional conditions and thermal maturities of the oils.
ORGANIC GEOCHEMISTRY
(2023)
Article
Food Science & Technology
Micha Horacek, Wolfgang Papesch
Summary: The isotope composition of vegetables may change after harvest during storage, which needs to be taken into account when investigating (commercial) samples collected in a market.
FRONTIERS IN SUSTAINABLE FOOD SYSTEMS
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Laia Munoz-Abril, Carlos A. Valle, Juan Jose Alava, Sarah E. Janssen, Elsie M. Sunderland, Francisco Rubianes-Landazuri, Steven D. Emslie
Summary: This study examined the effects of dietary factors recorded by C and N on Hg uptake in yellowfin tuna from the Galapagos Marine Reserve and the Ecuadorian mainland coast. The results showed that variations in Hg stable isotopes were related to changes in carbon and nitrogen isotopes, indicating food web shifts as the driving force behind Hg variations in tuna populations.
ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY AND CHEMISTRY
(2022)
Article
Instruments & Instrumentation
Emese I. Vegh, Nicholas Marquez-Grant, Rick J. Schulting
Summary: This study investigates the impact of a one year postmortem interval on the structural and chemical alterations of unburnt and burnt bone. The results show that the concentrations of elements associated with extracellular fluid change with the postmortem interval and survive burning. Calcium, phosphorus, iron, aluminum, silicon, and strontium are not significantly altered with burning, while increased crystallinity and carbonate loss can be detected in unburnt bones.
APPLIED SPECTROSCOPY
(2022)
Article
Geography, Physical
Takumi Tsutaya, Tomonari Takahashi, Takayuki Omori, Kohei Yamazaki, Takao Sato, Minoru Yoneda, Rick J. Schulting, Hirofumi Kato, Andrzej W. Weber
Summary: Stable isotope analysis is an effective method for reconstructing human fishing practices and changes in marine ecosystems. The study found that there were changes in fishing practices and marine ecosystems during the Epi-Jomon and Okhotsk periods, possibly related to the development of fishing gear, changes in fishing strategies, and climate events.
QUATERNARY INTERNATIONAL
(2022)
Article
Ecology
Rick J. Schulting, Kristiina Mannermaa, Pavel E. Tarasov, Thomas Higham, Christopher Bronk Ramsey, Valeri Khartanovich, Vyacheslav Moiseyev, Dmitriy Gerasimov, John O'Shea, Andrzej Weber
Summary: The Mesolithic cemetery of Yuzhniy Oleniy Ostrov in Karelia, northwest Russia, was mainly used for a few centuries during a northern hemisphere climatic downturn event. The cemetery's use coincided with the 8.2 ka cooling event and suggests that human response to climate-driven environmental change might have influenced burial practices. The use of the cemetery during this time led to increased social stress and greater mortuary complexity, but this phenomenon lasted only for the duration of the climate downturn.
NATURE ECOLOGY & EVOLUTION
(2022)
Article
Geography, Physical
Rick J. Schulting, Rebecca MacDonald, Michael P. Richards
Summary: A recent paper used Bayesian modelling software to argue that Neolithic individuals from Carding Mill Bay obtained up to ca. 21% dietary protein from marine sources, differing from previous interpretations. Resolving this discrepancy is important for understanding the Mesolithic-Neolithic transition in Atlantic Europe. Caution is needed when interpreting Bayesian palaeodietary modelling due to the uncertainty of parameters. The results reaffirm the terrestrial nature of diet at Carding Mill Bay.
QUATERNARY INTERNATIONAL
(2023)
Article
Geochemistry & Geophysics
Svetlana Svyatko, Paula J. Reimer, Rick J. Schulting, Irina Shevnina, Andrei Logvin, Dmitriy Voyakin, Astrid Stobbe, Ilya Merts, Vasilii Soenov, Natalia Tsydenova, Victor Varfolomeev
Summary: This paper evaluates the extent of freshwater reservoir effects in the Eurasian Steppe and provides the most up-to-date map of these effects in the region. The data confirm that freshwater reservoir offsets are widespread and variable in both modern and archaeological samples.
Article
Biochemical Research Methods
Tansy Branscombe, Julia Lee-Thorp, Rick Schulting, Melanie Leng
Summary: By comparing the results of hand-drilled and resin-embedded micromilled samples, it was found that hand-drilled samples had no anomalous δ13C values, while embedded samples exhibited spikes. This suggests that resin contamination may be responsible for the occurrence of spikes. Although hand-drilled samples had reduced spatial resolution, it did not significantly impact the observed isotopic range and seasonal patterns in rapidly growing marine shells. Moreover, the occurrence of anomalous δ13C values was eliminated and the failure rates due to insufficient sample size were greatly reduced in the hand-drilled dataset.
RAPID COMMUNICATIONS IN MASS SPECTROMETRY
(2022)
Article
Archaeology
Rick J. Schulting, Christopher Bronk Ramsey, Ian Scharlotta, Michael P. Richards, Vladimir I. Bazaliiskii, Andrzej Weber
Summary: This paper provides a summary of research on the freshwater reservoir effects (FRE) in the Baikal region and their impact on radiocarbon dating of human remains. The study reveals varying relationships between human delta 13C and delta 15N values and 14C offsets in paired human-terrestrial mammal radiocarbon dates. It also emphasizes the importance of further research in identifying different isotopic ecologies and evaluating the dietary contributions of freshwater resources using other proxies.
ARCHAEOLOGICAL RESEARCH IN ASIA
(2022)
Article
Anthropology
David W. Anthony, A. A. Khokhlov, S. A. Agapov, D. S. Agapov, R. Schulting, I. Olalde, D. Reich
Summary: Genetically attested migrations of the third millennium BC have raised questions about the origins and nature of the Yamnaya culture across northern Eurasia. However, the key archaeological sites important for understanding the evolution of Yamnaya culture have not been published in western languages.
PRAEHISTORISCHE ZEITSCHRIFT
(2022)
Article
Anthropology
A. Holguin, M. Charles, S. Mithen, R. Schulting
Summary: This paper investigates the conditions under which hazelnut shells can become charred. The study finds that temperature, duration, and oxygen availability are key factors in the charring process. The results of the study can guide future analytical work on hazelnut shells and similar archaeobotanical materials.
JOURNAL OF ARCHAEOLOGICAL SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Camila Riera-Soto, Carolina Agueero, Osvaldo Gonzalez-Maurel, Mauricio Uribe, Andrew Menzies
Summary: This study examines archaeological ceramics from the San Pedro de Atacama oases in the Atacama Desert, using automated SEM mineralogy to fully characterise the ceramics. The results show that the ceramics are more complex than previously thought, with varying components and mineral abundance. The mineralogical information allows for the discussion of possible raw material sources.
FRONTIERS IN EARTH SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Cosimo Posth, He Yu, Ayshin Ghalichi, Helene Rougier, Isabelle Crevecoeur, Yilei Huang, Harald Ringbauer, Adam B. Rohrlach, Kathrin Nagele, Vanessa Villalba-Mouco, Rita Radzeviciute, Tiago Ferraz, Alexander Stoessel, Rezeda Tukhbatova, Dorothee G. Drucker, Martina Lari, Alessandra Modi, Stefania Vai, Tina Saupe, Christiana L. Scheib, Giulio Catalano, Luca Pagani, Sahra Talamo, Helen Fewlass, Laurent Klaric, Andre Morala, Mathieu Rue, Stephane Madelaine, Laurent Crepin, Jean-Baptiste Caverne, Emmy Bocaege, Stefano Ricci, Francesco Boschin, Priscilla Bayle, Bruno Maureille, Foni Le Brun-Ricalens, Jean-Guillaume Bordes, Gregorio Oxilia, Eugenio Bortolini, Olivier Bignon-Lau, Gregory Debout, Michel Orliac, Antoine Zazzo, Vitale Sparacello, Elisabetta Starnini, Luca Sineo, Johannes van der Plicht, Laure Pecqueur, Gildas Merceron, Geraldine Garcia, Jean-Michel Leuvrey, Coralie Bay Garcia, Asier Gomez-Olivencia, Marta Poltowicz-Bobak, Dariusz Bobak, Mona Le Luyer, Paul Storm, Claudia Hoffmann, Jacek Kabacinski, Tatiana Filimonova, Svetlana Shnaider, Natalia Berezina, Borja Gonzalez-Rabanal, Manuel Gonzalez R. Morales, Ana B. Marin-Arroyo, Belen Lopez, Carmen Alonso-Llamazares, Annamaria Ronchitelli, Caroline Polet, Ivan Jadin, Nicolas Cauwe, Joaquim Soler, Neus Coromina, Isaac Rufi, Richard Cottiaux, Geoffrey Clark, Lawrence G. Straus, Marie-Anne Julien, Silvia Renhart, Dorothea Talaa, Stefano Benazzi, Matteo Romandini, Luc Amkreutz, Herve Bocherens, Christoph Wissing, Sebastien Villotte, Javier Fernandez-Lopez de Pablo, Magdalena Gomez-Puche, Marco Aurelio Esquembre-Bebia, Pierre Bodu, Liesbeth Smits, Benedicte Souffi, Rimantas Jankauskas, Justina Kozakaite, Christophe Cupillard, Hartmut Benthien, Kurt Wehrberger, Ralf W. Schmitz, Susanne C. Feine, Tim Schueler, Corinne Thevenet, Dan Grigorescu, Friedrich Lueth, Andreas Kotula, Henny Piezonka, Franz Schopper, Jiri Svoboda, Sandra Sazelova, Andrey Chizhevsky, Aleksandr Khokhlov, Nicholas J. Conard, Frederique Valentin, Katerina Harvati, Patrick Semal, Bettina Jungklaus, Alexander Suvorov, Rick Schulting, Vyacheslav Moiseyev, Kristiina Mannermaa, Alexandra Buzhilova, Thomas Terberger, David Caramelli, Eveline Altena, Wolfgang Haak, Johannes Krause
Summary: By analyzing ancient hunter-gatherer genomes from western and central Eurasia, this study uncovers genetic changes and migrations during the human colonization of Europe. The Last Glacial Maximum led to population replacements in southern Europe and gene flow between western and eastern European hunter-gatherers.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Samantha Neil, Jane Evans, Janet Montgomery, Rick Schulting, Chris Scarre
Summary: Many important archaeological sites in Europe were excavated by antiquarians over 100 years ago. This study uses multi-isotope analysis and C-14 dating to evaluate the origin of human remains in a collection believed to be from one of Britain's most significant archaeological sites. The Coldrum site in Kent, excavated in 1910, is a megalithic burial monument that may be associated with the transition to farming in Britain. Isotope analysis confirms the presence of Neolithic remains, but also reveals remains dating to the 5th-7th centuries AD. This study provides new information about subsistence and mobility patterns of early Neolithic populations and emphasizes the value of isotope analysis in determining provenance of museum collections.
ROYAL SOCIETY OPEN SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Anthropology
Joanna Ostapkowicz, Rick J. Schulting, Gareth R. Davies
Summary: This paper presents the first systematic study of pre-Columbian imported stone celts recovered from the limestone islands of the Lucayan archipelago. The study found that the Lucayan archipelago had a sufficient supply of stone celts and there was no clear evidence of size diminution with distance from sources. The majority of stone celts were jade, supplemented with other materials.
JOURNAL OF ANTHROPOLOGICAL ARCHAEOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Pooja Swali, Rick Schulting, Alexandre Gilardet, Monica Kelly, Kyriaki Anastasiadou, Isabelle Glocke, Jesse McCabe, Mia Williams, Tony Audsley, Louise Loe, Teresa Fernandez-Crespo, Javier Ordono, David Walker, Tom Clare, Geoff Cook, Ian Hodkinson, Mark Simpson, Stephen Read, Tom Davy, Marina Silva, Mateja Hajdinjak, Anders Bergstrom, Thomas Booth, Pontus Skoglund
Summary: This study sequenced three Yersinia pestis genomes from Britain and found the earliest evidence of LNBA plague in the country. The genomes belong to a sublineage observed in Bronze Age individuals from Central Europe and later found in Eastern Asia. The results suggest that the LNBA plague had substantial transmissibility.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2023)
Article
Anthropology
Emese I. I. Vegh, Nicholas Marquez-Grant, Rick J. J. Schulting
Summary: This study found that the characteristics of cutmarks on burnt bones can be used to determine the time interval between pre-burning and post-burning. By conducting experiments on burnt pig tibiae, it was discovered that significant alterations in cutmark characteristics occurred after 6 months of exposure to fire, which can provide information on the pre-burning time interval.
JOURNAL OF ARCHAEOLOGICAL METHOD AND THEORY
(2023)
