Mangrove dynamics driven by Late Holocene drought at Laguna Bacalar, Mexico

Laguna Bacalar, one of Mexico's most significant near-coast lakes, remains underexplored in the context of its Late Holocene paleoecology. A 2,40 m long core was retrieved in northern Laguna Bacalar. Palynological and geochemical proxies were isolated and analyzed. Our findings reveal the intri...

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Main Authors: A.A. Aragón-Moreno, G.A. Islebe, N. Torrescano-Valle, H.A. Hernández-Arana, A. Carrillo-Bastos, R. Friedel
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2024-10-01
Series:Quaternary Environments and Humans
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2950236524000215
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author A.A. Aragón-Moreno
G.A. Islebe
N. Torrescano-Valle
H.A. Hernández-Arana
A. Carrillo-Bastos
R. Friedel
author_facet A.A. Aragón-Moreno
G.A. Islebe
N. Torrescano-Valle
H.A. Hernández-Arana
A. Carrillo-Bastos
R. Friedel
author_sort A.A. Aragón-Moreno
collection DOAJ
description Laguna Bacalar, one of Mexico's most significant near-coast lakes, remains underexplored in the context of its Late Holocene paleoecology. A 2,40 m long core was retrieved in northern Laguna Bacalar. Palynological and geochemical proxies were isolated and analyzed. Our findings reveal the intricate paleoecological dynamics and hydrodynamic shifts of this vital area in southeastern Mexico. Climate and ecological changes delineate three pivotal phases during the Late Holocene at Laguna Bacalar: (i) a period between 3600 and 3250 cal BP mirroring current climatic conditions with seasonal dry tropical forest and mangroves as the dominant vegetation and evidence of human activities indicated by the presence of fossil maize pollen, (ii) a relatively arid phase from 3250 to 2600 cal BP, influenced by heightened ENSO-driven precipitation variability and sea level rise favoring an estuarine environment at Laguna Bacalar, and (iii) a period between 2600 and 2200 cal BP, exhibiting hydrological conditions akin to contemporary conditions with wetland forest mangrove vegetation. These data ultimately underscore the region's susceptibility to regional climatic fluctuations and ecological resilience, providing a case study from which to predict future conditions and establish modern conservation policy for Laguna Bacalar and similar environments.
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spelling doaj-art-70f08748617b4ba8b1a5a57ce87818d52025-01-10T04:38:45ZengElsevierQuaternary Environments and Humans2950-23652024-10-0125100023Mangrove dynamics driven by Late Holocene drought at Laguna Bacalar, MexicoA.A. Aragón-Moreno0G.A. Islebe1N. Torrescano-Valle2H.A. Hernández-Arana3A. Carrillo-Bastos4R. Friedel5El Colegio de la Frontera Sur, Unidad Chetumal, Avenida Centenario km 5.5, Chetumal, Quintana Roo CP 77014, Mexico; Corresponding authors.El Colegio de la Frontera Sur, Unidad Chetumal, Avenida Centenario km 5.5, Chetumal, Quintana Roo CP 77014, Mexico; Corresponding authors.El Colegio de la Frontera Sur, Unidad Chetumal, Avenida Centenario km 5.5, Chetumal, Quintana Roo CP 77014, MexicoEl Colegio de la Frontera Sur, Unidad Chetumal, Departamento de Ecología y Sistemática Acuáticas, Avenida Centenario km 5.5, Chetumal, Quintana Roo CP 77014, MexicoTecnológico Nacional de México / IT de Chetumal, MexicoEl Colegio de la Frontera Sur, Unidad Chetumal, Avenida Centenario km 5.5, Chetumal, Quintana Roo CP 77014, MexicoLaguna Bacalar, one of Mexico's most significant near-coast lakes, remains underexplored in the context of its Late Holocene paleoecology. A 2,40 m long core was retrieved in northern Laguna Bacalar. Palynological and geochemical proxies were isolated and analyzed. Our findings reveal the intricate paleoecological dynamics and hydrodynamic shifts of this vital area in southeastern Mexico. Climate and ecological changes delineate three pivotal phases during the Late Holocene at Laguna Bacalar: (i) a period between 3600 and 3250 cal BP mirroring current climatic conditions with seasonal dry tropical forest and mangroves as the dominant vegetation and evidence of human activities indicated by the presence of fossil maize pollen, (ii) a relatively arid phase from 3250 to 2600 cal BP, influenced by heightened ENSO-driven precipitation variability and sea level rise favoring an estuarine environment at Laguna Bacalar, and (iii) a period between 2600 and 2200 cal BP, exhibiting hydrological conditions akin to contemporary conditions with wetland forest mangrove vegetation. These data ultimately underscore the region's susceptibility to regional climatic fluctuations and ecological resilience, providing a case study from which to predict future conditions and establish modern conservation policy for Laguna Bacalar and similar environments.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2950236524000215PaleoecologyMangrovesLandscapeAncient MayaDrought
spellingShingle A.A. Aragón-Moreno
G.A. Islebe
N. Torrescano-Valle
H.A. Hernández-Arana
A. Carrillo-Bastos
R. Friedel
Mangrove dynamics driven by Late Holocene drought at Laguna Bacalar, Mexico
Quaternary Environments and Humans
Paleoecology
Mangroves
Landscape
Ancient Maya
Drought
title Mangrove dynamics driven by Late Holocene drought at Laguna Bacalar, Mexico
title_full Mangrove dynamics driven by Late Holocene drought at Laguna Bacalar, Mexico
title_fullStr Mangrove dynamics driven by Late Holocene drought at Laguna Bacalar, Mexico
title_full_unstemmed Mangrove dynamics driven by Late Holocene drought at Laguna Bacalar, Mexico
title_short Mangrove dynamics driven by Late Holocene drought at Laguna Bacalar, Mexico
title_sort mangrove dynamics driven by late holocene drought at laguna bacalar mexico
topic Paleoecology
Mangroves
Landscape
Ancient Maya
Drought
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2950236524000215
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