Hydrological change in southern Australia over 1750 years: a bivalve oxygen isotope record from the Coorong Lagoon

<p>Multi-centennial records of past hydroclimate change are essential for understanding the resilience of ecosystems to climatic events in addition to guiding conservation and restoration efforts. Such data are also crucial for examining the long-term controls over regional hydroclimate and th...

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Main Authors: B. K. Chamberlayne, J. J. Tyler, D. Haynes, Y. Shao, J. Tibby, B. M. Gillanders
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Copernicus Publications 2023-07-01
Series:Climate of the Past
Online Access:https://cp.copernicus.org/articles/19/1383/2023/cp-19-1383-2023.pdf
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author B. K. Chamberlayne
J. J. Tyler
D. Haynes
D. Haynes
Y. Shao
J. Tibby
B. M. Gillanders
author_facet B. K. Chamberlayne
J. J. Tyler
D. Haynes
D. Haynes
Y. Shao
J. Tibby
B. M. Gillanders
author_sort B. K. Chamberlayne
collection DOAJ
description <p>Multi-centennial records of past hydroclimate change are essential for understanding the resilience of ecosystems to climatic events in addition to guiding conservation and restoration efforts. Such data are also crucial for examining the long-term controls over regional hydroclimate and the inherent variability in extreme droughts and floods. Here, we present a 1750-year record of hydroclimate variability in the Coorong South Lagoon, South Australia, part of an internationally significant wetland system at the mouth of Australia's largest river, the Murray River. Oxygen isotope ratios were measured from <i>Arthritica</i> <i>helmsi</i> bivalve shells preserved in sediments. The oxygen isotope record shows periods of persistent low and high moisture balance, from <span class="inline-formula">∼500</span> to 1050 years and from <span class="inline-formula">∼1300</span> to 1800 years, respectively, which is consistent with other hydroclimate reconstructions from the region. The range of oxygen isotope values in the sedimentary shells does not differ significantly from the estimated range of modern specimens from the present-day lagoon. These data suggest that the restricted and highly evaporated modern-day conditions are not markedly different to the pre-impacted state over the last 1750 years, although the absence of <i>A. helmsi</i> in the contemporary lagoon is likely a response to increased salinity, nutrient loading, and anoxia during the last century. These insights are potentially useful both in guiding management efforts to conserve and restore the Coorong Lagoon and for understanding long-term water resource availability in the region.</p>
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spelling doaj.art-05e47066c69a493c81c7f70aca6dfd302023-07-18T07:51:11ZengCopernicus PublicationsClimate of the Past1814-93241814-93322023-07-01191383139610.5194/cp-19-1383-2023Hydrological change in southern Australia over 1750 years: a bivalve oxygen isotope record from the Coorong LagoonB. K. Chamberlayne0J. J. Tyler1D. Haynes2D. Haynes3Y. Shao4J. Tibby5B. M. Gillanders6Department of Earth Sciences and Sprigg Geobiology Centre, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, 5005, AustraliaDepartment of Earth Sciences and Sprigg Geobiology Centre, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, 5005, AustraliaDepartment of Earth Sciences and Sprigg Geobiology Centre, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, 5005, AustraliaDepartment of Geography, Environment and Population, and Sprigg Geobiology Centre, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, 5005, AustraliaDepartment of Earth Sciences and Sprigg Geobiology Centre, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, 5005, AustraliaDepartment of Geography, Environment and Population, and Sprigg Geobiology Centre, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, 5005, AustraliaSouthern Seas Ecology Laboratories and the Environment Institute, School of Biological Sciences, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, 5005, Australia<p>Multi-centennial records of past hydroclimate change are essential for understanding the resilience of ecosystems to climatic events in addition to guiding conservation and restoration efforts. Such data are also crucial for examining the long-term controls over regional hydroclimate and the inherent variability in extreme droughts and floods. Here, we present a 1750-year record of hydroclimate variability in the Coorong South Lagoon, South Australia, part of an internationally significant wetland system at the mouth of Australia's largest river, the Murray River. Oxygen isotope ratios were measured from <i>Arthritica</i> <i>helmsi</i> bivalve shells preserved in sediments. The oxygen isotope record shows periods of persistent low and high moisture balance, from <span class="inline-formula">∼500</span> to 1050 years and from <span class="inline-formula">∼1300</span> to 1800 years, respectively, which is consistent with other hydroclimate reconstructions from the region. The range of oxygen isotope values in the sedimentary shells does not differ significantly from the estimated range of modern specimens from the present-day lagoon. These data suggest that the restricted and highly evaporated modern-day conditions are not markedly different to the pre-impacted state over the last 1750 years, although the absence of <i>A. helmsi</i> in the contemporary lagoon is likely a response to increased salinity, nutrient loading, and anoxia during the last century. These insights are potentially useful both in guiding management efforts to conserve and restore the Coorong Lagoon and for understanding long-term water resource availability in the region.</p>https://cp.copernicus.org/articles/19/1383/2023/cp-19-1383-2023.pdf
spellingShingle B. K. Chamberlayne
J. J. Tyler
D. Haynes
D. Haynes
Y. Shao
J. Tibby
B. M. Gillanders
Hydrological change in southern Australia over 1750 years: a bivalve oxygen isotope record from the Coorong Lagoon
Climate of the Past
title Hydrological change in southern Australia over 1750 years: a bivalve oxygen isotope record from the Coorong Lagoon
title_full Hydrological change in southern Australia over 1750 years: a bivalve oxygen isotope record from the Coorong Lagoon
title_fullStr Hydrological change in southern Australia over 1750 years: a bivalve oxygen isotope record from the Coorong Lagoon
title_full_unstemmed Hydrological change in southern Australia over 1750 years: a bivalve oxygen isotope record from the Coorong Lagoon
title_short Hydrological change in southern Australia over 1750 years: a bivalve oxygen isotope record from the Coorong Lagoon
title_sort hydrological change in southern australia over 1750 years a bivalve oxygen isotope record from the coorong lagoon
url https://cp.copernicus.org/articles/19/1383/2023/cp-19-1383-2023.pdf
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