Unveiling two millennia of ecosystem changes in the Azores through elementome trajectory analysis

Area of Science:

• Paleoecology
• Geochemistry
• Ecosystem Dynamics

Background:

• Ecosystem elemental composition reflects environmental changes, providing insights into global change impacts.
• Island ecosystems are sensitive to perturbations like land-use change and climate variability.

Purpose of the Study:

• To apply elementome trajectory analysis to reconstruct past environmental shifts in the Azores archipelago over two millennia.
• To understand long-term ecosystem dynamics and quantify disturbances from anthropogenic and non-anthropogenic impacts.

Main Methods:

• Utilized multivariate elemental data (Carbon, Nitrogen, etc.) from five Azorean lakes.
• Quantified elementome trajectory analysis metrics (turnover, directionality, speed) as ecological indicators.
• Employed CONISS analysis to track elemental shifts and compared them with existing environmental reconstructions.

Main Results:

• Elementome trajectories primarily reflected changes in erosion rates, biological activity, and catchment dynamics.
• Distinct patterns were observed related to climate variability, wildfires, and agropastoral activities.
• Trajectory shapes differed between shallow and deep lakes, indicating varied responses.

Conclusions:

• Elementome Trajectory Analysis is effective for disentangling natural and anthropogenic drivers of ecosystem change in island environments.
• This approach offers a valuable tool for paleoecological reconstructions and catchment-level monitoring.
• The study highlights the utility of geochemical records for understanding long-term ecological responses.