Skip to Main Content
 

Global Search Box

 
 
 
 

Files

File List


25742.pdf (19.56 MB)

ETD Abstract Container

Abstract Header

Characterizing Spatial Patterns for Natural and Anthropogenic Atmospheric Sulfur in Terrestrial Biological Systems

Sparks, Janine M
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ucin1527606422395088

Abstract Details

2017, PhD, University of Cincinnati, Arts and Sciences: Geology.
In order to confidently use sulfur isotopes in archaeological and ecological research, it is necessary to establish the extent to which natural and anthropogenic sources of sulfur are integrated into terrestrial biological systems. In particular, it is necessary to discern the relative impact of atmospheric sulfur sources on the sulfur isotope values in vegetation, and consequently, to animals consuming vegetation. Terrestrial vegetation uses sulfur from geologic and atmospheric sulfur sources to help form essential compounds such as amino acids. There has been less sulfur isotope work on terrestrial vegetation than on soils, air, or wet and dry deposition. Furthermore, previous sulfur isotope studies have been geographically limited; there has been an absence of sulfur isotope work concerning pollution in the midwestern United States, and an absence of sulfur isotope work in general in the Caribbean on terrestrial biological systems. In this dissertation, I address these gaps in the existing literature. In Chapter 2, I investigate the degree to which coastal proximity, wind direction, and precipitation amount influence the distribution of marine sulfur in terrestrial vegetation on Trinidad. I found that both precipitation amount and wind direction are important controls, and vegetation at locations with high precipitation amounts and an oceanic wind have the highest sulfur isotope values; additionally, although high sulfur isotope values for plants from locations <1.5 km from the ocean indicate a heavy influence of marine sulfur, sulfur isotope values for vegetation growing up to 10 km from the ocean still demonstrate the impact of marine sulfur. In Chapter 3, I use my results from Chapter 2 to investigate foraging strategies for prehistoric Trinidadians. Specifically, I assess the degree to which the combination of sulfur, carbon, and nitrogen isotope values in bone collagen from zooarchaeological remains can be used to identify reliance on terrestrial prey from coastal versus inland localities. Overall, I found that while there were no substantial or consistent isotopic trends over time at any of the sites, the majority of harvested prey likely lived 1.5-10 km from the ocean. It was the combination of sulfur and nitrogen isotope values that was most effective at distinguishing terrestrial remains from coastal versus inland localities. Finally, in Chapter 4, I investigate the degree to which sulfur dioxide emissions from coal-fired power stations are incorporated in vegetation. I determine how relative proximity to coal-fired power stations as well as station operational status influence sulfur concentration and sulfur isotope values in vegetation growing in southwestern Ohio, which has a long-standing history of coal-powered industry. The results from this study indicate that vegetation growing near an active power station are heavily impacted by sulfur dioxide emissions yet vegetation near a recently decommissioned power station can show similar concentrations and isotope values to a site that has never been near a power station. Together, these three studies more firmly establish the influence of natural and anthropogenic sulfur sources in vegetation and geographically expand what we know about variability in sulfur isotope spatial patterns in tropical and temperate settings.
Brooke Crowley, Ph.D. (Committee Chair)
Nicholas Dunning, Ph.D. (Committee Member)
Warren Huff, Ph.D. (Committee Member)
Kenneth Tankersley, Ph.D. (Committee Member)
Yurena Yanes, Ph.D. (Committee Member)
146 p.
Biogeochemistry
Sulfur isotopes; Trinidad; Southwestern Ohio; Vegetation; Archaeology

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Sparks, J. M. (2017). Characterizing Spatial Patterns for Natural and Anthropogenic Atmospheric Sulfur in Terrestrial Biological Systems [Doctoral dissertation, University of Cincinnati]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ucin1527606422395088

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Sparks, Janine. Characterizing Spatial Patterns for Natural and Anthropogenic Atmospheric Sulfur in Terrestrial Biological Systems. 2017. University of Cincinnati, Doctoral dissertation. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ucin1527606422395088.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Sparks, Janine. "Characterizing Spatial Patterns for Natural and Anthropogenic Atmospheric Sulfur in Terrestrial Biological Systems." Doctoral dissertation, University of Cincinnati, 2017. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ucin1527606422395088

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

ucin1527606422395088
158
© 2017, all rights reserved.
This open access ETD is published by University of Cincinnati and OhioLINK.