Multi-century record of anthropogenic impacts on an urbanized mesotidal estuary: Salem Sound, MA.

Autor: Hubeny JB; Department of Geological Sciences, Salem State University, 352 Lafayette Street, Salem, MA 01970., Kristiansen E; Department of Geological Sciences, Salem State University, 352 Lafayette Street, Salem, MA 01970., Danikas A; Department of Geological Sciences, Salem State University, 352 Lafayette Street, Salem, MA 01970., Zhu J; Los Angeles Regional Water Quality Control Board, 320 4 St, Suite 200, Los Angeles, CA 90013., McCarthy FMG; Earth Sciences Department, Brock University, St. Catharines, ON, Canada., Cantwell MG; U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Research and Development, Narragansett, RI 02882., Warren B; Salem Sound Coastwatch, 12 Federal Street, Salem, MA 01970., Allen D; Department of Geological Sciences, Salem State University, 352 Lafayette Street, Salem, MA 01970.
Jazyk: angličtina
Zdroj: Estuaries and coasts : journal of the Estuarine Research Federation [Estuaries Coast] 2017; Vol. 41 (2), pp. 404-420.
DOI: 10.1007/s12237-017-0298-y
Abstrakt: Salem, MA, located north of Boston, has a rich, well-documented history dating back to settlement in 1626 CE, but the associated anthropogenic impacts on Salem Sound are poorly constrained. This project utilized dated sediment cores from the sound to assess the proxy record of anthropogenic alterations to the system and compared the proxy records to the known history. Proxies included bulk stable isotopes of organic matter, magnetic susceptibility, and trace metal concentrations. Our data reveal clear changes in organic matter composition and concentration associated with land use changes and twentieth century sewage disposal practices. Further, metals data correspond with local industrial activity, particularly the historic tanning industry in Peabody, MA. Although conservation practices of past decades have improved the state of Salem Sound, the stratigraphic record demonstrates that the environment is still affected by anthropogenic influences, and has not attained conditions consistent with pre-anthropogenic baseline. The approach and results of this study are applicable to coastal embayments that are being assessed for remediation, especially those with scant historic or monitoring data.
Competing Interests: Conflict of Interest The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.
Databáze: MEDLINE
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