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Article

Late Holocene Paleonvironmental Evolution of Two Coastal Lakes in Mediterranean Chile and Its Implications for Conservation Planning

by
Isis-Yelena Montes
1,2,*,
Andy Banegas-Medina
1,2,
Nathalie Fagel
3,
Meriam El Ouahabi
3,
Elie Verleyen
4,
Denisse Alvarez
1,5,
Fernando Torrejón
1,
Sabine Schmidt
6,
Gilles Lepoint
7,
Gustavo Diaz
1,
Pablo Pedreros
1 and
Roberto Urrutia
1
1
Centre of Environmental Sciences EULA-Chile and CHRIAM Water Research Centre, Department of Aquatic Systems, Faculty of Environmental Sciences, Universidad de Concepción, P.O. Box 160-C Concepción, Chile
2
Laboratory of Biology, Department of Sciences, Danlí Technological Campus, National Autonomous University of Honduras (UNAH), Pan-American Highway km 95, 13201 Danlí, Honduras
3
Departement of Geology, AGEs, University of Liège, Liège, Quartier Agora, allée du six Août 14, 4000 Liège, Belgium
4
Laboratory of Protistology and Aquatic Ecology, Department of Biology, Ghent University, Krijgslaan 281-S8, B-9000 Ghent, Belgium
5
Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Santo Tomás, 4030585 Concepción, Chile
6
CNRS, Univ. Bordeaux, EPOC, EPHE, UMR 5805, Allée Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire, 33615 Pessac, France
7
Laboratory of Oceanology, Freshwater and Oceanic Science Unit of Research (FOCUS), University of Liège, Quartier Agora, allée du six Août 11, 4000 Liège Liège, Belgium
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Appl. Sci. 2021, 11(8), 3478; https://doi.org/10.3390/app11083478
Submission received: 23 February 2021 / Revised: 19 March 2021 / Accepted: 28 March 2021 / Published: 13 April 2021
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Archaeoecology. The Application of Palaeoenvironmental Sciences for the Reconstruction of Human-Environment Interactions)
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Versions Notes

Abstract

:
Paleolimnological reconstructions from the mid and high latitudes in the Southern Hemisphere are still relatively scarce. Anthropogenic impacts have evidenced trophic state changes and an increase in cyanobacterial blooms in the lacustrine system of San Pedro de la Paz in the last decades. Here, we reconstructed primary production and sedimentological changes spanning the past 2500 years in two coastal lakes in Mediterranean Chile. A multiproxy approach including sedimentological, biogenic silica, carbon and nitrogen isotopes and fossil pigments analysis in sediment cores was performed in Laguna Grande (LGSP) and Laguna Chica de San Pedro (LCSP). A marked change in the sedimentology of the lakes, likely related to the terrigenous sediment inputs derived by a transition from an arid condition in the mid-Holocene to a more humid condition in the late Holocene that favoured arboreal forest establishment at 100 BC–AD 150. A period of low primary production was identified between 850 to 1050 AC for LCSP, suggesting moist and cold conditions that were possibly related to La Niña events. In recent decades, there have been increases in primary production, probably resulting from anthropogenic disturbances. These likely include the clearance of native vegetation, the introduction of exotic tree species, and urbanisation, which in turn, resulted in nutrient inputs and hence eutrophication. We conclude that an integrated management program for both lakes is urgently needed.

1. Introduction

Lake sediments are archives of past variations in biological communities which respond to environmental and climate change and vary in time and space [1,2,3,4,5]. These changes result from a complex interaction between climate, anthropogenic activities and the characteristic of aquatic systems that imply its study and recording [5,6,7]. Such records are particularly lacking for the Southern Hemisphere [6,7,8]. The Mediterranean coast of Chile corresponds to a climatic and vegetational transition zone and is considered as an area sensitive to environmental changes due to anthropogenic impacts and climate alternations [6,9,10,11,12]. Indeed, historical records have emphasised the influence of anthropogenic activities on lakes in the region over the last 500 years [13,14]. In particular, intensive periods of land use, clear-cutting of native forest and the replacement by exotic plantation forestry (Pinus radiata and Eucalyptus spp.), wheat growing, urbanisation and industrialisation processes have caused changes in the trophic status, chemical composition and water quality of the lakes [13,14,15,16].
Regional studies in the Chilean Mediterranean Zone revealed that prehispanic native cultures had no significant impact on land use [17]. However, since the mid-sixteenth century, Spanish colonisation induced disturbances on the natural landscape. The introduction of the Mediterranean Hispanic Model of agriculture-livestock resulted in pronounced land-use changes [18,19]. In addition, the urbanisation of the coastal zone has intensified over the last decades and generated a significant increase in nutrient inputs to watersheds, leading to gradual environmental degradation and an increase in phytoplankton productivity [13,16,20,21,22,23]. For example, diatom studies in Laguna Grande and Laguna Chica (San Pedro de la Paz, Biobío region, south-central Chile) revealed that trophic state changes occurred after the Spanish arrival [13,20,22]. Moreover, cyanobacterial blooms have been detected in Laguna Grande in the last decades [24], which is likely related to the recent increase in temperature due to global warming and increased nutrient concentrations [25,26,27].
However, few studies focused on long-term changes in the entire phytoplankton community have been considered in Chilean coastal lakes to explain their response to environmental conditions [6,9,28,29,30]. Sedimentological and biological proxies such as (sub)fossil remains, total organic carbon concentration, C and N stable isotopes and phytoplankton pigments can provide valuable information on past changes in primary production and the phytoplankton community structure [6,7,31,32,33,34,35,36,37,38,39]. Phytoplankton pigments have the advantages that they also allow for the study of soft-bodied organisms which do not readily fossilise. A disadvantage is that pigments are relatively sensitive to degradation in response to high irradiance, oxygen concentrations, bacterial activity, grazing and high temperatures [34,36,40,41,42,43,44]. Nevertheless, once buried in suitable conditions (anoxic sediments), pigments can be preserved for thousands of years [42,45,46,47]. Stable isotope ratios of carbon and nitrogen and the atomic C/N ratios can provide insights into the origin of organic matter in aquatic ecosystems, vegetation sources, aquatic algae proportions or terrestrial organic matter. Moreover, they are used to interpret paleoenvironmental changes in lakes and their watersheds [4,48,49,50,51]. The tracking of environmental changes allows historical trajectories, local and regional patterns to be revealed [11,52,53].
This paper is aimed at reconstructing primary production during the late Holocene to the present-day based on a multiproxy approach, which includes the sedimentological description, biogenic silica, carbon and nitrogen isotopic composition and fossil pigments in two Mediterranean coastal lakes in Chile, namely Laguna Grande and Chica de San Pedro. We focussed on the late Holocene because this period is characterised by profound land-use changes in the region [9,10,19,23].

2. Material and Methods

2.1. Study Area

The study area is located within the lacustrine system of San Pedro de la Paz, Biobío region, in south-central Chile [13,15]. The lacustrine system comprises two lakes:, i.e., Laguna Grande (36°51′ S; 73°06′ O; 4 m.a.s.l.) and Laguna Chica (36°51′ S; 73°05′ O; 5 m.a.s.l.), referred to as LGSP and LCSP, respectively. Both lakes are part of an ancient coastal plain formed during the Quaternary [54,55]. The formation of the lakes is still largely unknown, but Martinez et al. [56] reported that both lakes were developed within the valley of ancient rivers that once drained into the Pacific Ocean. Subsequently, they were dammed due to the sedimentation contribution by the cliffs of the Nahuelbuta mountain range during the late Pleistocene/early Holocene. Additionally, basaltic sands transported from the headwater to the mouth of the Biobío river originated by the Antuco Volcano (Lake Laja) contributed to the Biobío river delta formation and the Coronel coastal plain. These fluvial sediments were deposited at the north of the lakes as part of their geomorphological formation [56,57,58].
The lakes are located on the northwestern slope of the mountain range of Nahuelbuta, close to the Pacific Ocean and south of the Biobío River mouth [58] (Figure 1). The LGSP is a shallow lake with a 12.5 km2 drainage basin, 1.55 km2 surface area and 13.5 m maximum depth. Similarly, the LCSP is a small lake with a 4.5 km2 drainage basin, 0.87 km2 surface area and a maximum depth of 18 m (Table 1) [13,18,58]. Both systems show sharp slopes at the west, south and east sides, and soft slopes towards the north coast [13,56]. To date, the phytoplankton communities are dominated by Bacillariophyceae, Chlorophyceae, Desmideaceae and Cyanobacteria (Table 1).

2.2. Sampling and Sedimentological Analysis

Duplicate sediment cores were collected in January 2016 at the central and the deepest part of LGSP (13.5 m) and LCSP (18 m). The cores were obtained using a UWITEC gravity corer equipped with a 6 cm diameter plexiglass tube, covered with aluminium foil to protect from sunlight and stored at 4 °C until the analyses. The cores were upward sectioned every 1 cm, freeze-dried and homogenised using a mortar and pestle to analyse biogenic silica and fossil pigments. For determination of the stable isotopes, the samples were oven-dried and homogenised using a mortar and pestle before the analysis. The biogenic silica (BSi) was extracted with the alkaline method and determined by molybdate-blue spectrophotometry [59].
The magnetic susceptibility (MS) was measured at 1 cm intervals using the Bartington MS2E sensor and the Multisus v2.44 software. The grain-size analysis was performed using a Malvern Mastersizer 3000 laser particle size analyser. A quantity of 5 mg of each sediment layer was treated with H2O2 (30%) in a thermal bath to remove the organic matter and then combined with distilled water to suspend sediments uniformly prior to analysis. The percentage by volume of each size fraction was analysed using the Gradistat program to determine conventional particle size statistics [60,61]. Grain-size and magnetic susceptibility were used as an indicator of input of terrigenous materials, allochthonous to the lake. These analyses were conducted in the laboratory of Paleolimnology and the laboratory of Environmental Sciences Center EULA-Chile at the University of Concepción, Chile.

2.3. Sediment Core Dating

The chronology of the sediment cores of LGSP and LCSP was established by combining 210Pb, 137Cs and 14C. Short-lived radioisotope activities were measured by spectrometry using a low-background well-shaped high-efficiency, germanium spectrometer equipped with a Cryo-Cycle in the laboratory Environnements et Paléoenvironnements Océaniques et Continentaux (EPOC), Université de Bordeaux, France. Excess 210Pb (210Pbxs) was calculated by subtracting the activity supported by its parent isotope, 226Ra, from the total 210Pb activity in the sediment. The activities of 210Pbx in excess (210Pbxs) and 137Cs were analysed downcore until negligible values were observed, which was at about 20 and 14 cm for LGSP and LCSP, respectively. The AMS radiocarbon analyses (14C) were performed on the bulk sediment samples, selecting three samples for LGSP and LCSP. These values were calibrated with Oxcal 3.10 [62] using the calibration curve SHCal 13 [63]. Mass accumulation rates (MAR, expressed in g m−2 cm−1) were obtained by plotting the regression of 210Pbxs against cumulative mass and were used to calculate sediment ages. This approach assumes that the sediment surface represents the year of core acquisition. The artificial radioisotope 137Cs was used as an independent time marker in order to validate the 210Pb age model. All the 14C and 210Pbxs dates were logged to the Clam code [64] using the R software [65] to obtain the chronological model. A cubic spline and linear interpolation allowed the ages of undated levels to be estimated.

2.4. Stable Isotopes

The analyses of stable isotopes of carbon and nitrogen were performed using an IsoPrime100, isotopic ratio mass spectrometry (Isoprime, UK) coupled in a continuous flow to a Vario Micro cube elemental analyser (Elementar, Germany) at the Laboratory of Oceanology, Institute of Chemistry, Université de Liege, Belgium. The isotopic values are expressed as δ values in ‰. Accuracy was obtained on 7 and 10 replicates for LGSP and LCSP, respectively, performed on samples and standards, i.e., standard atropine value (0.5 ‰ C and 0.4‰ N), IAEA-CH6 sucrose (δ13C = −10.4 ± 0.2‰) and IAEA-N1 (δ15N = +0.4 ± 0.2‰). The samples were acidified with HCl to remove inorganic carbonates to avoid any modification of nitrogen isotopic signature [18,66,67,68]. The total organic carbon (TOC) and carbon and nitrogen isotopes were used to discriminate between the allochthonous input and the autochthonous organic matter related to the productivity of the lake.

2.5. Pigment Analysis

Thirty samples of freeze-dried sediments were extracted from sediments in the cores of both lakes. A solution of 90% acetone was added to the samples, and sonication was used for the extraction (1 min per sample and let the extract rest overnight at 4 °C in dark conditions). The analyses were performed using the Agilent 1100 HPLC (high-performance liquid chromatography), pump, auto-sampler, DAD-diode-array detector and Agilent Eclipse XDB-C8 column [69]. The pigments were identified and quantified based on the retention time and specified spectrum of each pigment. They were calibrated using standard pigments provided by DHI Denmark.
The individual pigment concentrations were calculated using the response factors of standard pigments, expressed as dry-mass specific concentrations (µg pigment per mg dry sediment) [32,36,70,71]. The fossil pigments were assigned to their respective taxonomic groups. Chlorophylls, mainly represented by chlorophyll-a (chl-a), were used as an indicator of total photosynthetic algal concentration and higher plants. Chlorophyll-b (chl-b) reflects the presence of green algae and higher plants [71]. The carotenoids zeaxanthin, canthaxanthin and echinenone, were used as indicators of cyanobacterial abundance (Cyanophyta). Lutein was used as a signature of green algae, euglenophytes and higher plants [33]. Alloxanthin is a measure of cryptophytes, and diatoxanthin occurs in diatoms, dinoflagellates and chrysophytes. Chlorophyll degradation products were mainly represented by phaeophytin-a and phaeophorbide-a [37,69,70,71,72]. These analyses were performed in the Laboratory of Protistology and Aquatic Ecology, Ghent University, Belgium.
The total chlorophyll was estimated by calculating the sum of the chl-a and their degradation products (Phaeophorbide and Phaeophytin). Each pigment was divided by total chlorophyll to obtain pigment proportions. The carotenoid pigments were calculated considering the total carotenoids as the sum of zeaxanthine, canthaxanthin, echinenone, lutein, alloxanthin and diatoxanthin [31,72,73]. Pigment fluxes were treated as proxies of phytoplankton abundance using the sedimentation rate [72,73].

3. Results

3.1. Age Model

Radiocarbon ages from LGSP and LCSP cores are summarised in Table 2 and represented in Figure 2. The obtained ages maintain a stratigraphic order throughout the profile in both cores, covering the past 5000 years within 80 cm for LGSP and 2500 years within 116 cm for LCSP. The 14C age model in LCSP is poorly resolved. Profiles of 210Pbxs show an exponential decrease of activities, from 40 mBq g−1 for LGSP and 60 mBq g−1 for LCSP in the uppermost sediments to negligible values in depth. The limit value of 210Pb in excess to 1888 AD was observed at 25 cm for LGSP and 14 cm for LCSP. (Figure 2a and Figure 2c). 137Cs profiles in the two lakes present a peak at 12 cm (1965 ± 5 AD) for LGSP and 5 cm (1965 ± 8 AD) for LCSP, respectively (Figure 2b,d), which is in close agreement with the well-known pulse inputs related to the nuclear weapon test fallout in the early sixties (maximum atmospheric fallout is in 1965 in the Southern Hemisphere) [74].

3.2. Lithological Description

The sediment cores from LGSP and LCSP are characterised by two main units (Figure 3). The lower section is characterised by a light grey to beige coarser layer with higher MS values in both cores, whereas silty clay sediments compose the upper finer section.
Laguna Grande de San Pedro (LGSP)
The basal unit (58–47 cm) is mainly composed of silty sand. The sand fraction > 63 µm averaged 14.5 ± 3.8% (Table 3). The highest MS values compared to the rest of the sediment core, averaged 299 ± 149.9 × 10−8. TOC and TN displayed a gradual increase from the bottom upwards, from 0.5 to 1.7‰ and 0.05 to 0.17‰, respectively. BSi concentrations were low, ranging from 0.35 to 1.19% (0.79 ± 0.24%). The C/N ratio varied from 8.7 to 10.3 (9.4 ± 0.5). The δ13C was stable, ranging between −25.8‰ to −26.2‰ (±0.3‰). Slight variations in δ15N values ranged from 3.04 to 5.01‰ (3.63 ± 0.4‰) at the bottom with a maximum at 48 cm.
Unit 2 (46–0 cm): the grain-size distribution was relatively stable, with a slight variation at the top of the core, with a high amount of silt fraction (~91%). Steady low MS values (85.6 ± 19.4 × 10−8) were observed. Instead, TOC and TN profiles showed a gradual increase upward of this unit. BSi concentrations showed distinguished increases at 29, 12 and 8 cm, while values more than ten in C/N ratios were found from 46 cm to the top of the core. δ13C values were stable from 46 to 6 cm, with a trend toward more negative values from 7 cm to the top. δ15N values showed marked variations, extending from 3.5 to 6.9‰ (4.6 ± 0.7‰), with a significant increase at 24 cm.

Laguna Chica de San Pedro (LCSP)

Unit 1 (117–94 cm): for LCSP (Figure 3b) showed the highest mean values at the bottom of the core for the mean grain size distribution (15.3 ± 3.8%) and the MS profile (642 ± 329 × 10−8). In contrast, the lowest values were observed for TOC and TN (0.25 ± 0.07 and 0.03 ± 0.005, respectively). BSi displayed relatively constant values, with an average of 0.5 ± 0.23%. The C/N ratio fluctuated from 5.4 to 10.4, while the δ13C and δ15N showed more negative values at 102 cm.
Unit 2 (94–0 cm): the grain-size particle displayed variations throughout the core. Steady MS values were observed (85.6 ± 19.4 × 10−8). A notable shift was observed in mean grain size, MS, TOC, TN, BSi, C/N, δ13C and δ15N between 66 and 58 cm.

3.3. Fossil Pigments Analysis

A total of ten fossil pigments were identified from the sediment core for LGSP (Figure 4a) and nine for LCSP (Figure 4b). Pigments concentrations were minimal in the sediment core’s deepest part and increased toward the uppers layers, mainly in the modern sediments. A relatively high abundance of chlorophyll-a and phaeophytin-a for LGSP were observed. The abundance of canthaxanthin, echinenone and alloxanthin remained relatively low over time. Notable values were measured at 54, 36 and 9 cm for zeaxanthin and diatoxanthin, while lutein showed an increase between 9 and 4 cm. Chlorophyll-b was identified from 24 cm onwards, and phaeophorbide-a showed an increased trend upwards of the core from 24 cm. The total flux of chlorophylls and carotenoids remained low from the bottom, but relatively high flux was found at the end of the core (Figure 4b).
LCSP is characterised by a dominance of chl-a, phaeophytin-a and phaeophorbide-a. The chl-b was detected at 61 cm. Zeaxanthin, canthaxanthin and lutein displayed a relatively low abundance. Alloxanthin and diatoxanthin decreased gradually from 69 cm to the top of the core. The chlorophylls and carotenoid fluxes were relatively low at the bottom and increased in the upper sediments.

4. Discussion

4.1. Changes in Sediment Deposition

The changes in physical properties (mean grain size and magnetic susceptibility), as well as 137Cs and the 210Pb excess activities, were used to correlate both cores, since they did not present the same sedimentation rates with differences in the time window for both lakes (Figure 5). Although LGSP and LCSP have steep slopes on the south, east and west banks, the northern coast shows mild degradations [21,23]. The watershed area and the characteristics of the slopes of LCSP could have facilitated the dragging of particles with a more significant accumulation process on the bottom and; therefore, a higher sedimentation rate than in Laguna Grande, evidencing this change at 48 cm for LGSP and 98 cm for LCSP.
The main sedimentological change (i.e., coarse grain size, high MS) observed at the base of both studied cores most likely related to change in the sediment supply at the local scale. According to the reconstructed age models, this change occurred within a similar time window, i.e., 100 BC–AD 150 in both cores. The presence of sandy sedimentation and the high magnetic susceptibility values could be attributed to significant changes in the terrigenous sediment inputs to the lakes. A higher variability of continental weathering conditions and sediment input have been documented in geomorphological and pedological studies, which may indicate a more changeable climate in the late Holocene after 3000 yr B.P., marked by the fluctuations in the influence of the westerlies [75]. Besides, C/N ratio and δ15N values indicated contributions of autochthonous organic matter in both lakes [48,49,50,51].
Under those considerations, we interpreted it as a transition from an arid condition in the mid-Holocene to more humid late Holocene conditions (humidity and temperature) that could have favoured the establishment of a native arboreal forest in the watersheds approximately at 100 BC–AD 150 [8,9,10]. Precipitations driven by the westerly winds in the region could influence the erosion rate in the watersheds displayed at the bottom of the lakes [9]. Other events that occurred in the area were dismissed, such as sediment supplies from the Biobío river, marine transgressions, emerged marine terraces and surface uplift rates, because they did not coincide with our period identified [56,57,58,76].

4.2. Late Holocene Evolution of Lake Primary Production

A gradual increase in the TOC and TN for LGSP and LCSP was reflected at 100 BC–AD 150 onwards and reached a maximum during the present-day period (Figure 3a,b). This trend might suggest increased diagenetic processes that, with time, led to the gradual breakdown of organic matter [2,65]. Nevertheless, this gradual increasing trend is absent in the LCSP record, which is, by contrast, characterised by relatively lower values of TOC and TN, but also BSi and δ13C, between 850 and 1050 AD, pointing out very low lake paleoproductivity. These results might suggest moist and cold conditions coinciding with persistent cool La Niña-like conditions between 650 and 950 AD, as reported by Fletcher and Moreno in Laguna San Pedro (38 °S) [11].
Variations of the C/N ratio and δ15N were observed from 100 BC–AD 150 to the present day and particularly, from 450 AD and 520 AD in LCSP and LGSP, respectively. This might be related to an increased organic matter input derived from the watershed area of the lakes, but probably also increased the lake primary production as evidenced by the fossil pigment data. Indeed, fossil pigments were detected in LCSP from 450 AD onwards and were not present prior to this period. The carotenoids identified suggest the presence of cyanobacteria, chlorophyta, bacillariophyta and dinoflagellates (Figure 4a) in LCSP. In the LGSP, pigments were detected throughout the entire core, albeit at low concentrations prior to 1900 AD. Jenny et al. in Laguna Aculeo (34 °S) [9], reported that around 500–700 AD was characterised by a high frequency of flooding, an event that could have influenced the watersheds, dragging allochthonous matter towards the lakes, leading to changes in C/N, δ15N, TOC, TN and primary production during this period.
Interestingly, no obvious changes were present in the proxy records coincident and immediately after the Spanish colonisation in the region, around the middle of the XVI century (1536 to 1541 AD). Nevertheless, the highest values of C/N, which indicated a mixture of terrestrial and aquatic organic matter around 1550 AD for both lakes, resulting in higher catchment erosion and an increasing lake terrigenous supply, could be due to the settlements in the watershed. According to historical records described by Aronson et al. [77] and Torrejon and Cisternas [18], the Mapuches lacked intensive productive activities before the Spanish settlements. Accordingly, little impact was generated in these watersheds. Contrarily, in the middle of the XVI century, the Spanish colonisation at the south of the Biobío river caused the introduction of intensive exotic crops and livestock of ungulates (horses, sheep and cattle) [14,17,21,23,24,77,78]. It has been previously suggested that the development of settlements had a moderate impact on the pre-Columbian ecological landscape [19,78], which could favour the inputs of organic matter to the aquatic systems observed in C/N values as a possible signal of those changes.
The most obvious changes in the proxy records occurred in recent decades in both sediment cores. In particular, the C/N ratio and δ13C decreased in both lakes, while the total chlorophyll and carotenoid concentrations increased. Combined, this suggests that phytoplankton primary production increased in recent decades. Nevertheless, apart from an increase in Chl-b, no obvious changes were observed in the relative abundance of the other marker pigments, apart from a slight decrease in diatoxanthin.
Interestingly, this is more or less coincident with a decrease in BSi, which might suggest that diatoms and/or chrysophytes became less abundant, while chlorophytes became more dominant (higher Chl-b) in recent decades. However, it must be noted that the sharp rise in total pigments in the most recent samples might reflect diagenesis and the degradation of pigments with time.
Nevertheless, given the coincident rise in pigment concentration and the change in the other proxies (i.e., C/N ratio and δ13C), we suggest that lake primary production increased in the most recent decades. This is consistent with a period of high sedimentation rates, as described by Urrutia et al. [22] and Cisternas et al. [79], in LCSP from 1951 to 1968 AD, which coincided with our results showing an increase in C/N ratio and δ13C at 1955 AD. While Cruces et al. [13] described this period in LGSP from 1948 to 1972 AD, which coincided with a significant increase in hydrocarbons, fatty acids and organic matter, observed by BSi, C/N and δ15N in the same period in this lake. The dynamic changes observed for both LGSP and LCSP lakes could be linked to the increased urbanisation of the surrounding areas, and mainly the creation of the Villa of San Pedro in 1962 [20], and the increase in summer houses for touristic and recreational activities on the banks of LCSP and LGSP [23]. Finally, an integrated management program is required to generate a regional plan of conservation and the strengthening of institutional frameworks to enable governance and public participation in these systems [80].

5. Conclusions

A reconstruction of primary production based on multiproxy analyses in Laguna Grande and Laguna Chica de San Pedro provided essential information about changes in the last 2500 years. The major sedimentological transition observed at the lower part of the sedimentary columns was attributed to local influence with an important proximal input in both lakes. Additionally, the westerlies winds also contributed to the terrigenous sediment inputs at 100 BC–AD 150. Laguna Chica de San Pedro evidenced a low primary production between 850 and 1050 AD that coincided with the persistent cool La Niña-like conditions. Historical records highlighted the transformations in the ecological landscape of the area during the colonisation, which were notable around 1550 AD in terms of the C/N results. The fossil pigment concentrations and the stable isotopes suggest increased phytoplankton primary production in both lakes in recent decades. These are likely the result of local environmental conditions and human disturbances related to urbanisation, the cutting and replacing of native forest and commercial logging. Hence, an integrated management program for these watersheds is highly needed. We recommend further research focused on primary production, climate and anthropogenic drivers to understand long-term responses and patterns of aquatic ecosystems at the local and regional scale.

Author Contributions

Conceptualisation and methodology, I.-Y.M., A.B.-M., N.F., M.E.O., G.L., D.A., F.T., R.U.; software, I.-Y.M., M.E.O., S.S., G.D., P.P.; validation, S.S., E.V., R.U.; formal analysis, I.-Y.M., A.B.-M., N.F., M.E.O., E.V., R.U.; investigation, I.-Y.M., A.B-M., F.T.; writing—original draft preparation, I.-Y.M., A.B.-M.; writing—review and editing, I.-Y.M., A.B.-M., N.F., M.E.O., E.V., G.L, F.T., D.A., R.U.; visualisation, I.-Y.M., A.B.-M., G.D., P.P.; supervision, N.F., E.V., R.U.; project administration, I.-Y.M.; funding acquisition, I.-Y.M., N.F. All authors contributed to the work. All authors have read and agreed to the published version of the manuscript.

Funding

This research was funded by the National Research and Development Agency (ANID, according to its initials in Spanish), the project ANID/FONDAP/15130015), the ERASMUS PLUS, and the Wallonie-Bruxelles International and the National Autonomous University of Honduras (UNAH, according to its initials in Spanish).

Institutional Review Board Statement

Not applicable.

Informed Consent Statement

Not applicable.

Data Availability Statement

The data presented in this study are available on request from the corresponding author.

Acknowledgments

We would like to thank the Directorate for Scientific, Humanistic and Technological Research (DICIHT, according to its initials in Spanish), from the National Autonomous University of Honduras for sponsoring the publication, the Environmental Sciences Centre EULA-Chile laboratory and Ilse Daveloose for the contribution to the fossil pigment analysis (University of Ghent, Belgium).

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflict of interest. The funders had no role in the design of the study; in the collection, analyses, or interpretation of data; in the writing of the manuscript, or in the decision to publish the results.

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Figure 1. Study area of the Laguna Grande and Laguna Chica de San Pedro.
Figure 1. Study area of the Laguna Grande and Laguna Chica de San Pedro.
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Figure 2. Chronology of the top centimetres of the Laguna Grande (a,b,e) and Laguna Chica (c,d,f) de San Pedro. The dark line represents the age model, while the grey shades represent the estimated errors, and the vertical and grey lines indicate the coring year.
Figure 2. Chronology of the top centimetres of the Laguna Grande (a,b,e) and Laguna Chica (c,d,f) de San Pedro. The dark line represents the age model, while the grey shades represent the estimated errors, and the vertical and grey lines indicate the coring year.
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Figure 3. Depth profiles of magnetic susceptibility (SI), organic matter (%), biogenic silica (%), TOC (weight %), C/N ratio atomic, δ13C (‰) and δ15N (‰) in sediment core of (a) Laguna Grande de San Pedro (LGSP) and (b) Laguna Chica de San Pedro (LCSP).
Figure 3. Depth profiles of magnetic susceptibility (SI), organic matter (%), biogenic silica (%), TOC (weight %), C/N ratio atomic, δ13C (‰) and δ15N (‰) in sediment core of (a) Laguna Grande de San Pedro (LGSP) and (b) Laguna Chica de San Pedro (LCSP).
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Figure 4. Fossil pigments stratigraphy of Laguna Grande (a) and Laguna Chica (b) de San Pedro sediment cores.
Figure 4. Fossil pigments stratigraphy of Laguna Grande (a) and Laguna Chica (b) de San Pedro sediment cores.
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Figure 5. Correlation of 210Pb, 137Cs, magnetic susceptibility and grain size profiles of the Laguna Grande (a) and Laguna Chica (b) de San Pedro.
Figure 5. Correlation of 210Pb, 137Cs, magnetic susceptibility and grain size profiles of the Laguna Grande (a) and Laguna Chica (b) de San Pedro.
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Table
Table 1. Summary of environmental, physico-chemical and biological characteristics of the Laguna Grande and Laguna Chica de San Pedro (Parra 1989; Araneda et al., 1999; Cisternas et al., 2000; Barra et al., 2001; Parra et al., 2003; Campos et al., 2005; Almanza et al., 2016).
Table 1. Summary of environmental, physico-chemical and biological characteristics of the Laguna Grande and Laguna Chica de San Pedro (Parra 1989; Araneda et al., 1999; Cisternas et al., 2000; Barra et al., 2001; Parra et al., 2003; Campos et al., 2005; Almanza et al., 2016).
Laguna ChicaLaguna Grande
Latitude36°51′36°51′
Longitude73°05′73°06′
Altitude (m.a.s.l.)54
Lake area (km2)0.82 1.55
Watershed area (km2)4.512.7
Maximum depth (m)1813.5
Volume (m3 × 106)8.6412.9
Native forest and shreds27.1%5.7%
Forest plantations48.9%52.4%
Agriculture3.4%1.0%
Urban area4.9%4.1%
Water transparency (m)5.2 (3.8–6.8)3.7 (3.0–6.1)
Water temperature °C (min-max)17.4 (12.5–24.0)18.1 (12.2–24.0)
Annual mean precipitation (mm)1.235 mm1.235 mm
pH7.0 (6.5–7.73)7.0 (6.5-7.6)
Conductivity (µS/cm)71 (50–90)84 (35–107)
Dissolved oxygen (mg/L)9.2 (5.9–10.9)8.8 (4.9–10.7)
Alkalinity (meq/L CaCO3)0.4 (0.4–0.5)0.5 (0.5–0.6)
TDS (mg/L)42.352.6
Total phosphorus TP (µg/L)2050
Total nitrogen TN (µg/L)170 (60–320)230 (80–340)
Chlorophyll a (µg/L)1.206.42
Primary productivity (mgC/m3/hr)2.4422.68
Trophic stateMesotrophic-EutrophicEutrophic-Hypereutrophic
MacrophytesAbundantMajor abundance
Summer stratificationYesNo
Phytoplankton richness3957
Main phytoplankton groupsBacillariophyceae
Chlorophyceae
Desmideaceae
Cyanobacteria		Chlorophyceae
Bacillariophyceae
Desmideaceae Cyanobacteria
Reports of Cyanobacteria Microcystis sp. (blooms)
Dolichospermum sp.
Merismopedia sp.
Oscillatoria sp.
Aphanocapsa sp.		Microcystis sp. (blooms)
Dolichospermum sp.
Pseudoanabaena sp.
Gomphospheria sp.
Chroococcus sp.
Snowella sp.
Mean (min-max).
Table
Table 2. Radiocarbon date of bulk sediments from the Laguna Grande and Laguna Chica de San Pedro.
Table 2. Radiocarbon date of bulk sediments from the Laguna Grande and Laguna Chica de San Pedro.
Lab CodeLake Core Depth
(cm)		14C yr BP ±1σCalibrate Age BC/AD
Min MeanMax
ETH–70456Laguna grande 411707 ± 23339385431
ETH–70457Laguna grande 512276 ± 24−325−267−209
ETH–70458Laguna grande 713467 ± 25−1780−1707−1635
D-AMS 025916Laguna Chica 54.5936 ± 261129 11721216
D-AMS 025914Laguna Chica 116.52482 ± 43−599−503−407
Table
Table 3. Composition of the sediment grain-size (mean percentage ± standard deviation) of the Laguna Grande (LGSP) and Laguna Chica de San Pedro (LCSP) described by lithological units.
Table 3. Composition of the sediment grain-size (mean percentage ± standard deviation) of the Laguna Grande (LGSP) and Laguna Chica de San Pedro (LCSP) described by lithological units.
Laguna Grande de San Pedro
Clay (%)Silt (%)Sand (%)
UNIT 2 (46–0 cm)7.12 ± 0.8390.75 ± 1.952.03 ± 2.38
UNIT 1 (60–47 cm)4.64 ± 0.9180.88 ± 4.1314.48 ± 3.76
Laguna Chica de San Pedro
Clay (%) Silt (%)Sand (%)
UNIT 2 (93–0 cm)7.05 ± 2.4590.12 ± 4.092.83 ± 2.72
UNIT 1 (120–94cm)4.68 ± 1.6287.82 ± 2.867.50 ± 2.65
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Montes, I.-Y.; Banegas-Medina, A.; Fagel, N.; El Ouahabi, M.; Verleyen, E.; Alvarez, D.; Torrejón, F.; Schmidt, S.; Lepoint, G.; Diaz, G.; et al. Late Holocene Paleonvironmental Evolution of Two Coastal Lakes in Mediterranean Chile and Its Implications for Conservation Planning. Appl. Sci. 2021, 11, 3478. https://doi.org/10.3390/app11083478

AMA Style

Montes I-Y, Banegas-Medina A, Fagel N, El Ouahabi M, Verleyen E, Alvarez D, Torrejón F, Schmidt S, Lepoint G, Diaz G, et al. Late Holocene Paleonvironmental Evolution of Two Coastal Lakes in Mediterranean Chile and Its Implications for Conservation Planning. Applied Sciences. 2021; 11(8):3478. https://doi.org/10.3390/app11083478

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Montes, Isis-Yelena, Andy Banegas-Medina, Nathalie Fagel, Meriam El Ouahabi, Elie Verleyen, Denisse Alvarez, Fernando Torrejón, Sabine Schmidt, Gilles Lepoint, Gustavo Diaz, and et al. 2021. "Late Holocene Paleonvironmental Evolution of Two Coastal Lakes in Mediterranean Chile and Its Implications for Conservation Planning" Applied Sciences 11, no. 8: 3478. https://doi.org/10.3390/app11083478

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