Biogeochemical evidence for environmental changes of Pleistocene Lake Olduvai during the transitional sequence of OGCP core 2A that encompasses Tuff IB (~1.848 Ma)

Andrea M. Shilling; Devon E. Colcord; Jonathan Karty; Angela Hansen; Katherine H. Freeman; Jackson K. Njau; Ian G. Stanistreet; Harald Stollhofen; Kathy D. Schick; Nicholas Toth; Simon C. Brassell

doi:10.1016/j.palaeo.2019.109267

Biogeochemical evidence for environmental changes of Pleistocene Lake Olduvai during the transitional sequence of OGCP core 2A that encompasses Tuff IB (~1.848 Ma)

Andrea M. Shilling, Devon E. Colcord, Jonathan Karty, Angela Hansen, Katherine H. Freeman, Jackson K. Njau, Ian G. Stanistreet, Harald Stollhofen, Kathy D. Schick, Nicholas Toth, Simon C. Brassell

Continental Scientific Drilling Facility

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

10 Scopus citations

Abstract

Olduvai Gorge is renowned for discoveries of hominin fossils and tools in a well-resolved sedimentary context, representing one of the foremost sites in East Africa that has afforded critical evidence of hominin evolution. In 2014, the Olduvai Gorge Coring Project (OGCP) recovered the first deep sediment cores from this location. These cores provide the first opportunity to examine an extensive stratigraphic record from one location and independent of the weathering and related degradation typical of outcrop samples. Samples from these cores have been correlated to Bed I tuffs and basalt marker beds that are well characterized from outcrops within the gorge. This study focuses on the biogeochemical investigation of a ~10 m segment from OGCP sediment core 2A, where age constraints indicate deposition occurred over ~50,000 years (from 1.8055 ± 0.003 Ma to 1.8551 ± 0.013 Ma). The segment includes Tuff IB and IF, which were deposited at a time that prior research indicates represents marked changes in the paleoenvironment at Olduvai, with indications that Paleolake Olduvai may have been completely desiccated by the time Tuff IF was deposited. This environmental change is recorded by the composition of sedimentary organic matter (OM) in terms of bulk organic geochemical properties observed as a decrease in % TOC and δ¹³C_org. In addition, temporal variations in source-specific biomarkers (n-alkanes, phytane, steradienes, A-norsteranes and alkenones) reflect a shift from a deeper lake setting with a prevalence of aquatic-sourced OM combined with input from terrestrial plant waxes to a more shallow, perennial lake where evidence of burrows and erosional surfaces is associated with microbially degraded OM and intermittent aquatic biomarkers. Thus, variations in biogeochemical proxies complement the sedimentological evidence confirming increased periods of prolonged desiccation of Paleolake Olduvai beginning around the time of Tuff IB deposition.

Original language	English (US)
Article number	109267
Journal	Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology
Volume	532
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.palaeo.2019.109267
State	Published - Oct 15 2019

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
We would like to acknowledge the Stone Age Institute for organizing and funding the Olduvai Gorge Coring Project (OGCP) with grants from the Kamen Foundation , the Gordon and Ann Getty Foundation , the John Templeton Foundation , the Fred Maytag Foundation , Kay and Frank Woods , and NSF ( BCS1623873 ). Additionally, we would like to thank the Tanzanian Commission for Science and Technology, Tanzanian Department of Antiquities, Ministry of Natural Resources & Tourism, and the Ngorongoro Conservation Area Authority (NCAA) for enabling the collection of samples and continuing support of OGCP research. Funding for the organic geochemical preparation was provided by the Dept. of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences ( Indiana University ). Funding for the organic geochemical analysis on the QTOF was provided by the Mass Spectrometry Facilities at Indiana University and NSF grant CHE1726633 . We would like to thank A. Schimmelmann (Indiana University) for providing both an n-alkane standard mix, and the squalane standard.

Publisher Copyright:
© 2019 Elsevier B.V.

Copyright:
Copyright 2019 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.

Keywords

Biomarkers
East Africa
n-Alkanes
Preservation
Tanzania

Continental Scientific Drilling Facility tags

OGDP

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Publisher link

10.1016/j.palaeo.2019.109267

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Shilling, A. M., Colcord, D. E., Karty, J., Hansen, A., Freeman, K. H., Njau, J. K., Stanistreet, I. G., Stollhofen, H., Schick, K. D., Toth, N., & Brassell, S. C. (2019). Biogeochemical evidence for environmental changes of Pleistocene Lake Olduvai during the transitional sequence of OGCP core 2A that encompasses Tuff IB (~1.848 Ma). Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology, 532, Article 109267. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.palaeo.2019.109267

Biogeochemical evidence for environmental changes of Pleistocene Lake Olduvai during the transitional sequence of OGCP core 2A that encompasses Tuff IB (~1.848 Ma). / Shilling, Andrea M.; Colcord, Devon E.; Karty, Jonathan et al.
In: Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology, Vol. 532, 109267, 15.10.2019.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Shilling, AM, Colcord, DE, Karty, J, Hansen, A, Freeman, KH, Njau, JK, Stanistreet, IG, Stollhofen, H, Schick, KD, Toth, N & Brassell, SC 2019, 'Biogeochemical evidence for environmental changes of Pleistocene Lake Olduvai during the transitional sequence of OGCP core 2A that encompasses Tuff IB (~1.848 Ma)', Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology, vol. 532, 109267. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.palaeo.2019.109267

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title = "Biogeochemical evidence for environmental changes of Pleistocene Lake Olduvai during the transitional sequence of OGCP core 2A that encompasses Tuff IB (~1.848 Ma)",

abstract = "Olduvai Gorge is renowned for discoveries of hominin fossils and tools in a well-resolved sedimentary context, representing one of the foremost sites in East Africa that has afforded critical evidence of hominin evolution. In 2014, the Olduvai Gorge Coring Project (OGCP) recovered the first deep sediment cores from this location. These cores provide the first opportunity to examine an extensive stratigraphic record from one location and independent of the weathering and related degradation typical of outcrop samples. Samples from these cores have been correlated to Bed I tuffs and basalt marker beds that are well characterized from outcrops within the gorge. This study focuses on the biogeochemical investigation of a ~10 m segment from OGCP sediment core 2A, where age constraints indicate deposition occurred over ~50,000 years (from 1.8055 ± 0.003 Ma to 1.8551 ± 0.013 Ma). The segment includes Tuff IB and IF, which were deposited at a time that prior research indicates represents marked changes in the paleoenvironment at Olduvai, with indications that Paleolake Olduvai may have been completely desiccated by the time Tuff IF was deposited. This environmental change is recorded by the composition of sedimentary organic matter (OM) in terms of bulk organic geochemical properties observed as a decrease in % TOC and δ13Corg. In addition, temporal variations in source-specific biomarkers (n-alkanes, phytane, steradienes, A-norsteranes and alkenones) reflect a shift from a deeper lake setting with a prevalence of aquatic-sourced OM combined with input from terrestrial plant waxes to a more shallow, perennial lake where evidence of burrows and erosional surfaces is associated with microbially degraded OM and intermittent aquatic biomarkers. Thus, variations in biogeochemical proxies complement the sedimentological evidence confirming increased periods of prolonged desiccation of Paleolake Olduvai beginning around the time of Tuff IB deposition.",

keywords = "Biomarkers, East Africa, n-Alkanes, Preservation, Tanzania",

author = "Shilling, {Andrea M.} and Colcord, {Devon E.} and Jonathan Karty and Angela Hansen and Freeman, {Katherine H.} and Njau, {Jackson K.} and Stanistreet, {Ian G.} and Harald Stollhofen and Schick, {Kathy D.} and Nicholas Toth and Brassell, {Simon C.}",

note = "Funding Information: We would like to acknowledge the Stone Age Institute for organizing and funding the Olduvai Gorge Coring Project (OGCP) with grants from the Kamen Foundation , the Gordon and Ann Getty Foundation , the John Templeton Foundation , the Fred Maytag Foundation , Kay and Frank Woods , and NSF ( BCS1623873 ). Additionally, we would like to thank the Tanzanian Commission for Science and Technology, Tanzanian Department of Antiquities, Ministry of Natural Resources & Tourism, and the Ngorongoro Conservation Area Authority (NCAA) for enabling the collection of samples and continuing support of OGCP research. Funding for the organic geochemical preparation was provided by the Dept. of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences ( Indiana University ). Funding for the organic geochemical analysis on the QTOF was provided by the Mass Spectrometry Facilities at Indiana University and NSF grant CHE1726633 . We would like to thank A. Schimmelmann (Indiana University) for providing both an n-alkane standard mix, and the squalane standard. Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2019 Elsevier B.V. Copyright: Copyright 2019 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.",

year = "2019",

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doi = "10.1016/j.palaeo.2019.109267",

language = "English (US)",

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T1 - Biogeochemical evidence for environmental changes of Pleistocene Lake Olduvai during the transitional sequence of OGCP core 2A that encompasses Tuff IB (~1.848 Ma)

AU - Shilling, Andrea M.

AU - Colcord, Devon E.

AU - Karty, Jonathan

AU - Hansen, Angela

AU - Freeman, Katherine H.

AU - Njau, Jackson K.

AU - Stanistreet, Ian G.

AU - Stollhofen, Harald

AU - Schick, Kathy D.

AU - Toth, Nicholas

AU - Brassell, Simon C.

N1 - Funding Information: We would like to acknowledge the Stone Age Institute for organizing and funding the Olduvai Gorge Coring Project (OGCP) with grants from the Kamen Foundation , the Gordon and Ann Getty Foundation , the John Templeton Foundation , the Fred Maytag Foundation , Kay and Frank Woods , and NSF ( BCS1623873 ). Additionally, we would like to thank the Tanzanian Commission for Science and Technology, Tanzanian Department of Antiquities, Ministry of Natural Resources & Tourism, and the Ngorongoro Conservation Area Authority (NCAA) for enabling the collection of samples and continuing support of OGCP research. Funding for the organic geochemical preparation was provided by the Dept. of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences ( Indiana University ). Funding for the organic geochemical analysis on the QTOF was provided by the Mass Spectrometry Facilities at Indiana University and NSF grant CHE1726633 . We would like to thank A. Schimmelmann (Indiana University) for providing both an n-alkane standard mix, and the squalane standard. Publisher Copyright: © 2019 Elsevier B.V. Copyright: Copyright 2019 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.

PY - 2019/10/15

Y1 - 2019/10/15

N2 - Olduvai Gorge is renowned for discoveries of hominin fossils and tools in a well-resolved sedimentary context, representing one of the foremost sites in East Africa that has afforded critical evidence of hominin evolution. In 2014, the Olduvai Gorge Coring Project (OGCP) recovered the first deep sediment cores from this location. These cores provide the first opportunity to examine an extensive stratigraphic record from one location and independent of the weathering and related degradation typical of outcrop samples. Samples from these cores have been correlated to Bed I tuffs and basalt marker beds that are well characterized from outcrops within the gorge. This study focuses on the biogeochemical investigation of a ~10 m segment from OGCP sediment core 2A, where age constraints indicate deposition occurred over ~50,000 years (from 1.8055 ± 0.003 Ma to 1.8551 ± 0.013 Ma). The segment includes Tuff IB and IF, which were deposited at a time that prior research indicates represents marked changes in the paleoenvironment at Olduvai, with indications that Paleolake Olduvai may have been completely desiccated by the time Tuff IF was deposited. This environmental change is recorded by the composition of sedimentary organic matter (OM) in terms of bulk organic geochemical properties observed as a decrease in % TOC and δ13Corg. In addition, temporal variations in source-specific biomarkers (n-alkanes, phytane, steradienes, A-norsteranes and alkenones) reflect a shift from a deeper lake setting with a prevalence of aquatic-sourced OM combined with input from terrestrial plant waxes to a more shallow, perennial lake where evidence of burrows and erosional surfaces is associated with microbially degraded OM and intermittent aquatic biomarkers. Thus, variations in biogeochemical proxies complement the sedimentological evidence confirming increased periods of prolonged desiccation of Paleolake Olduvai beginning around the time of Tuff IB deposition.

AB - Olduvai Gorge is renowned for discoveries of hominin fossils and tools in a well-resolved sedimentary context, representing one of the foremost sites in East Africa that has afforded critical evidence of hominin evolution. In 2014, the Olduvai Gorge Coring Project (OGCP) recovered the first deep sediment cores from this location. These cores provide the first opportunity to examine an extensive stratigraphic record from one location and independent of the weathering and related degradation typical of outcrop samples. Samples from these cores have been correlated to Bed I tuffs and basalt marker beds that are well characterized from outcrops within the gorge. This study focuses on the biogeochemical investigation of a ~10 m segment from OGCP sediment core 2A, where age constraints indicate deposition occurred over ~50,000 years (from 1.8055 ± 0.003 Ma to 1.8551 ± 0.013 Ma). The segment includes Tuff IB and IF, which were deposited at a time that prior research indicates represents marked changes in the paleoenvironment at Olduvai, with indications that Paleolake Olduvai may have been completely desiccated by the time Tuff IF was deposited. This environmental change is recorded by the composition of sedimentary organic matter (OM) in terms of bulk organic geochemical properties observed as a decrease in % TOC and δ13Corg. In addition, temporal variations in source-specific biomarkers (n-alkanes, phytane, steradienes, A-norsteranes and alkenones) reflect a shift from a deeper lake setting with a prevalence of aquatic-sourced OM combined with input from terrestrial plant waxes to a more shallow, perennial lake where evidence of burrows and erosional surfaces is associated with microbially degraded OM and intermittent aquatic biomarkers. Thus, variations in biogeochemical proxies complement the sedimentological evidence confirming increased periods of prolonged desiccation of Paleolake Olduvai beginning around the time of Tuff IB deposition.

KW - Biomarkers

KW - East Africa

KW - n-Alkanes

KW - Preservation

KW - Tanzania

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JO - Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology

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ER -

Biogeochemical evidence for environmental changes of Pleistocene Lake Olduvai during the transitional sequence of OGCP core 2A that encompasses Tuff IB (~1.848 Ma)

Abstract

Bibliographical note

Keywords

Continental Scientific Drilling Facility tags

UN SDGs

Publisher link

Find It

Other files and links

Fingerprint

Cite this

Biogeochemical evidence for environmental changes of Pleistocene Lake Olduvai during the transitional sequence of OGCP core 2A that encompasses Tuff IB (~1.848 Ma)

Abstract

Bibliographical note

Keywords

Continental Scientific Drilling Facility tags

UN SDGs

Publisher link

Find It

Other files and links

Fingerprint

Cite this

Biogeochemical evidence for environmental changes of Pleistocene Lake Olduvai during the transitional sequence of OGCP core 2A that encompasses Tuff IB (~1.848 Ma)