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Relationship between C:N ratios of lake sediments, organic matter sources, and historical deforestation in Lake Pleasant, Massachusetts, USA

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Abstract

The C:N ratios of lake sediments may reflect proportions of terrestrial and algal carbon contributing to accumulation of sediment. This possibility was tested in Lake Pleasant, Massachussetts, USA which underwent watershed deforestation in about 1780 A.D. The C:N profile of a 70-cm sediment core clearly reflected deforestation through a rise in C:N ratio caused by an increase in watershed contributions to sedimentary carbon. Spatial variability of C:N in modern surficial sediments is small compared to the change caused by deforestation.

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Author notes

  1. Sujay Kaushal

    Present address: Center for Limnology, Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO, 80309-0216, USA

  2. Michael W. Binford

    Present address: Department of Geography, University of Florida, P.O. Box 117315, Gainesville, FL, 32611-7315, USA

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Harvard Forest, Harvard University, P.O. Box 68, Petersham, MA, 01366-0068, USA

    Sujay Kaushal & Michael W. Binford

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  1. Sujay Kaushal
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  2. Michael W. Binford
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Kaushal, S., Binford, M.W. Relationship between C:N ratios of lake sediments, organic matter sources, and historical deforestation in Lake Pleasant, Massachusetts, USA. Journal of Paleolimnology 22, 439–442 (1999). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1008027028029

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1008027028029

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