Guano stable isotopic evidence of Anthropocene climate change influence on aridity and vegetation dynamics

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  • A 2.8 m-long core of cave bat guano was obtained from an excavated pit within Bracken Cave (Texas, USA) and analyzed for 813C and 815N. Radiocarbon dating of the core indicated that guano deposition occurred between 1974-1989 and 1998-2016 CE. The hiatus between 1989 and 1998 CE was interpreted to be related to docu-mented mining activities during this interval. The average Suess-corrected 813C values for the entire series (-19.7 +/- 1.0 %o) suggest that insects ingested by the bats had a diet incorporating both C3 and C4 plants. The proportion of each appeared to be dependent on the sensitivity of vegetation to prolonged and frequent droughts. Two documented La Nin similar to a events centered around 2008 and 2011 CE occurred contemporaneously with intervals of higher 813C values. The drought recorded in 2006 may have corresponded with foraging of insects located over C3 vegetation, which resulted in lower 813C (-22.0 %o). 815N values agree well with records of drought and precipitation in Texas, suggesting an aridity control on the local nitrogen cycle. The highest 815N values occurred during periods of a weaker North American Monsoon (1977 and 1982 CE). Higher 815N values also occur at 2006, 2009, and 2012 CE, corresponding with years of reduced precipitation locally and throughout the region. This study further demonstrates that guano 813C and 815N records can provide paleo-information with respect to climatic influence on the environment in semi-arid regions.