The Utility of Microfossils in Geoarchaeology: A Case Study from Lake Simcoe, Ontario and Methodological Considerations

Eutrophication has been an issue in Lake Simcoe since the 1970s, stressing aquatic wildlife, notably economically-important cold water fish. Non-pollen palynomorphs (NPP) are more sensitive proxies of water quality than sedimentary phosphorus, and have a higher fossilization potential than mineralized microfossils like diatoms, although some, notably desmids, were shown to be sensitive to acetolysis. Algal palynomorphs record cultural eutrophication since European settlement at all three sites in a north-south transect (particularly at the southern site Cook’s Bay) and similar NPP assemblages record eutrophication below the Ambrosia (ragweed) rise in cores from the main basin and Smith’s Bay. This event has been attributed to the Wendat (Huron) occupation of Wendake (Huronia) that ended in the mid-seventeenth century, an attribution supported the by increases in micro-charcoal, likely from controlled fires and the presence of palynomorphs associated with agriculture.

Name thesis:degree_name

M.Sc. Earth Sciences

Level thesis:degree_level

Masters

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Faculty of Mathematics and Science

Department dc:contributor.department

Department of Earth Sciences

Grantor

Brock University

Year dc:date.issued

2016

Author dc:creator

• Riddick, Nicholas

• Lake Simcoe
• Huron
• Palynology
• Geoarchaeology

Language dc:language.iso

eng

Handle dc:identifier.uri

http://hdl.handle.net/10464/10422

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:brocku.scholaris.ca:10464/10422