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Paleoenvironmental evolution of the Early Pleistocene lacustrine sequence at Barranco León archeological site (Orce, Baza Basin, Southern Spain) from stable isotopes and Sr and Mg chemistry of ostracod shells

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Abstract

Stable isotope and trace element contents of Cyprideis torosa valves from the Lower Pleistocene marginal lacustrine sequence of Barranco León, Baza Basin (Southern Spain), allow us to reconstruct the geochemical record of environmental change in this marginal area of the basin and to compare these data with the environmental changes inferred from the faunal associations. Hydrochemical features of the Baza Lake system have been influenced by changes in water source, solute composition, and water level during the past. Three water types may have been involved in a complex mixing in the marginal area during the studied intervals (1) waters of the Baza lacustrine system that underwent large P/E changes, (2) dilute, meteoric water inputs (surface and shallow groundwaters), (3) saline groundwater inputs of meteoric origin that acquired their salinity by halite and gypsum dissolution. Four stages in the Pleistocene paleoenvironmental evolution of the Barranco León area have been differentiated: stage I records a high lake level (highstand) of the saline closed-lake system. Stage II corresponds to very shallow, palustrine conditions. Stage III records the varying influence of the three water types under changing water level in a closed-lake. Stage IV corresponds to a through-flowing, open lacustrine environment mainly fed by meteoric saline groundwaters with minor inputs of stream waters. This small through-flowing lake was connected to a larger, inner saline closed-lake system. The BL 5 mammal site with lithic tools of an early human occupation phase in Western Europe corresponds to a particular episode within this stage of the environmental evolution in the marginal zone of the Baza Lake.

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Acknowledgments

This study received financial support from DGES projects PB94-0085, PB97-1185 and CGL2005-01467/BTE. We thank E. Pelfort (ICP, Serveis Cientificotècnics, Universitat de Barcelona) and L. Wingate (Stable Isotope Laboratory, University of Michigan) for technical assistance and the analytical measurements. We have benefited from comments and fruitful discussions with Elsa Gliozzi and Julio Rodríguez Lázaro on the ostracod autoecology. Javi Marco (Universitat de Valencia) provided unpublished data on C. torosa geochemistry from modern environments. Rosa Utrilla, Michael Talbot, an anonymous reviewer and the editor, Thomas Whitmore made valuable suggestions and comments for improvement of the manuscript.

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  1. M. Gabàs

    Present address: PAYMA Cotas SA, C. Roselló nave 5, Pol Ind La Canya, 17800, Olot, Spain

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  1. Institut de Ciències de la Terra J. Almera CSIC, C. Lluís Solé Sabarís s.n., 08028, Barcelona, Spain

    P. Anadón & M. Gabàs

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Appendix

Appendix

Ostracod assemblages (OA): autoecology

  • OA 1 consists of monospecific accumulations of very abundant Cyprideis torosa valves, locally forming ostracod-rich sands of smooth valves. C. torosa is a typical “brackish” species that tolerates a wide salinity range (from 0.5 to 150‰, De Deckker 1981; Gasse et al. 1987; Neale 1988; Meisch 2000; and references therein) although it reproduces in waters up to 60‰ (Meisch 2000). The monospecific accumulations indicate high stressed conditions such as fluctuating or excessive salinities (Maddocks in Kocurek et al. 1991).

  • OA 2 is characterized by dominance of C. torosa and abundant Loxoconcha elliptica. This assemblage of widely euryhaline taxa, is typical of brackish waters from estuaries, lagoons or coastal pools, with polysaline mesosaline and even oligosaline ranges (Gasse et al. 1987; Ruiz et al. 2000; Frenzel and Boomer 2005; Frenzel et al. 2005; Smith and Horne 2002; Althersuch et al. 1989). The additional presence of Candona neglecta (subassemblage 2n) in some layers indicates more stable, lower salinities, probably oligosaline to mesosaline waters.

  • OA 3 is characterized by dominance of C. torosa and frequent C. neglecta. Heterocypris salina also occurs in some intervals. This assemblage due to the requirements of C. neglecta (0.5–16‰, Meisch 2000) probably indicates oligosaline to mesosaline waters. H. salina is found in pure fresh water up to 20‰, although the optimum conditions for this species seem to be low mesosaline waters up to 10‰ (Neale 1988).

  • OA 4 consists of predominant C. torosa, with abundant Ilyocypris gibba and occasional H. salina. This assemblage, because of the requirements of I. gibba (cf. Meisch 2000) probably indicates oligosaline waters (up to 5‰).

  • OA 5 is formed by predominant C. torosa with abundant I. gibba and C. neglecta. The latter two species are present in similar amounts. Occasional taxa are H. salina, Herpetocypris sp. This assemblage probably indicates oligosaline waters, although the large diversity in comparison with OA 4 suggests low oligosaline waters.

  • OA 6 consists of predominant H. salina with frequent C. torosa, C. neglecta and I. gibba which indicate oligosaline waters. In some layers Herpetocypris sp., Prionocypris sp. and Limnocythere also occur. The occasional presences of Prionocypris cf. zenkeri, which is typical of slow flowing conditions, records the input of fresh waters (Meisch 2000).

  • OA 7 consists of predominant C. neglecta and I. gibba and additional C. torosa. Occasional species are H. salina and Herpetocypris sp., which are halophilic species. This assemblage indicates high oligosaline waters.

  • OA 8 is formed by predominant I. gibba and C. neglecta and additional C. torosa. Occasional species are Potamocypris sp and Prionocypris cf. zenkeri, which indicate low oligosaline waters with freshwater inputs.

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Anadón, P., Gabàs, M. Paleoenvironmental evolution of the Early Pleistocene lacustrine sequence at Barranco León archeological site (Orce, Baza Basin, Southern Spain) from stable isotopes and Sr and Mg chemistry of ostracod shells. J Paleolimnol 42, 261–279 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10933-008-9275-6

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