Pedogeochemical and Mineralogical Analyses of Amazonian Dark Earths

Costa, Marcondes Lima da; Kern, Dirse Clara; Kämpf, N.

doi:10.1007/1-4020-2597-1_17

Cited by 6 publications

(7 citation statements)

References 19 publications

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“…Amazonian Dark Earth sites have been shown to be larger than two hectares and at times greater than fifteen hectares (Costa et al. ). Others have suggested that ADE sites may extend over several square kilometers (Sombroek et al.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Ancient Amazonian populations left lasting impacts on forest structure

et al. 2017

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Abstract. Amazonia contains a vast expanse of contiguous tropical forest and is influential in global carbon and hydrological cycles. Whether ancient Amazonia was highly disturbed or modestly impacted, and how ancient disturbances have shaped current forest ecosystem processes, is still under debate. Amazonian Dark Earths (ADEs), which are anthropic soil types with enriched nutrient levels, are one of the primary lines of evidence for ancient human presence and landscape modifications in settings that mostly lack stone structures and which are today covered by vegetation. We assessed the potential of using moderate spatial resolution optical satellite imagery to predict ADEs across the Amazon Basin. Maximum entropy modeling was used to develop a predictive model using locations of ADEs across the basin and satellite-derived remotely sensed indices. Amazonian Dark Earth sites were predicted to be primarily along the main rivers and in eastern Amazonia. Amazonian Dark Earth sites, when compared with randomly selected forested sites located within 50 km of ADE sites, were less green canopies (lower normalized difference vegetation index) and had lower canopy water content. This difference was accentuated in two drought years, 2005 and 2010. This is contrary to our expectation that ADE sites would have nutrient-rich soils that support trees with greener canopies and forests on ADE soils being more resilient to drought. Biomass and tree height were lower on ADE sites in comparison with randomly selected adjacent sites. Our results suggested that ADE-related ancient human impact on the forest is measurable across the entirety of the 6 million km 2 of Amazon Basin using remotely sensed data.

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Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Frequently associated with large accumulations of potsherds, lithics, and features such as mounds or ditches (Costa et al. , Glaser et al. ), these soils were formed over a few generations by sedentary populations with intensive land use and agroforestry management practices (Heckenberger et al.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Ancient Amazonian populations left lasting impacts on forest structure

et al. 2017

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“…In the 1980s, scholars began to challenge the assumption that the interfluvial uplands (terra firme) were homogeneous and resource poor (Moran, 1991;Viveiros de Castro, 1996;Whitehead, 1996;Heckenberger, 1998, Neves, 1999Wüst and Barreto, 1999). Thus, finding ADE in terra firme is not surprising (Smith, 1980;Balée, 1989Balée, , 1994Costa et al, 2003;Myers et al, 2003;Neves et al, 2003). Although inland, most terra firme ADE are on bluffs above smaller upper tributaries and streams.…”

Section: The Significance Of the Distribution Of Amazonian Dark Earthsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Human refuse is assumed to include general kitchen debris, food remains, food processing wastes, feces, urine, house construction materials, pottery, lithics, shell, ash, and charcoal. As Costa et al (2003) stress, the bulk of the organic refuse has decomposed or weathered beyond recognition or is lost through leaching and cultivation; thus, it is difficult to identify the origin and the percentage of contribution to ADE. Pottery, bone, shell, plant remains, construction materials, fuel, and lithics can be identified and quantified, although the relative durability of certain materials may bias our understanding of ADE.…”

Section: Amazonian Dark Earth Formation Processesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Most authors note that broken pottery (potsherds, sherds) and fired clay probably from dismantled fire hearths and burned wattle and daub structures are a major component of terra preta type ADE (Costa et al, 2003;Myers et al, 2003;. Could fired clay in its various forms have contributed to the creation and maintenance of ADE?…”

Section: Amazonian Dark Earth Formation Processesmentioning

confidence: 99%

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