Made available in DSpace on 2014-06-11T19:33:34Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2007-05Bitstream added on 2014-06-13T18:45:25Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 mori_c_dr_botfmvz.pdf: 326000 bytes, checksum: 0ec30e51a3d43636409c064480add1c6 (MD5) / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES) / Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP) / Estudos para detecção de subprodutos de origem animal em carne de aves são escassos e, em se tratando de codornas são inexistentes. O trabalho teve por objetivo a detecção de farinha de vísceras de aves (FVA) em dietas de codornas de corte no músculo peitoral quilha e tíbia pela técnica dos isótopos estáveis de carbono (13C/12C) e nitrogênio (15N/14N). Foram utilizadas 64 codornas de corte macho de um dia de idade advindas de granja comercial. As aves foram divididas em sete grupos distintos distribuídos aleatoriamente em relação às dietas experimentais que continham diferentes percentagens de FVA: 0; 1,5; 3,0; 4,5; 6,0; 7,5 e 15. As dietas foram formuladas de forma a serem isoenergéticas, isoprotéicas e isoaminoacídicas. Quatro aves de cada tratamento foram abatidas aos 42 dias de idade para colheita do músculo peitoral (Pectoralis major), quilha e tíbia para posteriormente serem analisadas. Observou-se enriquecimento isotópico de d13C e d15N nos três tecidos analisados. Em codornas de corte com 42 dias de idade, o nível de inclusão de farinha de vísceras de aves detectado compreende o intervalo de 3,0 a 4,5%. / Detection of animal origin by-products studies in poultry meat are rare and inexistent when related to quail meat. This paper aims the detection of increasing levels of poultry visceral meal (FVA) in quail meat, using carbon (13C/12C) and nitrogen (15N/14N) stable isotopes technique. Sixty four male quails aging one day originally from a commercial producer were divided in seven different groups in a random distribution. Those groups received different experimental diets containing 0; 1,5; 3,0; 4,5; 6,0; 7,5 e 15% of FVA. Those diets were formulated to be isoenergetic, isoproteic and to have the same level of amino-acids. Four individuals per treatment were sacrificed at the 42nd day for breast muscle (Pectoralis major), keel and tibia collection to later analysis. Isotopic enrichment of d13C and d15N were observed in all analyzed tissues. In 42 day old quail were detect a 3,0 and 4,5% poultry visceral meal inclusion in its diet.

abstract: This project investigates social mobility in premodern states through a contextualized program of isotopic research at the archaeological site of Teotihuacan, Mexico. Due to the lack of a concrete methodology that can be used to recover information concerning rates of social mobility from archaeological remains, many traditional archaeological models either ignore social mobility or assume that boundaries between socioeconomic strata within archaic states were largely impermeable. In this research, I develop a new methodological approach to the identification of socially mobile individuals in the archaeological record based on changes in the diet across the lifecourse that can be detected through isotopic paleodietary indicators. Drawing upon cross-cultural research surrounding the relationship between diet and socioeconomic status and established methodologies in the biogeochemical analysis of human remains, this methodological approach provides a basis for broader comparative studies evaluating the nature of social mobility within archaic states. I then test the practical application of this methodology by applying it to a mortuary sample including individuals from distinctive socioeconomic groups from the pre-Hispanic city of Teotihuacan, Mexico. The study recovers and uses the dietary isotope ratios within bone and tooth samples from 81 individuals buried throughout the city 1) to define the dietary correlates of wealth and status at Teotihuacan and 2) to identify individuals displaying lifetime dietary changes consistent with changes in socioeconomic status. In addition to supplementing our current understanding of Teotihuacan foodways and processes of geographic migration into the city, I identify an adult male individual from the La Ventilla B apartment compound who displays dietary changes throughout his life that are consistent with downward socioeconomic mobility from a high status socioeconomic group in early adolescence to an intermediate status group later in adulthood. I conclude by identifying ways to move forward with the comparative archaeology of socioeconomic mobility in premodern contexts and highlight the applicability of archaeological information to our understanding of present-day processes of social mobility. / Dissertation/Thesis / Doctoral Dissertation Anthropology 2017

Orientador: Edivaldo Antônio Garcia / Banca: Ricardo de Albuquerque / Banca: Carla Cachoni Pizzolante / Banca: Carlos Ducatti / Banca: Ariel Antonio Mendes / Resumo: Estudos para detecção de subprodutos de origem animal em carne de aves são escassos e, em se tratando de codornas são inexistentes. O trabalho teve por objetivo a detecção de farinha de vísceras de aves (FVA) em dietas de codornas de corte no músculo peitoral quilha e tíbia pela técnica dos isótopos estáveis de carbono (13C/12C) e nitrogênio (15N/14N). Foram utilizadas 64 codornas de corte macho de um dia de idade advindas de granja comercial. As aves foram divididas em sete grupos distintos distribuídos aleatoriamente em relação às dietas experimentais que continham diferentes percentagens de FVA: 0; 1,5; 3,0; 4,5; 6,0; 7,5 e 15. As dietas foram formuladas de forma a serem isoenergéticas, isoprotéicas e isoaminoacídicas. Quatro aves de cada tratamento foram abatidas aos 42 dias de idade para colheita do músculo peitoral (Pectoralis major), quilha e tíbia para posteriormente serem analisadas. Observou-se enriquecimento isotópico de d13C e d15N nos três tecidos analisados. Em codornas de corte com 42 dias de idade, o nível de inclusão de farinha de vísceras de aves detectado compreende o intervalo de 3,0 a 4,5%. / Abstract: Detection of animal origin by-products studies in poultry meat are rare and inexistent when related to quail meat. This paper aims the detection of increasing levels of poultry visceral meal (FVA) in quail meat, using carbon (13C/12C) and nitrogen (15N/14N) stable isotopes technique. Sixty four male quails aging one day originally from a commercial producer were divided in seven different groups in a random distribution. Those groups received different experimental diets containing 0; 1,5; 3,0; 4,5; 6,0; 7,5 e 15% of FVA. Those diets were formulated to be isoenergetic, isoproteic and to have the same level of amino-acids. Four individuals per treatment were sacrificed at the 42nd day for breast muscle (Pectoralis major), keel and tibia collection to later analysis. Isotopic enrichment of d13C and d15N were observed in all analyzed tissues. In 42 day old quail were detect a 3,0 and 4,5% poultry visceral meal inclusion in its diet. / Doutor

Considerada a maior ilha flúvio-marítima do mundo, com aproximadamente 48.000 km2, a Ilha de Marajó situa-se na zona equatorial brasileira, no litoral do Estado do Pará. Apresenta dois domínios distintos relacionados a geologia e vegetação. No setor oeste dominam solos desenvolvidos sobre os sedimentos Pós Barreiras (plio-pleistocênicos) recobertos pela Floresta Amazônica, enquanto no setor leste dominam sedimentos holocênicos derivados de ambiente fluvial/estuarino atualmente desativado. Neste setor encontram-se os extensos campos naturais marajoaras. O objetivo deste trabalho consistiu em aplicar os isótopos de carbono (12C, 13C e 14C) da matéria orgânica de solos e sedimentos com o intuito de avaliar possíveis modificações nos domínios da vegetação, em termos de plantas C3 e C4, durante o Quaternário Tardio e inferir sobre suas causas. Os resultados foram associados com observações de campo e análises petrográficas, sedimentológicas, químicas, de espículas de esponjas, isótopicas de nitrogênio e bibliográficas, sendo possível distinguir três mudanças ambientais relacionadas à geologia e vegetação, no setor leste da Ilha de Marajó durante o Pleistoceno Superior (aproximadamente 16.000 anos AP) ao Holoceno. No setor central da Ilha de Marajó foram obtidas as idades mais antigas da matéria orgânica em sedimentos de um paleocanal. Neste local, no intervalo Pleistoceno Superior-Holoceno Inferior, os dados isotópicos do carbono são característicos de plantas C3, com exceção de dois pontos correspondentes a 16.118 ± 60 anos AP e aproximadamente 13.000 anos AP, com valores de \'delta\' 13CPDB de -20,4 e -22,1 respectivamente. A relação entre os resultados isotópicos do carbono e nitrogênio indicam a presença de plantas terrestres (gramíneas C4) nesta região, atualmente ocupada por vegetação arbórea, provavelmente associada a clima mais seco. A presença de fragmentos vegetais carbonizados e minerais instáveis ao intemperismo químico como feldspato, hornblenda e biotita nos sedimentos, confirmam a hipótese. Nos demais pontos analisados, durante o Holoceno Médio/Superior (entre aproximadamente 5.000 a 3.000 anos AP) os dados isotópicos do carbono e de fragmentos vegetais carbonizados indicam que uma vegetação constituída por plantas C3 (arbóreas) no setor leste da ilha foi gradativamente substituída por gramíneas C4, iniciando a formação dos atuais campos na Ilha de Marajó, associados a um clima mais seco. Neste mesmo período os canais foram sendo abandonados, como indicado pela granodecrescência ascendente dos sedimentos de paleocanais e mudança da coloração (de cinza para marrom alaranjado) dos sedimentos argilosos da planície de inundação, associados à deposição em um ambiente redutor para um ambiente oxidante. No intervalo redutor, em alguns perfis houve a formação de pirita e jarosita. Estudos anteriores mostram que o processo de abandono de canais está associado a eventos de tectônica cenozóica na região. Os dados isotópicos de carbono mais enriquecidos observados no setor sudoeste da ilha, indicam no período de ~7000 a 3000 anos AP, uma abertura da vegetação arbórea e/ou a presença de plantas C4, associados a um período mais seco. Durante o Holoceno Superior os canais foram preenchidos e abandonados. O empobrecimento isotópico do carbono da matéria orgânica indica a implantação da vegetação arbórea sobre os mesmos, estabelecendo a condição atual observada no setor leste da Ilha com paleocanais com vegetação de cobertura arbórea (plantas C3) e planície de inundação com vegetação de campos (plantas C3 e C4). Aanálise de espículas de esponjas e isótopos de nitrogênio apontam o setor leste como um sistema deposicional transicional (estuarino) durante o Quaternário Tardio. / Considered the largest fluvial-marine island of the world, with approximately 48.000 km2, the Marajó Island is located in the Brazilian equatorial area, in the Pará State coast. It presents two different domains related to the geology and vegetation. In the west domain dominate soils developed on Pós Barreiras sediments (plio-pleistocenics) covered by the Amazonian Forest, while in the east domain dominate holocenic sediments derived of fluvial/estuarine environment, at present deactivated. In this sector are located the natural savanna. The objective of this work consisted of to apply the carbon isotopes (12C, 13C and 14C) of soil and sediment organic matter, in order to evaluate possible changes in the vegetation domains, in terms of C3 and C4 plants during the Late Quaternary, and inferences about their causes. The results were associated with field observations, petrographic, sedimentologic, chemical, sponge spicules and nitrogen isotope analyses and bibliography, being possible to distinguish three environmental changes related to the geology and vegetation in the eastern Marajó Island during Late Pleistocene (approximately 16.000 years BP) to the Holocene. In the central section of the Marajó Island were obtained the oldest ages of the sediment organic matter of a paleochannel. In this place, in the interval Late Pleistocene - Early Holocene, the carbon isotope data are characteristic of C3 plants, except for two points corresponding to 16.118 ± 60 years BP and approximately 13.000 years BP, with values of \'delta\' 13CPDB of -20,4 and -22,1 , respectively. The relation between the carbon and nitrogen isotopes data, indicate the presence of terrestrial plants (C4 grass) in this area, at present covered by arboreal vegetation, probably associated to a drier climate. The presence of charred wood fragments and unstable minerals to the chemical weathering as feldspar, hornblend and biotite in the sediments, confirm the hypothesis. In other points, during Middle/Late Holocene (between ~5.000 and 3.000 years BP) the carbon isotopes and charred wood fragments data, indicate that a vegetation constituted of C3 plants (trees) in the eastern sector of the island, was gradually substituted by C4 grasses, initiating the formation of savanna vegetation in the Marajó Island, associated to a drier climate. In this same period, the channels were abandoned, as indicated by the fining upward the paleochannel sediments and the color change (grey to brown orange) of the clayey sediments of the floodplain, associated to the deposition of a reducing environment to an oxidizing environment. In the reducing interval, in some profiles it was observed the formation of pirite and jarosite. Previous studies show that the channels abandonment processes is associated to tectonic Cenozoic events in the area. The more enriched isotope carbon data of soil organic matter observed in the Southwestern sector of the island, indicated in the period of ~7.000 and 3.000 years BP, an opening of the arboreal vegetation and/or the presence of C4 plants, probably associated to a drier climate. During the Late Holocene the channels were filled out and abandoned. More depleted carbon isotope data of the organic matter, indicates the implementation of the arboreal vegetation on the channels, establishing the modern conditions observed at the eastern section of the Island, with paleochannels covered by arboreal vegetation (C3 plants) and the floodplain covered by grassland vegetation (C3 and C4 plants). The sponge spicules and nitrogen isotope analysis, indicate the eastern section as a transitional deposition system (estuarine) during the Late Quaternary

The seasonal pattern of the carbon isotope content (delta C-13) of atmospheric CO2 depends on local and nonlocal land-atmosphere exchange and atmospheric transport. Previous studies suggested that the delta C-13 of the net land-atmosphere CO2 flux (delta(source)) varies seasonally as stomatal conductance of plants responds to vapor pressure deficit of air (VPD). We studied the variation of (source) at seven sites across the United States representing forests, grasslands, and an urban center. Using a two-part mixing model, we calculated the seasonal delta(source) for each site after removing background influence and, when possible, removing delta C-13 variation of nonlocal sources. Compared to previous analyses, we found a reduced seasonal (March-September) variation in delta(source) at the forest sites (0.5 parts per thousand variation). We did not find a consistent seasonal relationship between VPD and delta(source) across forest (or other) sites, providing evidence that stomatal response to VPD was not the cause of the global, coherent seasonal pattern in (source). In contrast to the forest sites, grassland and urban sites had a larger seasonal variation in (source) (5) dominated by seasonal transitions in C-3/C-4 grass productivity and in fossil fuel emissions, respectively. Our findings were sensitive to the location used to account for atmospheric background variation within the mixing model method that determined (source). Special consideration should be given to background location depending on whether the intent is to understand site level dynamics or regional scale impacts of land-atmosphere exchange. The seasonal amplitude in delta C-13 of land-atmosphere CO2 exchange (delta(source)) varied across land cover types and was not driven by seasonal changes in vapor pressure deficit. The largest seasonal amplitudes of delta(source) were at grassland and urban sites, driven by changes in C-3/C-4 grass productivity and fossil fuel emissions, respectively. Mixing model approaches may incorrectly calculate delta(source) when background atmospheric observations are remote and/or prone to anthropogenic influence.

M.Sc. / Certain carbonate bearing formations in the Paleoproterozoic Pretoria Group and its Griqualand West equivalent exhibit remarkable geochemical and stable isotopic signatures. The 8'3Ccarb isotopic signatures from the Duitschland and Silverton Formations exhibit large positive excursions, which seemingly coincide with a significant increase in atmospheric oxygen between 2.4 and 2.0 Ga. The Duitschland Formation with its distinctive basal unconformity is composed primarily of limestone and dolomite units, interbedded with two compositionally different shale units and quartzite. Toward the base of the formation there is a distinct conglomeratic quartzite which forms a sequence boundary above which isotopic and geochemical signatures change dramatically. Normal marine isotopic signatures characterize the lower portion of the succession while above the sequence boundari, the carbonates are enriched in "C. This enrichment, however, appears to be the result of local processes occurring within a closed basin. Furthermore it is apparent that the Duitschland Formation (with its three distinct marker beds) is the equivalent of the Rooihoogte Formation and therefore constitutes the base of the Pretoria Group. The Mooidraai Dolomite Formation which outcrops only locally in the Northern Cape Province, is characterized by fenestral and microbially laminated dolomite. The geochemical properties are relatively homogeneous with increases in the FeO and MnO concentrations, resulting from post depositional diagenesis. The stable isotope signatures of these dolomites represent normal marine signatures. There is, however, a depletion in the 813C and 8180 signatures in the ankeritic and sideritic lithofacies, which suggests that this succession was deposited from a stratified water column with respect to the total dissolved CO2. The positive 6 13C excursion present in the carbonates of the Lucknow Formation in Griqualand West, traditionally grouped with the Olifantshoek Group can be correlated with carbonates near the top of the Silverton Formation in the Transvaal area. The latter also displays distinctly positive 6 43C values. One possibility is that if these successions were deposited in closed anoxic basins and that the isotopic anomalies are the result of local processes such as fermentive diagenesis and methanogenesis. However, the close association of the carbonates with shallow marine orthoquartzites suggests that these were deposited in an open marine system and that the positive 8 !3C values reflect a shift in the composition of the ocean water at the time of deposition of the carbonates at 2.2 Ga. Other carbonates present in the Pretoria Group, namely from the Vermont and Houtenbek Formations, display normal open marine 8' 3C values of close to zero. A systematic stratigraphic compilation of all 6 43C values available from the Transvaal Supergroup indicates that two clear-cut positive 5' 3C excursions are present. These excursions were apparently short-lived and well defined and did not occur over an extended period of time as suggested by earlier studies based on global compilations with large uncertainties in radiometric ages of deposits.

Cette thèse présente une étude du cycle du carbone dans la Loire et ses principaux affluents dans le but (1) de décrire, en s’appuyant sur la composition isotopique (14C et 13C), les sources, la nature et l’âge du Carbone Inorganique et Organique Dissous (CID, COD) et du Carbone Organique Particulaire (COP) prélevés lors de quatre missions en 2013-2014 et (2) d’utiliser le carbone 14 anthropique, présent dans les rejets liquides des 5 Centres Nucléaires de Production d’Electricité (CNPE) en service sur le bassin, comme traceur de transfert de carbone entre les différentes phases.Les archéologues ont mis en évidence que les âges radiocarbone déterminés sur des échantillons d’os ou de matériels non-humains (poteries, céramiques, sédiments…) ne sont pas à l’équilibre avec l’atmosphère de l’époque et nécessitent une correction. Ce biais provient de l’âge de l’eau ingérée ou utilisée et plus précisément de l’âge du CID appelé âge réservoir. Dans la Loire et ses affluents, le CID est principalement issu de l’érosion et de la dissolution du substrat géologique. Les concentrations en CID sont plus élevées en terrain sédimentaire carbonaté localisé en Loire moyenne. Les âges réservoirs étant directement corrélés à la teneur en CID, ils présentent une grande variabilité spatiale (de 135 à 2251 années 14C) du fait de la traversée de zones géologiques plus ou moins carbonatées par la Loire et ses affluents.Par ailleurs, ce CID est principalement consommé lors des processus photosynthétiques pour produire le COP algal. Ce COP algal est l’une des deux composantes de la matière organique (MO) particulaire avec le COP détritique. Les concentrations en COP suivent un cycle temporel très marqué avec des teneurs plus élevées au printemps. Le marquage du carbone algal dépend de la signature isotopique du CID utilisé lors de la synthèse chlorophyllienne. Les âges réservoirs déterminés dans le COP varient alors entre 124 et 1597 années 14C avec une variation spatio-temporelle identique à celle observée dans le CID. La proportion de carbone algal, variant entre 2 et 100%, dépend de la rivière et des conditions climatiques et hydrologiques sans qu’il soit possible d’énoncer une règle générale. La composante détritique du COP possède un marquage proche du COP et du COP algal impliquant que ce carbone détritique n’est pas d’origine géologique et donc qu’il n’est pas réfractaire.La décomposition de cette MO particulaire est une source de COD au même titre que l’activité métabolique des organismes (lyse et exsudation) et l’apport de vieille MO par la rivière, le lessivage des sols ou les nappes souterraines. Les concentrations en COD suivent donc les mêmes cycles saisonniers que le COP. Cependant, les teneurs sont plus élevées que celles du COP et augmentent peu le long des rivières (±1mg/L). Il peut être âgé si le COP et/ou la MO exportée sont anciens. Ainsi, les âges réservoirs dans le COD sont compris entre 101 et 2494 années 14C en avril 2013 avec des âges plus vieux en zone agricole.L’utilisation du radiocarbone anthropique a permis, outre la visualisation des transferts entre les différentes phases, de confirmer l’émission de 14C enrichi (ou actif) sous la forme CID par les CNPE et infirmer celle d’une composante 14C anthropique actif dans le COP et le COD. Cependant, l’activité 14C du CID ne représente pas l’activité totale du rejet en raison des échanges eau-atmosphère induisant un flux sortant de 14C. Le COP marqué enregistre l’activité initiale du rejet liquide en utilisant le CID émis par les CNPE. Le COP étant isolé de l’atmosphère, l’activité mesurée dans le COP est proche de son activité d’origine dans le rejet.L’acquisition de toutes ces données et la compréhension des processus de transferts entre CID, COP et COD permettra d’améliorer le modèle de prédiction existant et à terme, d’anticiper le comportement de ce radionucléide dans le milieu récepteur de son émission à son arrivée dans l’estuaire puis dans l’Océan Atlantique. / This thesis focuses on carbon cycle in the Loire River and its major tributaries. It aims to (1) use isotopic composition (14C and 13C) to describe the sources, the nature and the age of the Dissolved Inorganic and Organic Carbon (DIC, DOC) and of the Particular Organic Carbon (POC) sampled during four campaigns in 2013 and 2014; and (2) to use anthropogenic 14C found in the liquid releases of the 5 Nuclear Power Plants (NPP) operating in the basin as a tool to track carbon transfer between the different phases.Archaeologists demonstrated that 14C ages of samples coming from bones or non-human material (potteries, ceramics, sediments,…) are not in balanced with the atmosphere of the time they were created and thus need to be corrected. This bias stems from the age of water (as beverage or raw material), and more precisely the DIC age, also known as reservoir age. In the Loire River and its tributaries, DIC mainly comes from erosion and dissolution of the geological substratum. DIC concentrations are higher in the carbonated areas located in the middle Loire. As the reservoir ages are directly related to the DIC content, their values present a wide spatial variability (from 135 to 2251 yr 14C BP) because the Loire River and its tributaries cross areas with variable content of carbonates among their geological formations.Also, DIC is mainly absorbed during photosynthetic processes that produce algal POC. Algal POC and detrital POC form the particulate organic matter (OM). POC concentrations follow a temporal cycle with higher values during Spring time. Algal carbon marking depends on the DIC isotopic signature used by the chlorophyll synthesis. Reservoir ages calculated from POC values range from 306 to 1597 14C years, with the same spatial and temporal variation as the DIC. Algal carbon ratio, ranging from 2 to 100%, depends on the river, and climatic and hydrologic conditions. However, no systematic pattern can be found. The detrital fraction of POC has an activity close to the activity of POC and algal POC involving that the component is not of geological origin and thus, it is not refractory.The decomposition of this particular OM, the metabolic activity of organisms (lysis and exudation) and the input of old OM from the river, the soil or the groundwater are all sources for DOC production. Thus, DOC concentrations follow the same seasonal pattern as the POC. However, DOC contents are higher than the POC ones, and increase a bit from upstream to downstream (±1mg/L). It can be aged if POC and/or exported OM are old. Thus reservoir ages in the DOC range from 101 to 2494 14C years in April 2013, with older ages in agricultural areas.Not only did the use of anthropogenic 14C made it possible to visualize transfers between different phases, but also it confirmed the emission of enriched 14CDIC and unconfirmed the emission of 14CPOC and 14CDOC by the NPP. However, the 14CDIC activity does not represent the complete activity of the release because of water-atmosphere exchange involving 14C outflow. The marked POC records the initial NPP liquid release activity using the DIC from the NPP. The POC being isolated from the atmosphere, the POC measured activity is close to the originate activity in the release.All these data combined to the understanding of the transfers processes between DIC, POC and DOC will make it possible to improve the existing prediction model and, eventually, to anticipate the behavior of this radionuclide in the river from its emission to its arrival in the estuary and then in the Atlantic Ocean.

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Tropical latitudes play an important role in global climate as they export moisture and energy pole-ward. Recent tests of predictive climate models against Holocene paleoclimate data show discrepancies between predicted and observed values in Tropical regions. Terrestrial paleoclimate records could help resolve these discrepancies by all allowing for better understand of the sensitive ocean-atmosphere climate dynamics in the tropics and by providing additional information from a diverse source of proxies. The Caribbean is an ideal location for study as its climate is influenced by both the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. However, there are relatively few sources of paleoclimate proxies in this region due to its archipelagic nature. If Caribbean climate is to be thoroughly investigated, additional environments and climate proxies need to be investigated. As coastal systems are ubiquitous throughout the Caribbean, they are ideal for investigation of Holocene paleoclimate in this region. However, they can be ephemeral on millennial timescales making them challenging to use in paleoclimate analysis. This dissertation discusses new methods and basins that facilitate the study of these systems. Several important contributions have been made by this thesis. (1) Core scanning XRF data, when examined with additional proxies such as foraminifera, can be used to infer shifts in regional precipitation patterns in a coastal setting. Though these methods have been used before in deep basins, this represents the first use of core scanning XRF in a littoral setting. (2) The evolution of sinkhole sedimentation is reliant on both the morphology of the sinkhole and water level within the feature. This thesis shows that coastal systems are a viable source of paleoclimate information and which can hold valuable information for reconstructing climate. / Thesis / Master of Science (MSc)