Paleoecological history of Eleuthera Island, the Bahamas, based on pollen and charcoal analyses from two lakes

We used pollen and charcoal analyses of sediments from two lakes at the southern end of Eleuthera Island, the Bahamas, to reconstruct vegetation and fire history over the past 5000 years. We obtained a 254-cm long sediment sequence from Shad Pond on the south end of Eleuthera near the coast. We obtained a 140-cm long sediment sequence from Duck Pond Blue Hole midway from either coast. Shad Pond sediment from 180 to 240 cm is fibrous peat dating from similar to 3800 to 4800 cal yr BP. The pollen spectrum in the peat is dominated by red mangrove (Rhizophora mangle) indicating the presence of a red mangrove swamp during this period. Duck Pond Blue Hole sediment from 100 to 140 cm is fine calcareous mud with only traces of pollen present. Palm pollen dominate the middle portion of both sediment sequences with pollen from rockland and coppice species also present. Palm pollen decline in both lakes similar to 1200 to 1300 cal yr BP, the start of Lucayan occupation. Palm pollen nearly disappear from Shad Pond sediments after similar to 1200 cal yr BP coincident with a spike in charcoal particles. Palm pollen drop by over one-half in Duck Pond Blue Hole after similar to 1200 cal yr BP, but there is only a small increase in charcoal particles. Palm pollen return in modest amounts toward the top of the Shad Pond sediments and there is a second, smaller peak in charcoal similar to 350 cal yr BP. This suggests a recovery of palms near the coast during the Plantation Period. Palm pollen gradually decline, charcoal increases, and pollen from disturbance species become very dominant toward the top of Duck Pond Blue Hole sediments after similar to 350 cal yr BP. The decline of palm pollen and increase in pollen from disturbance species in sediments from both sites similar to 1200 cal yr BP suggests heavy exploitation of palms by Lucayans, particularly near the coast. The later increase in charcoal and the significant increase in pollen from disturbance species in sediments from the inland Duck Pond Blue Hole site similar to 350 cal yr BP suggests inland land clearing during the Plantation Period.