Geochemical effects of biomass burning and land degradation on Lanyu Islet, Taiwan

Reconstructed coral skeletal Pb:Ca and Ba:Ca ratios from the Northern Coast of Lanyu Islet are shown to be sensitive indicators of land-use practices which took place on the islet during the past 30 years. Coral skeletal Pb:Ca and Ba:Ca both increased dramatically. Pb:Ca ratios are very sensitive to biomass burning on Lanyu Islet while Ba:Ca generally respond to rainfall variations except in case of instantaneous flooding. The method presented here provides a quantitative technique for identifying human effects that can be used for coastal land management and offers a way to study the environment during prehistoric times, where no written records are available.