Abstract

This study examines the environmental transformation of Northeastern Ohio since European colonization, focusing on the interplay of human activity with ecological change; land use practices include logging, farming, and other forms of environmental exploitation. Combining research previously conducted by others, chemical analysis of lake core sediments, radiometric dating using Pb-210, and direct measurement of the distribution of grain sizes. Over the past 200 years, logging, agriculture, and other environmental disturbances have led to increased sediment deposition, nutrient fluxes, and ecosystem shifts.

Elemental analysis at the OSU Star Lab complements Pario sediment testing to identify grain size and nutrient fluxes through time. Preliminary results document major changes in sediment sources, including increased sediment deposition into the lake attributed to agricultural and logging activities, which have disrupted natural nutrient cycles and transformed wetland ecosystems. Particle size analysis revealed a dominance of clay-sized sediments rather than the expected silt-dominated loess, suggesting a complex interplay of hydrological and anthropogenic factors. By integrating sediment core analysis, radiometric dating, and elemental testing, this research highlights the long-lasting effect of human activity on Ohio’s landscapes. This research underscores how human influence leaves a legacy on the landscape, showing a critical need for sustainable land use practices. In this respect, historical and ecological data are integrated into the study as valuable insights into the complex relationship between human activity and environmental systems within Northeastern Ohio.

Advisor

Wiles, Gregory

Department

Geology

Publication Date

2025

Degree Granted

Bachelor of Arts

Document Type

Senior Independent Study Thesis

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