Modeling of age-depth relationships is an integral part of most lake paleoecological studies. Models have evolved from simple linear regressions, to iterative sampling of dates (e.g., CLAM) and more recently, complex Bayesian statistics (e.g., Bacon and BChron) . With the range of models available it is important to understand which modeling technique does the best job of representing the data and reconstructing the sedimentation process through time. Some of the simpler methods produce relationships that lack continuity and contain uncalculated uncertainties. Here we ran radiocarbon dates from Hobart Lake in southern Oregon (White et al., 2015) through open source programs utilizing the different methods to determine which one “best” characterizes the sedimentation at the site. The study demonstrates the need for a standard model that produces the most environmentally realistic representation of the sedimentation process.

The Klamath Mountains are a biodiversity hotspot where the influence of past climate change and fire activity is a significant concern. Historical range of variability has been difficult to examine in this region due to the temporal resolution of historical documents and dendrochronological records.  This research utilizes paleoenvironmental records from lake sediments (pollen and macro charcoal) as well as statistical spatial analysis of 10 records along a coastal-to-inland precipitation gradient of Northern California and Southern Oregon.  Local and regional fire regimes and vegetation patterns are assessed in mid-to-high elevation forests during significant periods of climate change during the Holocene in order to create a temporal and spatial depiction of these trends to aid in future management decisions.