Historical ecology of the Southern Central American Pacific coast

Abstract

The Pacific coast of the Southern Central American Isthmus is a highly productive and biodiverse region with a rich human history. Although the interaction of the oceans, climate, biodiversity and early human systems has shaped the region’s ecology, research has remained largely disconnected, arising independently from discrete disciplines. To unite this disparate research, we reviewed and synthesized the historical ecology of the Isthmus from the Last Glacial Maximum to the rise of industrial fishing in the 1950s. Our findings reveal a complex interplay between environmental changes, human adaptations and resource use patterns. We identify three major transitions that influenced resource use: the shift to agriculture, the stabilization of rising sea levels and the arrival of Spanish colonists. Each transition marked a significant shift in human–environment interactions, yet we find that the ocean consistently played a central role. This interdisciplinary synthesis offers insights into the region’s socio-ecological past, emphasizing the importance of ocean–land connections for Isthmian peoples and the critical need for research and conservation efforts to ensure its future sustainability. A Spanish language version of the abstract is provided as electronic supplementary material. This article is part of the theme issue ‘Shifting seas: understanding deep-time human impacts on marine ecosystems’.