Anthropogenic influences on the environmental status of remote mountain lakes

1. A survey of c. 350 remote high altitude and high latitude lakes from 12 different mountain regions across Europe was undertaken to explore ecosystem variability, climate forcing, environmental conditions and pollution threats at a scale not previously attempted. 2. Lakes were sampled for a range of contemporary and sub-fossil organisms including planktonic crustaceans, rotifers, littoral invertebrates, chironomids, diatoms and cladocerans. Survey and cartographic data were used to determine environmental characteristics at each site. Organic pollutants and trace metal concentrations were measured in the lake sediment. 3. A number of separate studies were undertaken which examined the environmental characteristics of the surveyed lakes (climate forcing and chemical composition), distribution of biota relative to local, regional and biogeographical factors and pollution threats (acidification, heavy metals and persistent organic pollutants) to these sensitive ecosystems. 4. There is a strong regional element to the way that environmental factors combine (including climate and pollution threats) and the biota responds in mountain lakes across Europe. From a management perspective it is clear that lake classification and the development of useful typologies and assessments of reference conditions should be undertaken at regional rather than pan-European scales. 5. There are some common features across lake districts related to the timing of industrialisation, but the studies carried out on metals, organic pollutants and nitrate deposition indicate that each lake district has distinct pollution threats. Climate warming already affects most of the lake districts and there are considerable uncertainties as to how this will modify conditions in remote European mountain systems. 6. The lake district concept goes beyond a geographical construct and merits further theoretical and experimental development as an ecological concept.

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“…Other studies undertaken on these sites are reported elsewhere (e.g. Livingstone, 2005;Marchetto & Rogora, 2004;Kernan, Catalan & Curtis, 2009a).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 92%

Remote European mountain lake ecosystems: regionalisation and ecological status

2009

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“…The aquatic ecosystems are a key to global change studies, due to the sensitivity and vulnerability of their biological communities and their ecological processes (Poff et al, 2002). In order to detect trends in the climate or in ecological processes, both natural and resulting from human activity, researchers have turned to high altitude aquatic ecosystems, as sites not altered directly (Marchetto & Rogora, 2004;Livingstone, 2005). Their value as sensors of environmental change come from a series of characteristics that set them apart from other aquatic systems: low mineralization and buffering capacity, low nutrient concentration (N compounds), accumulation of trace metals and organic compounds in the food chain, and the predicted higher reaction to global warming in alpine areas (Morales-Baquero et al, 2001).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

High mountain lakes of the Central Range (Iberian Peninsula): Regional limnology & environmental changes

Toro¹,

Granados²,

Robles³

et al. 2006

Limnetica

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High mountain lake ecosystems in the Iberian Peninsula, being more than 1700 water bodies, are represented mainly by small or medium size lakes (75 % with a surface less than 0.5 Ha.). The knowledge of their regional limnology in Spain is yet uneven and insufficient, as well as their ecological status and sensitivity to human activity impacts. This work describes the major limnological characteristics and functioning of high mountain lakes in the Spanish Central Range, and their relationships with regional environmental variables and existing human pressures. Some hydrological processes (turnover rate), thermal properties (ice-cover dynamics) or hydrochemical parameters (conductivity) are discussed in more detail in those lakes with long term monitoring data. The composition of planktonic and benthic communities responds to both human pressures and biogeographical or environmental aspects. The effects produced by tourism, cattle, lake damming, wastewater inflow, watershed erosion, introduction of the brook trout, or environmental warming, are studied in some lakes. Implemented management and restoration measures to reduce environmental impacts are described and evaluated.

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“…Bu özelliğinden dolayı, dağ göllerinin su kalitesindeki değişimlerinin izlenmesi, hava kirliliği ve iklim çalışmalarında araştırıcılara değerli bilgiler sağlamaktadır ( Livingstone 2005, Muri 2004, Muri and Brancelj 2003.…”

Section: Introductionunclassified

Orta Toros Dağlarındaki Eğrigöl’ün Su Kalitesi Parametrelerinin Araştırılması

Başaran¹,

Egemen²

2006

Tarım Bilimleri Dergisi

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Investigation of Water Quality Parameters of Eğrigöl at the Middle Taurus MountainAbstract : In this study water quality of Eğrigöl which is located at the Middle Taurus was investigated. Seasonally sampling have been carried out at the total 7 station in Eğrigöl between June 2000 and September 2001. Physico-chemical parameters (temperature, pH, conductivity, secchi disc depth, dissolved oxygen, calcium, magnesium, acid binding capacity, temporary hardness), nutrients (nitrite nitrogen, nitrate nitrogen, amonium nitrogen, orthosphosphate, silicate) and chlorophyll-a were investigated from the taken samples. As a result water quality parameters of Eğrigöl changed between; 8.3-21.1 o C for temperature, 8.07-8.84 for pH, 210-291 µS for conductivity, 4.3-11.7 mg/l for dissolved oxygen, 2.2-3.2 for ABC (acid binding capacity), 6.2-9.0 d 0 H for temporary hardness, 103.7-195.2 mg/l for bicarbonate, 240-720 mg/l CaCO 3 for total hardness, 32.1-160.3 mg/l for calcium, 26.8-114.1 mg/l for magnesium, 0.49-4.90 µg/l for nitrite, 1.12-38.70 µg/l for nitrate, 3.08-48.28 µg/l for amonium, 0.92-24.13 µg/l for phosphate, 24.13-181.20 µg/l for silicate, 0.27-2.53 µg/l for chlorophyll-a. Eğrigöl is oligotrophic and its water quality is first class.

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Anthropogenic influences on the environmental status of remote mountain lakes

Cited by 3 publications

References 9 publications

Remote European mountain lake ecosystems: regionalisation and ecological status

Remote European mountain lake ecosystems: regionalisation and ecological status

High mountain lakes of the Central Range (Iberian Peninsula): Regional limnology & environmental changes

Orta Toros Dağlarındaki Eğrigöl’ün Su Kalitesi Parametrelerinin Araştırılması

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