Effects of glacier meltwater on the algal sedimentary record of an alpine lake in the central US Rocky Mountains throughout the late Holocene

Slemmons, Krista E. H.; Saros, Jasmine E.; Stone, Jeffery R.; McGowan, Suzanne; Hess, C.T.; Cahl, Douglas

doi:10.1007/s10933-015-9829-3

Cited by 20 publications

(18 citation statements)

References 64 publications

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“…Higher water column algal biomass in Greenland GF lakes is consistent with patterns in other clear and turbid alpine GF lakes (Kammerlander et al 2016;Slemmons and Saros 2012;Slemmons et al 2015).…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 80%

“…Diatom communities were different between GF and SF lakes, and while some species were abundant in both lake types (D. stelligera and A. minutissimum), most were abundant in either one or the other. The presence of F. tenera only in GF lakes is consistent with nutrientenriched alpine GF lakes (Kammerlander et al 2016;Slemmons et al 2015), and northeast Greenland Bunny Lake (Slemmons et al 2016), and is associated with N enrichment (Das et al 2005;Sheibley et al 2014). In contrast, F. tenera was present in nonglacial central and northeastern Greenland coastal lakes, although lake nutrients were not evaluated in this study (Cremer and Wagner 2004).…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 62%

“…This elevated planktonic algal biomass may be driven by P inputs, as even small amounts of labile P associated with mineral glacial flour can be biologically significant (Hodson, Mumford, and Lister 2004). Additionally, elevated DIN concentrations in GF and SF alpine lakes have a positive effect on algal biomass (Das et al 2005;Slemmons and Saros 2012;Slemmons et al 2015), and could be responsible for the high water column Chl a in these GrIS-fed lakes. Finally, higher Chl a concentrations that occur in some GF turbid lakes may be driven by altered light availability (Kammerlander et al 2016), which can lead to an increase in low-light adapted algae, such as cryptophytes (Gervais 1997), which were not counted in this study.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Assessing ecological effects of glacial meltwater on lakes fed by the Greenland Ice Sheet: The role of nutrient subsidies and turbidity

Burpee

Anderson

Saros

2018

Arctic, Antarctic, and Alpine Research

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Meltwater discharge from the Greenland Ice Sheet (GrIS) exports sediment, solutes, total phosphorus (TP), dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN), and other macro-and micronutrients to associated aquatic ecosystems. It remains unclear how this meltwater affects the ecology of glacially fed (GF) lakes. We assessed a suite of physical, chemical, and biological features of four GF lakes, and compared them to those of four nearby snow-and groundwater-fed (SF) lakes. We found that TP concentrations were six times higher in GF compared to SF lakes, but microbial extracellular enzyme activities and aluminum, iron, and phosphorus sediment fractions suggested that much of this TP in GF lakes is likely not biologically available. Turbidity was fifteen times higher in GF lakes, and DIN was twice as high than in SF lakes, but these nitrogen differences were not significant. While diatom species richness did not significantly differ between lake types, GF lakes had higher water column chlorophyll a (Chl a). Diatom species distributions across all lakes were strongly associated with turbidity, TP, and dissolved organic carbon (DOC). While cosmopolitan diatom taxa such as Discostella stelligera were found in both lake types, diatom communities differed across lake types. For instance, Fragilaria and Psammothidium species dominated GF lakes, while Achnanthes species and Lindavia ocellata were dominant in SF lakes. In addition to turbidity, the moderate amounts of DIN in GF lakes may play an important role in shaping diatom communities. This is supported by the high abundance in GF lakes of taxa such as Fragilaria tenera and D. stelligera, which reflect nitrogen enrichment in some lakes. Our results demonstrate how GrIS meltwaters alter the ecology of Arctic lakes, and contribute to the growing body of literature that reveals spatial variability in the effects of glacial meltwaters on lake ecosystems.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 80%

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 62%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Assessing ecological effects of glacial meltwater on lakes fed by the Greenland Ice Sheet: The role of nutrient subsidies and turbidity

Burpee

Anderson

Saros

2018

Arctic, Antarctic, and Alpine Research

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“…The 356 effect of alpine glacial meltwater on algal composition in lakes has been reported in the 357 central Rocky Mountains (USA), with greater diatom assemblage turnover in a glacially-fed 358 lake than in a neighbouring snow-fed lake during the late Holocene, most likely through 359 enhanced nitrogen delivery (Slemmons et al, 2015). Enhanced input of cold glacial 360 meltwater may also lower lake water temperatures, which would offset the effects of regional 361…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Glaciers are also an important landscape feature of a number of the study sites (Table 354 1), and glacial runoff may affect algal communities through hydrology (flushing rates), 355 physical characteristics (light) and biogeochemistry (nutrients) (Slemmons et al, 2015). The 356 effect of alpine glacial meltwater on algal composition in lakes has been reported in the 357 central Rocky Mountains (USA), with greater diatom assemblage turnover in a glacially-fed 358 lake than in a neighbouring snow-fed lake during the late Holocene, most likely through 359 enhanced nitrogen delivery (Slemmons et al, 2015).…”

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confidence: 99%

The Landscape–Atmosphere Continuum Determines Ecological Change in Alpine Lakes of SE Tibet

Yang

Anderson

et al. 2017

Ecosystems

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13Remote alpine regions were considered to be largely unimpacted by anthropogenic 14 disturbance but it is now clear these areas are changing rapidly. It is often difficult to identify 15 the causal processes underpinning ecological change because the main drivers (direct and 16 indirect climate forcing, land use change and atmospheric deposition) are acting 17simultaneously. In addition, alpine landscapes are morphometrically complex with strong 18 local environmental gradients creating natural heterogeneity which acts as a variable filter to 19 climate and anthropogenic forcing, emphasizing the need for analyzing responses at multiple 20 sites. The eastern margin of Tibet is a hotspot of global biodiversity, and is affected by both 21 atmospheric N and dust deposition while regional climate warming is comparatively recent. 22Here we use 210 Pb and 137 Cs dated sediment records from 9 alpine lakes, and statistical 23 measures of diatom ecological change (turnover and PCA axis 1 scores) to determine 24 regional scale patterns in community response to global environmental change forcing over 25 the last ~150 years. The study lakes showed contrasting ecological responses with increased 26 nutrient input as the primary driver of change, mediated by lake morphology and catchment 27 characteristics. Turnover rates of diatom composition, although low, are significantly 28 associated with lake volume, lake area, altitude and DOC. 29

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Nitrogen Subsidies in Glacial Meltwater: Implications for High Elevation Aquatic Chains

Warner

Saros

Simon

2017

Water Resources Research

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In certain alpine systems, glacially‐fed lakes and streams have nitrate concentrations one to two orders of magnitude higher than lakes and streams fed by snowmelt alone. To better understand how nitrogen subsidies from glacial meltwater propagate down a chain of lakes and streams we assessed the effects of these subsidies in a set of aquatic chains in the central U.S. Rocky Mountains. Algal biomass, algal community assemblage, and nutrient limitation were measured in a chain of lakes and streams fed by glacial meltwater (GSF) and a chain fed by snowmelt alone (SF). Nitrate ( NO3–) concentrations in the GSF chain ranged from 228 to 70 μg L−1 declining from the top of the chain to the bottom, while NO3– concentrations in the SF chain were consistently low, < 9 μg L−1. In the glacial chain, both lakes were phosphorus‐limited; the strength of this limitation signal weakened down the chain, with the lake at the bottom showing secondary nitrogen and phosphorus colimitation. In the snowmelt chain, lakes were colimited with no change in strength down the chain. Algal biomass averaged 2.6 μg L−1 and 7.3 μg m−2 in SF lakes and streams and 5.4 μg L−1 and 9.2 μg m−2 in GSF lakes and streams. Phytoplankton and periphyton communities in the GSF chain were more homogeneous compared to the SF chain. Our results indicate nutrient subsidies in glacial meltwaters can propagate down aquatic chains and alter nutrient limitation patterns and algal communities compared to SF systems, creating heterogeneous patterns across the landscape.

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Effects of glacier meltwater on the algal sedimentary record of an alpine lake in the central US Rocky Mountains throughout the late Holocene

Cited by 20 publications

References 64 publications

Assessing ecological effects of glacial meltwater on lakes fed by the Greenland Ice Sheet: The role of nutrient subsidies and turbidity

Assessing ecological effects of glacial meltwater on lakes fed by the Greenland Ice Sheet: The role of nutrient subsidies and turbidity

The Landscape–Atmosphere Continuum Determines Ecological Change in Alpine Lakes of SE Tibet

Nitrogen Subsidies in Glacial Meltwater: Implications for High Elevation Aquatic Chains

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