Reconstructing recent environmental changes using non-biting midges (Diptera: Chironomidae) in two high mountain lakes from northern Patagonia, Argentina

Abstract

Remote lakes of northern Patagonia are ideal sites for examining climate-and non-climatedriven changes in aquatic ecosystems because there is little evidence of human influence and there is no detailed information on recent

Response of Chironomidae to environmental disturbances in a high mountain lake in Patagonia during the last millennium

“…The surrounding area of Lake Tonček is an attractive site for climbers and hikers and, since 1957, there has been a mountain hut next to the lake that offers several services to visitors, including cooking services and bathrooms (Montes de Oca et al, 2017). Rising temperatures in the twentieth century, along with increased human activities in the last 50 yr caused environmental changes that enhanced lake productivity (Massaferro et al, 2017; Montes de Oca et al, 2017). Regarding precipitation, Boes and Fagel (2008) described different periods of precipitation in South America between ~ AD 1920 and 2000.…”

“…Although these studies recorded changes in chironomid abundance and composition during tephra depositions, in general the community rapidly recovered its abundance and diversity after the volcanic events, returning to the previous structure, thus exhibiting a high resilience capacity (Massaferro et al, 2005b; Araneda et al, 2007; Williams et al, 2016). Massaferro et al (2017) and Montes de Oca et al (2017) conducted chironomid abundance and composition studies in Lake Tonček spanning the last 200 years. In these studies, the authors identified the tephra as belonging to the 1960–1961 Puyehue Cordon Caulle/Calbuco volcanic complex.…”