Shallow lakes theory revisited: various alternative regimes driven by climate, nutrients, depth and lake size

Scheffer, Marten; Nes, Egbert H. van

doi:10.1007/s10750-007-0616-7

Cited by 585 publications

(442 citation statements)

References 82 publications

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“…These models build on the seminal work on predator-prey interactions by Rosenzweig and MacArthur (1963) and Rosenzweig (1971) and aim at understanding nonlinear processes and alternative stable states in lake ecosystems (and many other dynamic systems) (e.g., Scheffer 1990;Scheffer et al 1993Scheffer et al , 2001bScheffer et al , 2007. Even though they are highly abstract and do not produce quantitative output that is of direct use to water quality management, they fully accomplished their goal of generating general insight into largescale mechanisms and had a surprisingly strong impact on management strategies for mitigating anthropogenic stress factors such as eutrophication.…”

Section: Leading Principlesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Challenges and opportunities for integrating lake ecosystem modelling approaches

et al. 2010

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A large number and wide variety of lake ecosystem models have been developed and published during the past four decades. We identify two challenges for making further progress in this field. One such challenge is to avoid developing more models largely following the concept of others ('reinventing the wheel'). The other challenge is to avoid focusing on only one type of model, while ignoring new and diverse approaches that have become available ('having tunnel vision'). In this paper, we aim at improving the awareness of existing models and knowledge of concurrent approaches in lake ecosystem modelling, without covering all possible model tools and avenues. First, we present a broad variety of modelling approaches. To illustrate these approaches, we give brief descriptions of rather arbitrarily selected sets of specific models. We deal with static models (steady state and regression models), complex dynamic models (CAEDYM, CE-QUAL-W2, Delft 3D-ECO, LakeMab, LakeWeb, MyLake, PCLake, PROTECH, SALMO), structurally dynamic models and minimal dynamic models. We also discuss a group of approaches that could all be classified as individual based: superindividual models (Piscator, Charisma), physiologically structured models, stage-structured models and traitbased models. We briefly mention genetic algorithms, neural networks, Kalman filters and fuzzy logic. Thereafter, we zoom in, as an in-depth example, on the multi-decadal development and application of the lake ecosystem model PCLake and related models (PCLake Metamodel, Lake Shira Model, IPH-TRIM3D-PCLake). In the discussion, we argue that while the historical development of each approach and model is understandable given its 'leading principle', there are many opportunities for combining approaches. We take the point of view that a single 'right' approach does not exist and should not be strived for. Instead, multiple modelling approaches, applied concurrently to a given problem, can help develop an integrative view on the functioning of lake ecosystems. We end with a set of specific recommendations that may be of help in the further development of lake ecosystem models.

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Section: Leading Principlesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Challenges and opportunities for integrating lake ecosystem modelling approaches

et al. 2010

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“…The low Fe/Mn (Naeher et al, 2013) and high Fe/P ratios support this interpretation because Fe/P ratios [15-20 usually prevent phosphorus release (Jensen et al, 1992). Therefore, it appears that these feedbacks maintained high water transparency despite increased trophic status (Scheffer & Nes, 2007). The presence of C. radiosa and N. radiosa in DAZ-1 but not DAZ-2, suggests lower nutrient conditions and lower, intermediate alkalinity in the earlier zone relative to the subsequent period (Bennion & Simpson, 2011).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 82%

Disentangling natural and anthropogenic drivers of changes in a shallow lake using palaeolimnology and historical archives

et al. 2015

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Shallow lakes are susceptible to catastrophic regime shifts characterised by the presence or absence or macrophytes. However, the long-term controls on macrophyte succession in shallow lakes are incompletely understood. To investigate this, we analysed multiple sediment proxies in Lake Rotcze (Eastern Poland), a small, shallow and densely macrophyte-covered lake to (1) reconstruct the 'reference conditions' (sensu WFD) and development of the lake in recent centuries, (2) compare historical evidence with the sedimentary record, and (3) identify the natural and anthropogenic drivers of macrophyte succession. Before the twentieth century, conditions in the lake may be referred to as 'reference conditions'. Subsequently forest clearance in the catchment resulted in lower water transparency, but concurrent catchment drainage lowered water levels and increased macrophyte development. Since 1950 elevated nutrient supply and climatically driven increases in water levels led to the deterioration of water transparency and partial macrophyte withdrawal. At the end of the twentieth century lake-level drawdown led to low phytoplankton biomass and clear water creating a novel ecosystem where macrophytes invade the whole lake. These patterns suggest that both natural and anthropogenically induced water level fluctuations have been critical drivers of macrophyte development.

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“…The diatom community was not clearly affected by the changes in water clarity and the record instead shows an underlying, slower change towards more eutrophic conditions, possibly amplified by the die-off of macrophytes in the mid-1970s. This eutrophication could have acted as an underlying mechanism behind the major regime shift, reducing the resilience of the system and making the clear-water state more vulnerable, hence matching the ''classical'' pattern of regime shift in shallow lakes (Scheffer et al 1993(Scheffer et al , 2001Scheffer and van Nes 2007). There are, however, suggestions that shifts between turbid-and clear-water states in shallow lakes in general are gradual, and not necessarily sudden processes (Scheffer and van Nes 2007; Sayer et al 2010).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Regime shifts occur in multiple ecosystem types (Scheffer et al 2001), including marine environments (Collie et al 2004;Spencer et al 2011), Arctic lakes (Smol et al 2005), brackish lagoons ), terrestrial systems (Dearing 2008) and coastal areas Duarte et al 2009). These shifts are, however, especially well-documented in shallow lakes, and are often associated with anthropogenic eutrophication (McGowan et al 2005;Hargeby et al 2007;Scheffer and Jeppesen 2007;Scheffer and van Nes 2007;Zimmer et al 2009;Hobbs et al 2012). The transition of a shallow lake from a clear-water, macrophyte-dominated regime to a turbid, phytoplankton regime has been described theoretically by, for example, Scheffer et al (1993) and Scheffer and Carpenter (2003).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Combining limnology and palaeolimnology to investigate recent regime shifts in a shallow, eutrophic lake

et al. 2014

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In this study, we demonstrate that an integrated approach, combining palaeolimnological records and limnological monitoring data, can increase our understanding of changing ecological patterns and processes in shallow lakes. We focused on recent regime shifts in shallow Lake Krankesjön, southern Sweden, including the collapse of the clearwater state in 1975 and its subsequent recovery in the late 1980s. We used diatom, hydrocarbon and biogenic silica sediment records, in concert with limnological data sets on nutrient concentrations, water clarity, chlorophyll-a and water depth, to investigate the shifts. The shift from clear to turbid conditions was abrupt and occurred over 1 to 2 years, whereas recovery of the clear-water state was more gradual, taking 4-5 years. In 1978, shortly after the first regime shift in water clarity, the diatom community underwent a significant shift. It became less diverse, with decreased abundance of epiphytic and planktonic taxa. Despite rising phosphorus concentrations and lower abundance of submerged macrophytes, Lake Krankesjön has remained in the clear-water state over the past 20 years, although this state seems to be increasingly unstable and susceptible to collapse. The complex reactions of the entire lake ecosystem to major changes in lake-water clarity, as shown by the Paleolimnol (2014) 51:437-448 DOI 10.1007 palaeolimnological variables investigated in this study, emphasize the importance of careful lake and catchment management if a stable, clear-water state is desired.

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Shallow lakes theory revisited: various alternative regimes driven by climate, nutrients, depth and lake size

Cited by 585 publications

References 82 publications

Challenges and opportunities for integrating lake ecosystem modelling approaches

Challenges and opportunities for integrating lake ecosystem modelling approaches

Disentangling natural and anthropogenic drivers of changes in a shallow lake using palaeolimnology and historical archives

Combining limnology and palaeolimnology to investigate recent regime shifts in a shallow, eutrophic lake

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