The role of warm, dry summers and variation in snowpack on phytoplankton dynamics in mountain lakes

Oleksy, Isabella A.; Beck, Whitney S.; Lammers, Roderick W.; Steger, Cara; Wilson, Codie; Christianson, Kyle R.; Kim, Vincent; Johnson, Gunnar; Johnson, Pieter T. J.

doi:10.1002/ecy.3132

Cited by 25 publications

(20 citation statements)

References 76 publications

(103 reference statements)

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“…The δ 13 C signal in The Loch remained within the historical range of variability (-23 ± 0.2‰) over the sediment record, whereas values declined from −26.0‰ to −27.5‰ in Sky Pond between ca 1950 and the present (figure 1a). Sky Pond, the larger and deeper of the two lakes, consistently has greater planktonic productivity, with chlorophyll a concentrations two to five times as high as in The Loch [48,49]. Depletion of δ 13 C coincided with an increase in planktonic diatoms in the mid-twentieth century as well as an increase in the planktonic:benthic ratios.…”

Section: Discussion (A) Patterns and Processesmentioning

confidence: 90%

Nutrients and warming interact to force mountain lakes into unprecedented ecological states

et al. 2020

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While deposition of reactive nitrogen (N) in the twentieth century has been strongly linked to changes in diatom assemblages in high-elevation lakes, pronounced and contemporaneous changes in other algal groups suggest additional drivers. We explored the origin and magnitude of changes in two mountain lakes from the end of the Little Ice Age at ca 1850, to ca 2010, using lake sediments. We found dramatic changes in algal community abundance and composition. While diatoms remain the most abundant photosynthetic organisms, concentrations of diatom pigments decreased while pigments representing chlorophytes increased 200–300% since ca 1950 and total algal biomass more than doubled. Some algal changes began ca 1900 but shifts in most sedimentary proxies accelerated ca 1950 commensurate with many human-caused changes to the Earth System. In addition to N deposition, aeolian dust deposition may have contributed phosphorus. Strong increases in summer air and surface water temperatures since 1983 have direct and indirect consequences for high-elevation ecosystems. Such warming could have directly enhanced nutrient use and primary production. Indirect consequences of warming include enhanced leaching of nutrients from geologic and cryosphere sources, particularly as glaciers ablate. While we infer causal mechanisms, changes in primary producer communities appear to be without historical precedent and are commensurate with the post-1950 acceleration of global change.

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Section: Discussion (A) Patterns and Processesmentioning

confidence: 90%

Nutrients and warming interact to force mountain lakes into unprecedented ecological states

et al. 2020

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“…Here, the food webs are simpler than those of lakes located at lower altitudes. Many are relatively shallow, shortening the theoretical time of water change to a few days during the late spring-summer thaw [4] . Deep mountain lakes are generally dimictic with two periods of stratification: one direct in summer and the other inverse under the winter ice cover [4] .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Many are relatively shallow, shortening the theoretical time of water change to a few days during the late spring-summer thaw [4] . Deep mountain lakes are generally dimictic with two periods of stratification: one direct in summer and the other inverse under the winter ice cover [4] . Since mountainous rock is resistant to erosion, lake waters are poorly mineralized and have a low buffering capacity against acid loads, which is the reason for the low total alkalinity [5] .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The question arises about the MP pollution of high-mountain lakes, which are recognized sentinels of global change and ecosystem sensors in the analysis of the effects of local and global human activities on biocenoses and biodiversity (e.g., alien species and contaminants) [1][2][3][4] . They also constitute a natural laboratory for basic ecological studies in mountainous regions sensitive to global climate change, representing a good candidate as indicators of MP pollution [13] .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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High-mountain lakes as indicators of microplastic pollution: current and future perspectives

Pastorino¹,

Prearo²,

Pizzul³

et al. 2022

WECN

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As a key component of mountain ecosystems, high-mountain lakes are recognized indicators of global change. In the analysis of the effects induced by local or global human activities, microplastic (MP) pollution is of critical environmental concern for mountain ecosystem compartments and for high-mountain lakes in particular. This minireview reports on current knowledge of MP occurrence, source, distribution, and characteristics in high-mountain lake ecosystems. The literature search returned only nine studies mainly from the Tibet plateau (China). Generally, the two most often investigated compartments were water and sediment, followed by snow and fish. Plastic particles were found as fragments and fibers of polypropylene and polyethylene, which are primarily utilized in food packaging and supplies brought by tourists and then discarded on site. Tourism and atmospheric long-range transport from lowlands were identified as the main sources of MP pollution. Precipitation events (snow and rain) were reported as key events in MP deposition and fallout. Further studies are needed to better understand the effects of MP pollution on aquatic food webs and ecosystem resources (e.g., drinking water) in these key ecosystems.

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“…Ecosystem and hydrochemical modelling provide additional approaches toward understanding the mechanisms of and projecting the responses to ecosystem change (Foks et al, 2018; Hartman et al, 2014). Spatial comparisons with other locations are used to address representativeness and identify drivers and responses to changes in phytoplankton stoichiometry and nutrient limitation (Elser et al, 2009), regional spatiotemporal phytoplankton dynamics (Oleksy, Beck, et al, 2020), glacier and rock glacier chemistry and bioavailability (Fegel et al, 2016, 2019), global lake surface water warming (O'Reilly et al, 2015), and plastic particles in precipitation (Brahney et al, 2020). The use of remote sensing and photogrammetry to explore lake benthic and water column productivity is currently being tested as a means of comparing productivity patterns and trends in Loch Vale and across other alpine lakes.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Long‐term ecosystem and biogeochemical research in Loch Vale watershed, Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado

Clow

Oleksy

Weinmann

et al. 2021

Hydrological Processes

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Loch Vale watershed was instrumented in 1983 with initial support from the National Acid Precipitation Assessment Program to ask whether ecosystems of Rocky Mountain National Park (RMNP) were affected by acidic atmospheric deposition. Research and monitoring activities were expanded in 1991 by the U.S. Geological Survey Water, Energy, and Biogeochemical Budgets program to understand the processes, and their interactions, controlling water, energy, and biogeochemical fluxes. With help from many collaborators we have characterized trends and patterns in atmospheric deposition, climate, and hydrology, including glaciers and other ice features.

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The role of warm, dry summers and variation in snowpack on phytoplankton dynamics in mountain lakes

Abstract: Baron. 2020. The role of warm, dry summers and variation in snowpack on phytoplankton dynamics in mountain lakes.

Cited by 25 publications

References 76 publications

Nutrients and warming interact to force mountain lakes into unprecedented ecological states

Nutrients and warming interact to force mountain lakes into unprecedented ecological states

High-mountain lakes as indicators of microplastic pollution: current and future perspectives

Long‐term ecosystem and biogeochemical research in Loch Vale watershed, Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado

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