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500 years of trophic-state history of a hypertrophic Dutch dike-breach lake

500 years of trophic-state history of a hypertrophic Dutch dike-breach lake
500 years of trophic-state history of a hypertrophic Dutch dike-breach lake
We present a palaeolimnological study encompassing five centuries of trophic-state change of the dike-breach lake De Waay located on the Rhine-Meuse delta (the Netherlands). Diatom-inferred total phosphorus (TP) concentrations indicate hypertrophic epilimnetic conditions (>300 ?g l?1 TP) since the formation of the lake in the fifteenth century until the end of the eighteenth century. Cladocera data support the reconstructed trophic state and indicate turbid conditions in lake De Waay during this period. High inferred TP concentrations as well as the amount of Ti in the sediment reflect numerous flooding events. From the nineteenth century onwards reconstructed TP concentrations decreased to 40–150 ?g l?1 due to improvements in sewage and dike systems that considerably diminished direct river flooding and seepage-derived nutrients. As a consequence, the increased stability of littoral habitats led to an increased diversity of the Cladocera assemblages. The most significant decrease in TP concentrations to ~40 ?g l?1 occurred between about 1900 and 1930. This mesotrophic phase was a consequence of the isolation of the lake from catchment drainage and the introduction of a highly elaborate flood control during this period. However, since the mid twentieth century a eutrophication trend is preserved in the record, likely related to increased agricultural activity in the vicinity of the lake. Our results emphasize that land-use and trophic-state history must be taken into account when evaluating the ecological status of lakes for water management and protection actions, especially for lakes in landscapes that are strongly modified by human action.
palaeolimnology, eutrophication, diatoms, cladocera, phosphorous reconstruction
0921-2728
829-842
Kirilova, Emiliya P.
765ba3c4-e47f-483c-8d36-668d3588c3b8
van Hardenbroek, Maarten
7ddff57e-78f7-444a-a3fc-946ef7f7bbfc
Heiri, Oliver
4f35ae4c-8a16-4177-8738-71277d0de09c
Cremer, Holger
92356183-fe83-422d-961d-7c953ba25ada
Lotter, André F.
0b85abc7-81ac-4644-aa86-c0f43255ca88
Kirilova, Emiliya P.
765ba3c4-e47f-483c-8d36-668d3588c3b8
van Hardenbroek, Maarten
7ddff57e-78f7-444a-a3fc-946ef7f7bbfc
Heiri, Oliver
4f35ae4c-8a16-4177-8738-71277d0de09c
Cremer, Holger
92356183-fe83-422d-961d-7c953ba25ada
Lotter, André F.
0b85abc7-81ac-4644-aa86-c0f43255ca88

Kirilova, Emiliya P., van Hardenbroek, Maarten, Heiri, Oliver, Cremer, Holger and Lotter, André F. (2010) 500 years of trophic-state history of a hypertrophic Dutch dike-breach lake. Journal of Paleolimnology, 43 (4), 829-842. (doi:10.1007/s10933-009-9371-2).

Record type: Article

Abstract

We present a palaeolimnological study encompassing five centuries of trophic-state change of the dike-breach lake De Waay located on the Rhine-Meuse delta (the Netherlands). Diatom-inferred total phosphorus (TP) concentrations indicate hypertrophic epilimnetic conditions (>300 ?g l?1 TP) since the formation of the lake in the fifteenth century until the end of the eighteenth century. Cladocera data support the reconstructed trophic state and indicate turbid conditions in lake De Waay during this period. High inferred TP concentrations as well as the amount of Ti in the sediment reflect numerous flooding events. From the nineteenth century onwards reconstructed TP concentrations decreased to 40–150 ?g l?1 due to improvements in sewage and dike systems that considerably diminished direct river flooding and seepage-derived nutrients. As a consequence, the increased stability of littoral habitats led to an increased diversity of the Cladocera assemblages. The most significant decrease in TP concentrations to ~40 ?g l?1 occurred between about 1900 and 1930. This mesotrophic phase was a consequence of the isolation of the lake from catchment drainage and the introduction of a highly elaborate flood control during this period. However, since the mid twentieth century a eutrophication trend is preserved in the record, likely related to increased agricultural activity in the vicinity of the lake. Our results emphasize that land-use and trophic-state history must be taken into account when evaluating the ecological status of lakes for water management and protection actions, especially for lakes in landscapes that are strongly modified by human action.

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Kirilova et al 2010 De Waay.pdf - Version of Record
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Published date: 1 April 2010
Keywords: palaeolimnology, eutrophication, diatoms, cladocera, phosphorous reconstruction
Organisations: Palaeoenvironment Laboratory (PLUS)

Identifiers

Local EPrints ID: 355819
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/355819
ISSN: 0921-2728
PURE UUID: 16c82ad4-7345-45ae-a0ef-28ed6fc4b7a4

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Date deposited: 05 Sep 2013 13:46
Last modified: 14 Mar 2024 14:38

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Contributors

Author: Emiliya P. Kirilova
Author: Maarten van Hardenbroek
Author: Oliver Heiri
Author: Holger Cremer
Author: André F. Lotter

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