Multi-proxy Reconstruction of Trophic State,Hypolimnetic Anoxia and Phototrophic Sulphur Bacteria Abundance in a Dimictic Lake in Northern Germany over the past 80 Years |
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| Authors: | Mirko Dreßler Thomas Hübener Solvig Görs Petra Werner Uwe Selig |
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| Institution: | 1.Botany, Institute for Bio-Diversity Research, Department of Bio-Science,University Rostock,Rostock,Germany;2.Applied Ecology, Institute of Aquatic Ecology, Department of Bio-Science,University Rostock,Rostock,Germany;3.Ecology, Institute of Aquatic Ecology, Department of Bio-Science,University Rostock,Rostock,Germany |
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| Abstract: | During monthly investigations from 1996 to 2000, a hypolimnetic layer of phototrophic sulphur bacteria (Chromatium spp.) were observed in Lake Dudinghausen, a small dimictic lake in northern Germany. This paleolimnological study was initiated
to detect if the occurrence of sulphur bacteria was related to cultural eutrophication or reflected natural conditions. Therefore,
diatoms, algal pigments, okenone, geochemical proxies, and 210Pb and 137Cs were used in four sediment cores to investigate historical changes in trophic development, hypolimnetic redox conditions,
anoxia and phototrophic sulphur bacteria abundances. Fossil diatoms, pigments, the ratio of chlorophyll derivatives to total
carotenoids and the ratio of chlorophyll a to its derivatives suggest two phases of eutrophication coupled with hypolimnetic anoxia over the last ~80 years: a first
phase from about 1923–1932 and a second from 1952 to 1982. In the first phase the ratios of Fe–Mn as well as Fe–Ca increased,
suggesting seasonal anoxia. However, hypolimnetic anoxia was only weak because low levels of okenone suggest no mass development
of sulphur bacteria. In contrast, sulphur bacteria increased during the early stages of the second eutrophication phase, suggesting
increased temporal and spatial hypolimnetic anoxia. Surprisingly, the ratios of Fe–Mn as well as Fe–Ca decreased during this
time. Possibly Fe, Mn and Ca were equally reduced through the intense anoxia. In the final stage, sulphur bacteria decreased
again. As these bacteria need both anoxic conditions and a certain amount of light, the increased nutrient load probably led
to low Secchi depth and therefore insufficient light conditions. In more recent years, diatoms and pigments suggest a decrease
in nutrient levels. A second mass development of sulphur bacteria occurred, probably due to improved light conditions and
continued anoxia in the upper hypolimnion. We conclude that the recent development of phototrophic sulphur bacteria do not
represent natural conditions in Lake Dudinghausen. Furthermore, the upper sediments contain a completely new diatom flora
that never occurred in older sediments of Lake Dudinghausen. Therefore, nutrient levels may eventually reach natural conditions,
however they may not represent biological background reference conditions. |
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| Keywords: | Trophic state Anoxia Diatoms Fossil algal pigments Okenone Metal ratios Lake development Natural background conditions |
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