UCL Discovery
UCL home » Library Services » Electronic resources » UCL Discovery

Using palaeolimnological and limnological data to reconstruct the recent history of European lake ecosystems: Introduction

Battarbee, RW; Bennion, H; (2012) Using palaeolimnological and limnological data to reconstruct the recent history of European lake ecosystems: Introduction. Freshwater Biology , 57 (10) 1979 - 1985. 10.1111/j.1365-2427.2012.02857.x. Green open access

[thumbnail of Battarbee_FWBsynthesis_Final_June2012.pdf]
Preview
PDF
Battarbee_FWBsynthesis_Final_June2012.pdf

Download (326kB)

Abstract

Summary 1. As future climate change is expected to have a major impact on freshwater lake ecosystems, it is important to assess the extent to which changes taking place in freshwater lakes can be attributed to the degree of climate change that has already taken place. 2. To address this issue, it is necessary to examine evidence spanning many decades by combining long-term observational data sets and palaeolimnological records. 3. Here, we introduce a series of case studies of seven European lakes for which both long-term data sets and sediment records are available. Most of the sites have been affected by eutrophication and are now in recovery. 4. The studies attempt to disentangle the effects of climate change from those of nutrient pollution and conclude that nutrient pollution is still the dominant factor controlling the trophic state of lakes. 5. At most sites, however, there is also evidence of climate influence related in some cases to natural variability in the climate system, and in others to the trend to higher temperatures over recent decades attributed to anthropogenic warming. 6. More generally and despite some problems, the studies indicate the value of combining limnological and palaeolimnological records in reconstructing lake history and in disentangling the changing role of different pressures on lake ecosystems.

Type: Article
Title: Using palaeolimnological and limnological data to reconstruct the recent history of European lake ecosystems: Introduction
Open access status: An open access version is available from UCL Discovery
DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2427.2012.02857.x
Publisher version: http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2427.2012.02857.x
Language: English
UCL classification: UCL
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > UCL SLASH
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > UCL SLASH > Faculty of S&HS
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > UCL SLASH > Faculty of S&HS > Dept of Geography
URI: https://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/id/eprint/1377944
Downloads since deposit
362Downloads
Download activity - last month
Download activity - last 12 months
Downloads by country - last 12 months

Archive Staff Only

View Item View Item