Chemical composition of the Tatra Mountain lakes: Recovery from acidification

Abstract

Ninety-one lakes distributed along the Tatra Mountains (most of lakes > 1 ha and 65% of lakes > 0.01 ha) were sampled and analysed for ionic and nutrient composition in September 2004 (15 years after reduction in acid deposition). Eighty-one lakes were in alpine zone and ten lakes in Norway spruce forest. The results were compared to similar lake surveys from 1994 (the beginning of water recovery from acidification) and 1984 (maximum acidification). Atmospheric deposition of SO + and Al concentrations occurred in the most acid lakes. On a regional basis, no significant change was observed for total phosphorus, total organic nitrogen, and dissolved organic carbon (DOC) in the 1994-2004 period. However, these parameters increased in forest lakes, which exhibited an increasing trend in DOC concentrations, inversely related (P < 0.001) to their decreasing ionic strength (30% on average in [1994][1995][1996][1997][1998][1999][2000][2001][2002][2003][2004].

Changes in the Chemistry of Small Irish lakes

“…Increases in surface water DOC has been well documented in a number of regions in Europe and North America (Evans et al 2005;Skjelkvåle et al 2001;Kopáček et al 2006;Driscoll et al 2003;Jeffries et al 2003). Although the drivers associated with this increase are speculative, suggestions include decreased acidic deposition, increased temperatures owing to global warming, changes in hydrology and changes in land use (Evans et al 2005).…”

“…Re-surveys in acid-sensitive regions such as the Adirondack and Catskill Mountains of New York, Tatra Mountains of Slovakia and Poland, and across the Nordic countries, have generally observed chemical recovery from acidification with decreases in SO 4 2-, nitrate (NO 3 -) and base cations, in conjunction with increases in pH and alkalinity (Skjelkvåle et al 1998; Kopáček et al 2006).…”

Epilithic diatoms of mountain lakes of the Tatra Mountains (Slovakia)

“…Detailed hydrology of the Tatra lakes was published by GREGOR & PACL (2005). Chemical composition of water of the Tatra lakes was studied by e.g., KOPÁČEK & STUCHLÍK (1994), KOPÁČEK et al (2004KOPÁČEK et al ( , 2006 and STUCHLÍK et al (2006).…”

Aquatic beetles of the alpine lakes: diversity, ecology and small-scale population genetics

“…Since the 1950s, when the Tatra Mountains became a National Park, there has been no significant direct human impact on the lake catchments, with the exception of some lower-elevation lakes. Although acid atmospheric deposition influenced many of the Tatra lakes significantly in the second half of the twentieth century (Kopá ek and Stuchlík, 1994), the relevant evidence of their recovery is already available (Kopá ek et al, 2006). The broad spectrum and high number of the lakes and ponds scattered throughout the Tatra Mountains were sampled within this study during the last few years, and aquatic Coleoptera were recorded in approximately 60% of them.…”

“…In the smaller ponds a finer substrate with a higher proportion of particulate organic matter prevails. More detailed physicochemical and environmental characteristics of particular study sites are given, e.g., in Kopá ek et al (2006) and Gregor and Pacl (2005). …”