Paleolimnology of a freshwater estuary to inform Area of Concern nutrient delisting efforts

Alexson, Elizabeth E; Reavie, Euan D.; Axler, Richard P; Yemets, Sergiy; Krasutsky, Pavel A.; Edlund, Mark B.; Pillsbury, Robert W; Desotelle, Diane

doi:10.1007/s10933-017-0014-8

Cited by 10 publications

(12 citation statements)

References 41 publications

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“…Case studies from Europe also suggest that small, pelagic, plankton‐feeding coregonines are most affected by re‐oligotrophication and limited food resources (Eckmann et al, 2007). Because of their life‐history characteristics (small, pelagic and plankton‐feeding; Stockwell et al, 2009) and the availability of commercial fishery data that span a range of abundances (Jensen & Buettner, 1976; Selgeby, 1982) and two contrasting trophic periods (eutrophication and re‐oligotrophication; Alexson et al, 2018; O’Beirne et al, 2015; Reavie et al, 2014; Shaw‐Chraibi et al, 2014), cisco Coregonus artedi Lesueur in Lake Superior could be used to test the relationship between historical and contemporary commercial fishery yields and overall trophic status in the Great Lakes. Cisco spawning stock structure is poorly defined in Lake Superior (Stockwell et al, 2009).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Lake Superior is a phosphorus limited system and increases in stable isotope composition of sedimentary organic carbon (δ 13 C org ) in offshore areas of the western basin suggest a period of increased productivity during 1900–1970 concurrent with human development of the Duluth–Superior region (O’Beirne et al, 2015), which likely included the entire watershed. Diatom species compositions in sediment cores from offshore areas of the western and eastern basins suggest that total phosphorus levels ranged 2–3 µg/L before the late 1800s (pre‐European settlement), peaked at 4–6 µg/L between the late 1800s and 1970 (eutrophication) and declined to 2–3 µg/L after 1970 (re‐oligotrophication), which suggests at least a twofold increase in phosphorus loading during the period of peak productivity (Alexson et al, 2018; Reavie et al, 2014; Shaw‐Chraibi et al, 2014). Sediment cores from nearshore areas of the western basin also suggest at least a twofold increase in phosphorus loading between the early 1900s and 1970 (Alexson et al, 2018).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Diatom species compositions in sediment cores from offshore areas of the western and eastern basins suggest that total phosphorus levels ranged 2–3 µg/L before the late 1800s (pre‐European settlement), peaked at 4–6 µg/L between the late 1800s and 1970 (eutrophication) and declined to 2–3 µg/L after 1970 (re‐oligotrophication), which suggests at least a twofold increase in phosphorus loading during the period of peak productivity (Alexson et al, 2018; Reavie et al, 2014; Shaw‐Chraibi et al, 2014). Sediment cores from nearshore areas of the western basin also suggest at least a twofold increase in phosphorus loading between the early 1900s and 1970 (Alexson et al, 2018). However, total phosphorus levels in nearshore areas (~15–80 µg/L) ranged three‐ to fivefold greater than those in a nearby offshore area (~3–6 µg/L; Alexson et al, 2018).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Was historical cisco Coregonus artedi yield consistent with contemporary recruitment and abundance in Lake Superior?

Rook

Hansen

Goldsworthy

et al. 2021

Fisheries Management Eco

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Historically, cisco Coregonus artedi Lesueur was the predominant prey fish and target of commercial fisheries throughout Lake Superior, but most spawning stocks collapsed by the mid‐1900s. Stocks partially recovered by the early 1990s, but contemporary abundance is considered to be below historical levels and driven by intermittent recruitment. Stochastic, age‐structured simulation models were used to determine whether historical (pre‐1955) cisco yield in Lake Superior was consistent with contemporary (1992–2015) abundance, life‐history characteristics and recruitment dynamics. When compared to contemporary stocks, the findings suggest historical stocks had: (1) similar recruits per spawner at low spawning stock sizes; (2) lower rates of compensatory density dependence; (3) similar or lower recruitment variation depending on the area and (4) higher median adult and age‐1 density. These findings are consistent with the hypothesis that eutrophication during the historical period supported greater recruitment and adult abundance and that re‐oligotrophication during the contemporary period may be limiting full recovery.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Was historical cisco Coregonus artedi yield consistent with contemporary recruitment and abundance in Lake Superior?

Rook

Hansen

Goldsworthy

et al. 2021

Fisheries Management Eco

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

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“…Changing land use does not seem to be a factor because land use types associated with nutrient loading have remained a small fraction of the watershed. Algal pigments measured in sediment cores from the St. Louis River estuary (the largest water source to the western part of the lake) did reveal increases in two cyanobacterial pigments (aphanizophyll and myxoxanthophyll) in the upper harbor (above the WWTP outflow) beginning in ~ 1970, with particularly high concentrations since 2000 (Alexson et al 2018). Long‐term records of loading from the smaller rivers such as the Bois Brule are not available, but water quality in the major river source to western Lake Superior (the St. Louis River) has been improving over time.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The St. Louis River Estuary has a long history of human impact and subsequent recovery (Bellinger et al 2016; Alexson et al 2018). Installed in 1978, the Western Lake Superior Sanitary District (WLSSD) is a tertiary wastewater treatment plant serving Duluth, MN and surrounding communities that discharges into the harbor.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

A first assessment of cyanobacterial blooms in oligotrophic Lake Superior

Sterner

Reinl

Lafrancois

et al. 2020

Limnology & Oceanography

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Lake Superior is often described as the most pristine of the Laurentian Great Lakes, but in the past decade Dolichospermum blooms have been observed. Land use in the adjacent watershed has not changed appreciably during this time, but the lake is warming and climatological variables correspond with presence of blooms. Blooms occurred only in relatively warm years as measured by degree days. Furthermore, the two largest blooms, in 2012 and 2018, occurred during years of especially extreme rainfall, providing coincidental evidence that intense storms provide nutrients or living propagules to the blooms from the watershed. Nearshore lake water in the narrow zone where blooms appear shows some riverine influence compared to water further offshore even in the absence of blooms. Nevertheless, water chemistry associated with the largest bloom in 2018 more closely resembled nonbloom nearshore lake water than river water, suggesting that blooms develop or at least persist outside of distinct river plumes. Concentrations of P and N during peak bloom density greatly exceeded any nonbloom lake or river waters, indicating that a buildup of phytoplankton biomass perhaps by floating and drifting to shore also is a significant factor in bloom occurrence. One potentially toxic substance (Anabaenopeptin A) was observed but at low concentration. At peak phytoplankton concentration, high seston C : P indicated severe P limitation while low C : N pointed against N limitation. If these newly observed blooms are indeed driven by temperature and rainfall as this evidence suggests, blooms may continue. Cyanobacterial blooms (defined as "a massive accumulation of cyanobacterial biomass, formed through growth, migration, and physical-chemical forces"; Tromas et al. 2017) are a significant and increasingly prevalent global water quality problem (Paerl and Otten 2013; Ho et al. 2019). Blooms of cyanobacteria are most often associated with eutrophic or

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Paleolimnological proxies reveal continued eutrophication issues in the St. Lawrence River Area of Concern

Moir

Hickey

Leavitt

et al. 2018

Journal of Great Lakes Research

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Recent surface-water surveys suggest that high nutrient concentrations and nuisance algae remain issues in the St. Lawrence River Area of Concern (AOC) at Cornwall, Ontario, specifically in the tributaries and nearshore zones of Lake St. Francis (LSF). In particular, it is unclear whether management actions designed to reduce nutrient inputs, first implemented in the 1990s as part of the Remedial Action Plan for the AOC, have reduced algal production or influenced assemblage composition. To address this issue, a paleolimnological approach was used to provide a historical context for the present-day nutrient concentrations and to quantify the extent of change in water quality in LSF since the early 1990s. A sediment core was collected near the north shore of LSF and was examined for changes in the concentrations and compositions of fossil diatoms and pigments, as well as stable isotope (δ 15 N and δ 13 C) values.Analyses of diatom and pigment concentrations indicated that overall algal abundance has risen in the last few decades, including trends of increasing occurrences of potentially toxic cyanobacteria, despite ongoing remediation efforts. Temporal patterns of stable isotope signatures in the core suggest a steady increase in nutrient influx since the mid-20 th century, with the post-1990 increase in algal production likely attributable to recent inputs associated with land-use changes in local contributing watersheds. These patterns suggest that the AOC delisting goals for the LSF tributaries will not be reached without a drastic change in land management practices.

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Paleolimnology of a freshwater estuary to inform Area of Concern nutrient delisting efforts

Cited by 10 publications

References 41 publications

Was historical cisco Coregonus artedi yield consistent with contemporary recruitment and abundance in Lake Superior?

Was historical cisco Coregonus artedi yield consistent with contemporary recruitment and abundance in Lake Superior?

A first assessment of cyanobacterial blooms in oligotrophic Lake Superior

Paleolimnological proxies reveal continued eutrophication issues in the St. Lawrence River Area of Concern

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