Seasonal dynamics and phytoplankton diversity in high mountain lakes (Jöri lakes, Swiss Alps)

Abstract

The

Phytoplankton of a mountain lake (L’adové pleso, the Tatra Mountains, Slovakia): Seasonal development and first indications of a response to decreased acid deposition

“…From our results, we could not infer any pattern of seasonality, but the fundamental influence of physical conditions is apparent. It is probable that the interannual variability of external forcing (especially the timing of the winter cover melting) have profound effects on seasonal development of phytoplankton in Ľadové pleso (Hinder et al, 1999).…”

“…However, the changes in phytoplankton species composition and abundances of Ľadové pleso must be interpreted with caution. Planktonic communities of high mountain or high latitude lakes are known to be controlled mostly by allogenic perturbations that are characterised by high interannual variation (Hinder et al, 1999). Consequently, patterns of lake water recovery can also be influenced by climate change (Marchetto et al, 2004).…”

Greenhouse gas emissions (CO2, CH4, and N2O) from several perialpine and alpine hydropower reservoirs by diffusion and loss in turbines

“…Nutrient content (nitrogen and phosphorus) in alpine lakes was shown to be low and the lakes can be classified as oligotrophic (e.g. Barbieri et al 1999;Hinder et al 1999;Sommaruga et al 1999). Additionally, increased UV-radiation at higher elevations reduces primary productivity (Sommaruga et al 1999), as do low temperatures (Eppley 1972), having an effect on the overall amount of autochthonous carbon available.…”

Distribution of diatoms, chironomids and cladocera in surface sediments of thirty mountain lakes in south-eastern Switzerland

“…Moreover, airborne pollution (e.g., Wolfe et al, 2001) and other human-induced changes such as altered land-use patterns may be superimposed on climatic changes . In their combination, it is expected that these factors will exert a considerable infl uence on the physical and chemical structure of alpine and arctic lake ecosystems, and will act as substantial stressors to aquatic biota in these regions (Hinder et al, 1999;Rautio et al, 2000). However, due to the remote location of many arctic and alpine lakes and associated logistic constraints, it is often diffi cult to document biotic and abiotic changes on a regular monitoring basis (e.g., Battarbee et al, 2002).…”