Abstract
Paleolimnologists frequently invoke the term ‘eutrophication’ for describing apparent enrichment phases in the history of a lake. I argue that this term is often used incorrectly and that alternative explanations can serve as more accurate descriptions. Increased organic content in the sedimentary record may result from increased nutrient availability (eutrophication), but it can also reflect decreased residence time of water, or changes in biotic interactions, or changes in lake morphometry.
Additionally, I argue that ‘eutrophication’ is an inappropriate term for describing the aging process of lakes. Lake ontogeny is the preferred term, as it does not imply directional changes in nutrients, nor in community structure.
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Whiteside, M.C. The mythical concept of eutrophication. Hydrobiologia 103, 107–111 (1983). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00028437
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00028437