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Effects of recent increases in salinity and nutrient concentrations on the microbialite community of Lake Clifton (Western Australia): are the thrombolites at risk?

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Abstract

The Yalgorup lakes, a groundwater-fed system in south-western Australia recognized as a Ramsar wetland, hold significant scientific and conservation value due to the presence of a unique range of lake systems, resident waterfowl and, on the eastern shore of Lake Clifton, the presence of the only thrombolite reef in the southern hemisphere. Recent concern over changing physico-chemical conditions in the lakes, particularly an increase in salinity, prompted this study: the current status of the inherent thrombolite community is unknown. Salinity, total phosphorous (TP), phosphate, total nitrogen (TN), nitrate, chlorophyll-a and relative abundance of the thrombolite microflora were measured in Lake Clifton to analyse changing conditions in this lake and to determine the effect of these water parameters on the thrombolite community. Comparisons with historical data revealed a significant increase in salinity since 1985 and a possible increase in phosphorus concentrations in the lake in the recent decade, although historical nutrient data are rather sparse. The increased salinity may be due to concentration of lake water through a combination of high evaporation, long-term reduction in rainfall and increased groundwater abstraction. Comparison of the composition of the thrombolite community with historical data indicates a large reduction in relative abundance of Scytonema sp. and other filamentous cyanobacterial species, which are believed to be fundamental for the thrombolite structure. It is concluded the changing physico-chemical environment of the Yalgorup Lakes may have led to the decline in important genera in the thrombolite community; however, the mechanisms underlying this change remain unknown.

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Acknowledgements

Support was provided for this project by the School of Environmental Systems Engineering at the University of Western Australia. Rainfall data is courtesy of the Western Australian Bureau of Meteorology. The authors would like to thank the thrombolite recovery team, the City of Mandurah, the Department of Environment and Conservation of Western Australia especially J. Lane and S. Dutton for providing support to this study and by providing historical salinity data and lake water levels. Many thanks also to D. Krikke for field and laboratory assistance during the study.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Aquatic Ecology and Ecosystem Studies, School of Environmental Systems Engineering, M01, The University of Western Australia, 35 Stirling Highway, Crawley, WA, 6009, Australia

    Michael D. Smith, Elke S. Reichwaldt & Anas Ghadouani

  2. School of Animal Biology, M092, The University of Western Australia, 35 Stirling Highway, Crawley, WA, 6009, Australia

    Sarah E. Goater & Brenton Knott

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  1. Michael D. Smith
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  2. Sarah E. Goater
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  3. Elke S. Reichwaldt
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  4. Brenton Knott
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  5. Anas Ghadouani
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Correspondence to Anas Ghadouani.

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Handling editor: David Hamilton

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Smith, M.D., Goater, S.E., Reichwaldt, E.S. et al. Effects of recent increases in salinity and nutrient concentrations on the microbialite community of Lake Clifton (Western Australia): are the thrombolites at risk?. Hydrobiologia 649, 207–216 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10750-010-0246-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10750-010-0246-3

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