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Shallow lake trophic status linked to late Holocene climate and human impacts

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Abstract

Lake Mattamuskeet, North Carolina, USA is a large (162 km2) and shallow (mean depth = 1 m) coastal lake, which was significantly modified to support agricultural activities following European settlement in 1850. Paleolimnological proxies measured on a 400-cm sediment core collected from Lake Mattamuskeet reveal shifts in organic matter input and primary producer community structure in response to climatic and human impacts on the lake during the late Holocene. Stratigraphic changes in organic matter content, nutrients, metals, lignin phenols and photosynthetic pigments were used to divide the sediment core into three intervals. Interval I includes sediment deposited between A.D. 360–1584 and indicates a clear-water, sand-bottom state with low algal abundance. In addition, the lake catchment area experienced two significant fires during this interval that were recorded as charcoal layers in the core around A.D. 360 and A.D. 1435 (calibrated 14C AMS dates). Trophic structure changed with the onset of Interval II (A.D. 1584–1860) when total algal abundance increased, and the primary producer community was comprised primarily of diatoms, chrysophytes, cryptophytes and cyanobacteria. During this interval there was also an increase in terrestrial organic material input into the lake as well as a shift in plant type from woody gymnosperms to non-woody angiosperms as determined from lignin data. Sediment deposited in Lake Mattamuskeet following European settlement (Interval III, A.D. 1860-present) suggests a dramatic increase in organic-matter deposition, metals, primary-producer abundance and the onset of cyanobacterial dominance. Sedimentary evidence indicates that shallow-water primary producers can respond rapidly to climate change and human development.

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Acknowledgments

This research was funded through two graduate research fellowships to MNW from the University of North Carolina Coastal Studies Institute and NC Beautiful and a RJR Junior Faculty Award to MFP. Dr. C. S. Martens and his research students aided in gravimetric and TOC/TN analysis. Scott Peterson provided extensive assistance and guidance with lignin-phenol analysis. Metals and nutrients were analyzed at Waters Agricultural Laboratories in Camilla, GA. We are very grateful to Dr. C. L. Schelske, Dr. D. M. Leech and two anonymous reviewers, whose comments greatly improved this manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Natural Sciences, Shorter College, Rome, GA, 30165, USA

    Matthew N. Waters

  2. Department of Environmental Science, Policy and Geography, University of South Florida, Saint Petersburg, FL, 33701, USA

    Joseph M. Smoak

  3. Institute of Marine Science, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, 28557, USA

    Michael F. Piehler & Antonio B. Rodriguez

  4. Department of Oceanography, Texas A & M University, College Station, TX, 77843, USA

    Thomas S. Bianchi

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  1. Matthew N. Waters
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  2. Michael F. Piehler
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Correspondence to Matthew N. Waters.

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Waters, M.N., Piehler, M.F., Rodriguez, A.B. et al. Shallow lake trophic status linked to late Holocene climate and human impacts. J Paleolimnol 42, 51–64 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10933-008-9247-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10933-008-9247-x

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