Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

A multi-element sediment record of hydrological and environmental changes from Lake Erie since 1800

Journal of Paleolimnology volume 58, pages 23–42 (2017)Cite this article

Abstract

Concentrations of aluminum, arsenic, barium, beryllium, cadmium, calcium, chromium, cobalt, copper, iron, lead, magnesium, manganese, molybdenum, nickel, potassium, selenium, sodium, tin, titanium, vanadium, and zinc were measured in a surface sediment core from the Sandusky basin of Lake Erie to detail the history of hydrological and environmental changes back to 1800. The results from hierarchical cluster and principal component analyses revealed four elemental groups. All the trace elements clustering with aluminum, iron, and manganese in Group I were enriched due to increased inputs from anthropogenic sources. The two conservative elements sodium and potassium clustering in Group II showed patterns of changes like those of water-level fluctuations. The two carbonate elements calcium and magnesium clustering in Group III showed intriguing but complex carbonate biogeochemistry associated with biogenic production, organic acid-induced dissolution and dilution by organic and aluminosilicate materials. The terrigenous element titanium in Group IV experienced two stages of depletion from increased organic fluxes in the 1820s and 1950s. Following the enactments of stringent regulations in the early 1970s, many of these elemental inputs have reduced considerably. But the concurrent reductions in the Sandusky basin were much slower than previously thought. Large increases in inputs from local storages (internal loading) were required to account for the slow reductions. The increased internal loading was caused by augmented organic materials from accelerated eutrophication which facilitated the transfer, transport, and cycling of many trace metals. This work has implications in ongoing research efforts to tackle the eutrophication problem because the complex ecosystem including the internal loading has changed considerably over the past two centuries.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution.

Access options

Buy single article

Instant access to the full article PDF.

USD 39.95

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8
Fig. 9
Fig. 10
Fig. 11
Fig. 12

References

  • Azcue JM, Rosa F, Mudroch A (1996) Distribution of major and trace elements in sediments and pore water of Lake Erie. J Great Lakes Res 22:389–402

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Baker DB, Confesor R, Ewing DE, Johnson LT, Kramer JW, Merryfield BJ (2014) Phosphorus loading to Lake Erie from the Maumee, Sandusky and Cuyahoga rivers: the importance of bioavailability. J Great Lakes Res 40:502–517

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Balogh SJ, Engstrom DR, Almendinger JE, McDermott C, Hu J, Nollet YH, Meyer ML, Johnson DK (2009) A sediment record of trace metal loadings in the Upper Mississippi River. J Paleolimnol 41:623–639

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Beeton AM (1961) Environmental changes in Lake Erie. Trans Am Fish Soc 90:153–159

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Beeton AM (1965) Eutrophication of the St. Lawrence Great Lakes. Limnol Oceanogr 10:240–254

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bluszcz P, Luecke A, Ohlendorf C, Zolitschka B (2009) Seasonal dynamics of stable isotopes and element ratios in authigenic calcites during their precipitation and dissolution, Sacrower See (northeastern Germany). J Limnol 68:257–273

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bolsenga SJ, Herdendorf CE (1993) Lake Erie and Lake St. Clair handbook. Wayne State University Press, Detroit

    Google Scholar 

  • Britt NW (1955) Stratification in western Lake Erie in summer of 1953: effects on the hexagenia (ephemeroptera) population. Ecology 36:239–244

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Calmano W, Hong J, Förstner U (1994) Binding and mobilization of heavy metals in contaminated sediments affected by pH and redox potential. Water Sci Technol 28:223–235

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Carr JF, Hiltunen JK (1965) Changes in the bottom fauna of western Lake Erie from 1930 to 1961. Limnol Oceanogr 10:551–569

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chappaz A, Gobeil C, Tessier A (2008) Geochemical and anthropogenic enrichments of Mo in sediments from perennially oxic and seasonally anoxic lakes in Eastern Canada. Geochim Cosmochim Acta 72:170–184

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chapra SC (1977) Total phosphorus model for the Great Lakes. J Environ Eng Div 103:147–161

    Google Scholar 

  • Chapra SC, Dove A, Warren GJ (2012) Long-term trends of Great Lakes major ion chemistry. J Great Lakes Res 38:550–560

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Conroy JD, Kane DD, Dolan DM, Edwards WJ, Charlton MN, Culver DA (2005) Temporal trends in Lake Erie plankton biomass: roles of external phosphorus loading and dreissenid mussels. J Great Lakes Res 31(2):89–110

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Davis CC (1964) Evidence for the eutrophication of Lake Erie from phytoplankton records. Limnol Oceanogr 9:275–283

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Derecki JA (1975) Evaporation from Lake Erie. NOAA Technical Report ERL 342-GLERL 3, p 91

  • Di Toro DM, Thomas NA, Herdendorf CE, Winfield RP, Connolly JP (1987) A post audit of a Lake Erie eutrophication model. J Great Lakes Res 13:801–825

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dillon PJ, Evans RD (1982) Whole-lake lead burdens in sediments of lakes in southern Ontario, Canada. Hydrobiologia 91:121–130

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dolan DM, Chapra SC (2012) Great Lakes total phosphorus revisited: 1. Loading analysis and update (1994–2008). J Great Lakes Res 38:730–740

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dolan DM, McGunagle KP (2005) Lake Erie total phosphorus loading analysis and update: 1996–2002. J Great Lakes Res 31:11–22

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dymond J, Suess E, Lyle M (1992) Barium in deep-sea sediment: a geochemical proxy for paleoproductivity. Paleoceanography 7:163–181

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Evans JE, Gottgens JF (2007) Contaminant stratigraphy of the Ballville reservoir, Sandusky River, NW Ohio: implications for dam removal. J Great Lakes Res 33:182–193

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • EWW (2015) Raw water test results: source of supply—Lake Erie. Erie Water Works (EWW), Erie, Pennsylvania, USA, p 1

  • Fitz-Simons T, Freas W, Guinnup D, Hemby J, Mintz D (1996) National air quality and emissions trends report, 1995. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards, Emissions Monitoring and Analysis Division, Air Quality Trends Analysis Group, Research Triangle Park, N.C., p 184

  • Frost PC, Song K, Buttle JM, Marsalek J, McDonald A, Xenopoulos MA (2015) Urban biogeochemistry of trace elements: what can the sediments of stormwater ponds tell us? Urban Ecosyst 18:763–775

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • FWPCA (1968) Lake Erie report: a plan for water pollution control. U.S. Dept. of the Interior, Federal Water Pollution Control Administration (FWPCA), Great Lakes Region, p 113

    Google Scholar 

  • Graney JR, Halliday AN, Keeler GJ, Nriagu JO, Robbins JA, Norton SA (1995) Isotopic record of lead pollution in lake sediments from the northeastern United States. Geochim Cosmochim Acta 59:1715–1728

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hoff RM, Strachan WMJ, Sweet CW, Chan CH, Shackleton M, Bidleman TF, Brice KA, Burniston DA, Cussion S, Gatz DF, Harlin K, Schroeder WH (1996) Atmospheric deposition of toxic chemicals to the Great Lakes: a review of data through 1994. Atmos Environ 30:3505–3527

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Holcombe TL, Taylor LA, Warren JS, Vincent PA, Reid DF, Herdendorf CE (2005) Lake-floor geomorphology of Lake Erie. National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service, National Geophysical Data Center, World Data Center for Marine Geology and Geophysics, Boulder, Research Publication RP-3, p 26

  • Jackson RB, Jobbágy EG (2005) From icy roads to salty streams. P Natl Acad Sci USA 102:14487–14488

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kelly TJ, Czuczwa JM, Sticksel PR, Sverdrup GM, Koval PJ, Hodanbosi RF (1991) Atmospheric and tributary inputs of toxic substances to Lake Erie. J Great Lakes Res 17:504–516

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kelts K, Hsü KJ (1978) Freshwater carbonate sedimentation. In: Lerman A (ed) Lakes: chemistry, geology, physics. Springer, New York, pp 295–323

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Kemp ALW, Thomas RL (1976) Cultural impact on the geochemistry of sediments in Lakes Ontario, Erie and Huron. Geosci Can 3:191–207

    Google Scholar 

  • Krieger KA, Schloesser DW, Manny BA, Trisler CE, Heady SE, Ciborowski JJH, Muth KM (1996) Recovery of burrowing mayflies (Ephemeroptera: Ephemeridae: Hexagenia) in western Lake Erie. J Great Lakes Res 22:254–263

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Landre AL, Winter JG, Helm P, Hiriart-Baer V, Young J (2011) Metals in Lake Simcoe sediments and tributaries: do recent trends indicate changing sources? J Great Lakes Res 37:124–131

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Leach JH (1993) Impacts of the zebra mussel (Dreissena polymorpha) on water quality and fish spawning reefs in western Lake Erie. Zebra Mussels: Biology, Impacts, and Control. Lewis Publishers, Boca Raton, pp 381–397

    Google Scholar 

  • Lewis CFM (1966) Sedimentation studies of unconsolidated deposits in the Lake Erie Basin. University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, p 134

    Google Scholar 

  • Lofgren BM, Quinn FH, Clites AH, Assel RA, Eberhardt AJ, Luukkonen CL (2002) Evaluation of potential impacts on Great Lakes water resources based on climate scenarios of two GCMs. J Great Lakes Res 28:537–554

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Logan TJ (1979) The Maumee River Basin Pilot Watershed Study: Sedment, Phosphates, and Heavy Metal Transport. United States Environmental Protection Agency. Great Lakes National Program Office, EAP-905/9-79-005-B

  • Lu Y, Meyers P, Eadie B, Robbins J (2010) Carbon cycling in Lake Erie during cultural eutrophication over the last century inferred from the stable carbon isotope composition of sediments. J Paleolimnol 43:261–272

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Marvin C, Painter S, Williams D, Richardson V, Rossmann R, Van Hoof P (2004) Spatial and temporal trends in surface water and sediment contamination in the Laurentian Great Lakes. Environ Pollut 129:131–144

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Marvin C, Charlton M, Milne J, Thiessen L, Schachtschneider J, Sardella G, Sverko E (2007) Metals associated with suspended sediments in Lakes Erie and Ontario, 2000–2002. Environ Monit Assess 130:149–161

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Masarotto G, Ripley B, Murdoch D (2014) The R software version 3.1.2. The R foundation for statistical computing. https://cran.r-project.org/bin/windows/base/old/3.1.2/. Accessed 17 July, 2016

  • Murray RW, Leinen M (1996) Scavenged excess aluminum and its relationship to bulk titanium in biogenic sediment from the central equatorial Pacific Ocean. Geochim Cosmochim Acta 60:3869–3878

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • North RL, Guildford SJ, Smith REH, Havens SM, Twiss MR (2007) Evidence for phosphorus, nitrogen, and iron colimitation of phytoplankton communities in Lake Erie. Limnol Oceanogr 52:315–328

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nriagu JO (1986) Metal pollution in the Great Lakes in relation to their carrying capacity. In: Kullenberg G (ed) The role of the oceans as a waste disposal option. Springer, Netherlands, pp 441–468

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Nriagu JO, Kemp ALW, Wong HKT, Harper N (1979) Sedimentary record of heavy metal pollution in Lake Erie. Geochim Cosmochim Acta 43:247–258

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nriagu JO, Lawson G, Wong HKT, Cheam V (1995) Dissolved trace metals in Lakes Superior, Erie, and Ontario. Environ Sci Technol 30:178–187

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Opfer SE, Farver JR, Miner JG, Krieger K (2011) Heavy metals in sediments and uptake by burrowing mayflies in western Lake Erie basin. J Great Lakes Res 37:1–8

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Painter S, Marvin C, Rosa F, Reynoldson TB, Charlton MN, Fox M, Lina Thiessen PA, Estenik JF (2001) Sediment contamination in Lake Erie: a 25-year retrospective analysis. J Great Lakes Res 27:434–448

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Petersen RR (1970) A paleolimnological study of the eutrophication of Lake Erie. Duke University, Durham, North Carolina

    Google Scholar 

  • Pizarro J, Belzile N, Filella M, Leppard GG, Negre J-C, Perret D, Buffle J (1995) Coagulation/sedimentation of submicron iron particles in a eutrophic lake. Water Res 29:617–632

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Quinn FH, Sellinger CE (1990) Lake Michigan record levels of 1838, a present perspective. J Great Lakes Res 16:133–138

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Quinn FH, Sellinger CE (2006) A reconstruction of Lake Michigan–Huron water levels derived from tree ring chronologies for the period 1600–1961. J Great Lakes Res 32:29–39

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ritson PI, Esser BK, Niemeyer S, Flegal AR (1994) Lead isotopic determination of historical sources of lead to Lake Erie, North America. Geochim Cosmochim Acta 58:3297–3305

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Robbins N, Zhang ZF, Sun J, Ketterer ME, Lalumandier JA, Shulze RA (2010) Childhood lead exposure and uptake in teeth in the Cleveland area during the era of leaded gasoline. Sci Total Environ 408:4118–4127

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rossmann R, Pfeiffer EL, Filkins JC (2014) Lake Michigan sediment lead storage and history of loads. J Great Lakes Res 40:851–858

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ryan PA, Knight R, MacGregor R, Towns G, Hoopes R, Culligan W. (2003) Fish-community goals and objectives for Lake Erie. Great Lakes Fishery Commission Special Publication 03-02, p 56

  • Schelske C, Hodell D (1995) Using carbon isotopes of bulk sedimentary organic matter to reconstruct the history of nutrient loading and eutrophication in Lake Erie. Limnol Oceanogr 40:918–929

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Smith BT, Boyle JM, Dongarra JJ, Garbow BS, Ikebe Y, Klema VC, Moler CB (1976) Matrix eigensystem routines—EISPACK guide. Springer, Berlin

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Stoermer EF, Emmert G, Julius ML, Schelske CL (1996) Paleolimnologic evidence of rapid recent change in Lake Erie’s trophic status. Can J Fish Aquat Sci 53:1451–1458

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sunda WG, Huntsman SA (1998) Processes regulating cellular metal accumulation and physiological effects: phytoplankton as model systems. Sci Total Environ 219:165–181

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sweet CW, Weiss A, Vermette S (1998) Atmospheric deposition of trace metals at three sites near the Great Lakes. Water Air Soil Pollut 103:423–439

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Szalinska E, Drouillard KG, Fryer B, Haffner GD (2006) Distribution of heavy metals in sediments of the Detroit River. J Great Lakes Res 32:442–454

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tipping E, Rey-Castro C, Bryan SE, Hamilton-Taylor J (2002) Al (III) and Fe(III) binding by humic substances in freshwaters, and implications for trace metal speciation. Geochim Cosmochim Acta 66:3211–3224

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Van Blarcum RA (2015) Anthropogenic impacts as revealed from sediment cores from Punderson Lake Ohio. Biological, Geological, and Environmental Sciences. Cleveland State University, Cleveland, Ohio, p 55

    Google Scholar 

  • Walters LJ, Wolery TJ, Myser RD. (1974) Occurrence of As, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Hg, Ni, Sb, and Zn in Lake Erie sediments. In: Proceedings, 17th conference on great lakes research. Internat. Assoc. Great Lakes Res., pp 219–234

  • Wang Y, Michel FM, Choi Y, Eng PJ, Levard C, Siebner H, Gu B, Bargar JR, Brown GE Jr (2016) Pb, Cu, and Zn distributions at humic acid-coated metal-oxide surfaces. Geochim Cosmochim Acta 188:407–423

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wiles GC, Krawiec AC, D’Arrigo RD (2009) A 265-year reconstruction of Lake Erie water levels based on North Pacific tree rings. Geophys Res Lett 36:L05705

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wright S, Tidd WM (1933) Summary of limnological investigations in western Lake Erie in 1929 and 1930. Trans Am Fish Soc 63:271–285

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Xue H, Sigg L (1993) Free cupric ion concentration and Cu (II) speciation in a eutrophic lake. Limnol Oceanogr 38:1200–1213

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yang C, Telmer K, Veizer J (1996) Chemical dynamics of the “St. Lawrence” riverine system: δDH2O, δ18OH2O, δ13CDIC, δ34S sulfate, and dissolved 87Sr/86Sr. Geochim Cosmochim Acta 60:851–866

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yohn S, Long D, Fett J, Patino L (2004) Regional versus local influences on lead and cadmium loading to the Great Lakes region. Appl Geochem 19:1157–1175

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yuan F, Quellos JA, Fan C (2013) Controls of phosphorus loading and transport in the Cuyahoga River of northeastern Ohio, USA. Appl Geochem 38:59–69

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yuan F, Depew R, Soltis-Muth C (2014) Ecosystem regime change inferred from the distribution of trace metals in Lake Erie sediments. Sci Rep 4:1–7

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

The author gratefully acknowledges J. Rhoades, S. Hothem, G. Mosher, and B. Schaefer for their assistance in the field coring and B. Weber and B. Kuharik for their help in the sediment sample preparation. Logistic support for the lake coring was provided by the Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District (NEORSD). The author also wanted to thank R. Depew and C. Soltis-Muth for the elemental analyses at NEORSD. This work was carried out with support from a Faculty Research Development award from Cleveland State University, a research award from the US National Science Foundation (EAR-0902895), and a research award from the Ohio Sea Grant College Program (60053687).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biological, Geological, and Environmental Sciences, Cleveland State University, 2121 Euclid Ave, Cleveland, OH, 44115, USA

    Fasong Yuan

Authors
  1. Fasong Yuan
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Fasong Yuan.

Electronic supplementary material

Below is the link to the electronic supplementary material.

Supplementary material 1 (DOCX 21 kb)

Supplementary material 2 (XLSX 21 kb)

Rights and permissions

Reprints and Permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Yuan, F. A multi-element sediment record of hydrological and environmental changes from Lake Erie since 1800. J Paleolimnol 58, 23–42 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10933-017-9953-3

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10933-017-9953-3

Keywords

search

Navigation