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Eutrophication histories of three contrasting lakes in a naturally nutrient-rich boreal watercourse

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Abstract

The Iisalmi Route watercourse in central-eastern Finland contains a number of highly eutrophic lakes. Despite substantial impacts from anthropogenic activity, the region appears to be naturally eutrophic because of its geological setting. A passive continental ice sheet deposited fine-grained basal till that contributes to the naturally eutrophic status of the lakes. Detailed paleolimnological studies in the Iisalmi Route are few. Therefore, we studied the eutrophication histories of three contrasting Iisalmi Route lakes: (1) small headwater Lake Saarisjärvi, (2) larger, but very shallow headwater Lake Näläntöjärvi, and (3) large central basin, Lake Porovesi. We compared the suitability of three diatom-total phosphorus transfer functions for application to fossil samples. A local transfer function, specifically targeted to the Iisalmi Route, was the most suitable for the headwater lakes. In contrast, two regional transfer functions, which have larger geographical coverage, performed equally well for the large central basin. All three lakes proved to have been naturally eutrophic for thousands of years. Highest natural variability occurred in the longest core, from shallow headwater Lake Näläntöjärvi. This variability reflects the dynamic development of the basin and its catchment after deglaciation. Diatom assemblage changes in cores from Lakes Saarisjärvi and Porovesi suggest cultural eutrophication, most likely after the region was colonized in the sixteenth century, followed by salinization in more recent times. Our study deepens understanding of naturally eutrophic boreal lakes that are located on fine-grained tills and their sensitivity to natural and anthropogenic forcing. Our results also highlight the importance of selecting appropriate transfer functions and realistic restoration targets when dealing with naturally eutrophic lakes.

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Acknowledgements

This study was funded by the Finnish Cultural Foundation, the Geological Survey of Finland, and the Nutrient Load to Inland Waters (FOKUS II) project. We thank Mari Räty and Perttu Virkajärvi from the Natural Resources Institute Finland, and the FOKUS II project steering group for helpful collaboration. We also thank Alpo Eronen for sediment sampling, Kari Tiitta for preparing the diatom slides and measuring the magnetic susceptibility of the cores, and Saija Saarni for valuable feedback. Furthermore, we thank Jeffery Stone and an anonymous reviewer for their detailed suggestions that helped improve the manuscript, as well as the Editor-in-Chief Mark Brenner.

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  1. Department of Geography and Geology, University of Turku, 20014, Turku, Finland

    Mira Tammelin & Sami Jokinen

  2. Geological Survey of Finland, P.O. Box 1237, 70211, Kuopio, Finland

    Tommi Kauppila

  3. Ecomonitor Oy, Länsikatu 15, 80110, Joensuu, Finland

    Juha Miettinen

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  1. Mira Tammelin
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Tammelin, M., Kauppila, T., Miettinen, J. et al. Eutrophication histories of three contrasting lakes in a naturally nutrient-rich boreal watercourse. J Paleolimnol 61, 165–183 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10933-018-0051-y

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