ISSN:
1573-0417
Keywords:
paleolimnology
;
lake
;
lake sediment
;
Quaternary
;
limnology
Source:
Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
Topics:
Biology
,
Geosciences
Notes:
Abstract I describe Quaternary paleolimnology on the basis of a review of abstracts published for meetings of: (1) American Society of Limnology and Oceanography (ASLO), 10 meetings since 1980; (2) International Association of Theoretical and Applied Limnology (SIL), 4 since 1977, (3) International Symposia on Paleolimnology (ISP), 4 since 1967, and (4) International Union for Quaternary Research (INQUA), 5 since 1969. A total of 9538 abstracts were scanned to find 678 with paleolimnological content. A data base constructed from the 678 contains frequencies of coverage of techniques, parameters, themes, interpretive aspects, and character and geography of study sites. These data indicate that Quaternary paleolimnology has been a diverse science dealing with many of the same aspects of lakes as neolimnology but with a longer time perspective. Most frequently studied paleolimnological characteristics were trophic state, water chemistry (particularly salinity, pH, alkalinity (ANC), micronutrients and oxygen), water levels, lake morphology, and mixis and other hydrology. Lake biological parameters that received greatest attention were diatoms, pigments, Cladocera, Mallomonadaceae, non-siliceous algae, Ostracoda, and Mollusca. Most often considered to influence these characteristics and parameters were climate; catchment vegetation, soil, geology, land use and erosion; water chemistry; aerial and non aerial pollutants; sedimentation; and tectonism. Most frequent chronologic sequences were (1) late-glacial to present, and (2) modern (ca. 0.3 ka to present). Lakes in moist temperate and boreal regions were most heavily studied. Of the four series, INQUA covered the longest time scales (to late Tertiary), but emphasized the last 100 ka. INQUA stressed outside-lake geomorphology (as it relates to lake) and lake morphology, physical forcing functions (e.g., climate and tectonism), hydrologic factors including water levels, paleosalinities, and reconstruction of paleoclimates. In contrast, SIL and ASLO rarely covered pre-15 ka. Most SIL and ASLO abstracts dealt with only the most recent ∼ 0.3 ka. Of strong interest to SIL and ASLO were the effects of catchment vegetation and soils, land uses, and pollutants (e.g., acid deposition) on past lake chemistry, biology, and trophic conditions. To infer these conditions from sediment contents, frequent use was made of modern analogues and, starting in the 1970's of microfossil (mostly diatoms) transfer functions based on calibration data sets. In several respects, ISP subject coverage and approaches were intermediate between those of INQUA and SIL/ASLO. Major improvements in paleolimnology have occurred since the 1960's, particularly in the areas of chronology and use of multivariate statistical techniques for paleoenvironmental inference based on microfossils. I conclude this paper with several suggestions for further advancement of the science.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF00195476
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