Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Paleolimnological studies of annually-laminated sediments in Loe Pool, Cornwall, U.K.

  • Part Two: Lake Changes Related to the Influence of Man
  • Published:
Hydrobiologia Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The sediments of Loe Pool, a eutrophic coastal lake in south west England, consist largely of laminated clays and clay-gyttjas. Studies of the diatom microstratigraphy of frozen sediment cores from the Pool indicate that the laminations are annual, and that they contain pairs of light and dark bands formed by seasonal variations in the supply of sediment to the Pool from its catchment. Analysis of the magnetic properties of individual laminations demonstrates the presence of physical and mineralogical microstratigraphic variations, which may also be related to seasonality.

A varve chronology, which is confirmed by 137Cs analysis and historical records, has been used to provide a timescale for the interpretation of data from other paleolimnological studies. A close agreement between variations in the abundance of sedimentary Sn, and the history of mining in the catchment, has been found. Similarly, analysis of total organic matter, total phosphorus, sedimentary chlorophyll a, sterols, diatoms and Cladocera in the uppermost sediments all indicate eutrophication of the Pool in the period AD 1940 to the present.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

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

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Frey, D. G., 1979. Cladocera analysis. In: B. E. Berglund (Ed.) Paleohydrological changes in the Temperate Zone in the last 15 000 years: Lake and Mire environments. Vol. 2, Specific methods. IUGS, UNESCO project No. 158B, Lund, Sweden.

  • Gaskell, S. J. & Eglinton, G., 1976. Sterols of a contemporary lacustrine sediment. Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta, 40: 1221–1228.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hamilton-Jenkins, A. K., 1978. Wendron Tin. Wendron Forge, Wendron, Cornwall, U.K.

    Google Scholar 

  • Huang, W. Y. & Meinschein, W. G., 1979. Sterols as ecological indicators. Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta 43: 739–745.

    Google Scholar 

  • Huttunen, P. & Merilainen, J., 1978. New freezing device providing large, unmixed sediment samples. Ann. Bot. Fenn. 15: 128–150.

    Google Scholar 

  • O'Sullivan, P. E., Coard, M. A. & Pickering, D. A., 1982. The use of laminated lake sediments in the estimation and calibration of erosion rates. In: Recent Developments in the Explanation and Prediction of Erosion and Sediment Yield (Proceedings of the Exeter Symposium, July 1982) IAHS Publ. No. 137.

  • Pennington, W., Cambray, R. S. & Fisher, E. M., 1973. Levels of 137Cs in British lake sediments. Nature 242: 824–826.

    Google Scholar 

  • Simola, H., 1977. Diatom succession in the formation of annually laminated sediment in Lovojärvi, a small, eutrophicated lake. Ann. Bot. Fenn. 14: 143–148.

    Google Scholar 

  • Simola, H., Coard,M. A. & O'Sullivan, P. E., 1981. Annual laminations in the sediments of Loe Pool, Cornwall. Nature 290 (5803), 238–241.

    Google Scholar 

  • Vallentin, R., 1903. Observations on the plankton of Loe Pool. J. Roy. Inst. Cornwall 15: 328–345.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Environmental Sciences, Plymouth Polytechnic, PL4 8AA, Plymouth, U.K.

    M. A. Coard, S. M. Cousen, A. H. Cuttler, H. J. Dean, T. I. Eglinton, A. M. Greaves, K. P. Lacey, P. E. O'Sullivan, D. A. Pickering, M. M. Rhead & J. K. Rodwell

  2. Department of Geography, Coventry Polytechnic, CV1 5FB, Coventry, U.K.

    J. A. Dearing

  3. Ecology Section, Karelian Institute, University of Joensuu, SF 80100, Joensuu 10, Finland

    H. Simola

Authors
  1. M. A. Coard
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. S. M. Cousen
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. A. H. Cuttler
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. H. J. Dean
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. J. A. Dearing
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. T. I. Eglinton
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. A. M. Greaves
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  8. K. P. Lacey
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  9. P. E. O'Sullivan
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  10. D. A. Pickering
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  11. M. M. Rhead
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  12. J. K. Rodwell
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  13. H. Simola
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Coard, M.A., Cousen, S.M., Cuttler, A.H. et al. Paleolimnological studies of annually-laminated sediments in Loe Pool, Cornwall, U.K.. Hydrobiologia 103, 185–191 (1983). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00028450

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00028450

Keywords

Search

Navigation