Document Type
Contribution to Books
Publication Date
11-8-2010
Publication Title
The Diatoms : Applications for the Environmental and Earth Sciences, 2nd ed.
Disciplines
Aquaculture and Fisheries | Biology | Life Sciences
Abstract
Water-level changes result from a variety of geological, biological, and/or climatic processes. Many of these changes occur over long periods; others may be rapid or result from catastrophic events. In aquatic environments, diatoms are highly sensitive indicator organisms and their microfossils, deposited in lake sediments, can be used to infer environmental changes (Smol, 2008). Unambiguous diatom signals can be reconstructed from lakes isolated from marine or brackish waters (e.g. Fritz et al., this volume; Horton & Sawai, this volume). However, in freshwater systems lake-level changes are often recorded as increases in planktonic (free-floating) diatoms – although as discussed below, interpretation of this signal should be supported by additional evidence.
Version
Postprint
Publisher's Statement
(c) 2010 Cambridge University Press
Recommended Citation
Wolin, J.A. and J.R. Stone, 2010. Diatoms as Indicators of Water-Level Change in Freshwater Lakes. In: The Diatoms Applications to the Environmental and Earth Sciences, E.F. Stoermer and J.P. Smol (eds.), Cambridge University Press. pp.174-185.
