Unprecedented recent regional increase in organic carbon and lithogenic fluxes in high altitude Pyrenean lakes
Vicente de Vera García, Alejandra (Pyrenean Institute of Ecology)
Mata-Campo, María Pilar (Geological and Mining Institute of Spain)
Pla-Rabes, Sergi (Centre de Recerca Ecològica i d'Aplicacions Forestals)
Vicente, Eduardo (Universidad de Valencia. Instituto Cavanilles)
Prego, Ricardo (Marine Research Institute. Department of Oceanography)
Frugone-Álvarez, Matías (Núcleo Milenio UPWELL)
Polanco-Martínez, Josué (Basque Centre for Climate Change-BC3)
Galofré, Marcel (Pyrenean Institute of Ecology)
Valero-Garcés, Blas Lorenzo (Pyrenean Institute of Ecology)
Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona

Date:	2023
Abstract:	We have conducted a monitoring survey and paleolimnological study of a W-E transect of six high altitude lakes (1870-2630 m asl) in the western and central Pyrenees (Spain) to evaluate the regional response to current global change in high altitude Mediterranean mountains. The reconstructed Total Organic Carbon (TOC) and lithogenic (L) fluxes during the last 1200 years show the expected variability as lakes differ in altitude, geological and climate settings, limnological properties and human impact history. However, all show unique patterns after 1850 CE, particularly during the Great Acceleration (after 1950 CE). Recent L increase could be related to higher erodibility by rainfall and run-off during the longer snow-free season in the Pyrenees. In all sites, higher TOC and geochemical (lower δ 13 C, lower C/N) and biological (diatom assemblages) signatures since 1950 CE suggest an increase in algal productivity, likely favored by warmer temperatures and higher nutrient deposition. These recent, unprecedented L and TOC increases, in spite of their diverse history and limnological properties of the lakes, demonstrate the regional impact of the Great Acceleration not only in the ecological dynamics of alpine lakes but also in the hydrological cycle in high altitude mountain watersheds.
Grants:	Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades EQC2019-005472-P
Rights:	Aquest document està subjecte a una llicència d'ús Creative Commons. Es permet la reproducció total o parcial, la distribució, la comunicació pública de l'obra i la creació d'obres derivades, fins i tot amb finalitats comercials, sempre i quan es reconegui l'autoria de l'obra original.
Language:	Anglès
Document:	Article ; recerca ; Versió publicada
Subject:	Carbon cycle ; Limnology
Published in:	Scientific reports, Vol. 13 (May 2023) , art. 8586, ISSN 2045-2322

DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-35233-1
PMID: 37236996

14 p, 3.6 MB

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Research literature > UAB research groups literature > Research Centres and Groups (research output) > Experimental sciences > CREAF (Centre de Recerca Ecològica i d'Aplicacions Forestals)
Articles > Research articles
Articles > Published articles