1. Paleolimnology and Succession in Aquatic Systems

2. Sediments of Lakes Hold records of past lake conditions
Hold records of past terrestrial conditions

3. From Hutchinson Treatise on Limnology
(a) General zonation and processes in lakes. (b) Processes and sediments in lakes with abundant supply of terrestrial sediment. (c) Processes and sediments in lakes with dominant carbonate sediment and little influx of terrestrial sediment. (Sketched from data in Hutchinson (1957) A treatise on limnology, Wiley; Reeves (1968) Introduction to paleolimnology, Elsevier; and Matter and Tucker (1978) Modern and ancient lake sediments, International Association of Sedimentologists, Special Publication No. 2, Blackwell.)

4. Glacial Pleistocene Lake Vermont
From Tufts University Varve Project

5. Varve Project

6. Varve Project

7. Some Biogenic Substances Occur in Lake Sediments

8. Isolate Pigments by Thin Layer Chromatography

9. Paleolimnology Studies the Record of Change in Aquatic Systems
Erosion --> Sedimentation (mineral deposits)
Then organic input > rate of degradation (organic deposits)

10. Standard Dogma for Lake Succession

11. Oligotrophic Lake
Eutrophic Lake
Nutrient Loading
Low
High
Primary Production
Oxygen Demand in Sediment
Oxygen Demand in Hypolimnion
Nutrient Cycling

12. Initial Stages in the Development of a Lake
Phytoplankton production depends on nutrient input
In eutrophic condition, dense algal layers create:
Decreased light penetration
Decreased trophogenic zone

13. Development of Hardwater lakes
Ca inactivates P, Fe, Mn
May be counteracted by high organic loading
Thus, very rapid change from oligotrophic to eutrophic environment
Can be counteracted by cation exchange mechanisms of plants (particularly mosses like Sphagnum)

14. The End of Lake Development
A change from phytoplankton to littoral production
Environment can become dystrophic (usually with high levels of humic acids)

15. Stratigraphy of Lago di Monterosi
35,000 BP
Formed by volcanic blast
Basin filled
Until 10,000 BP
Shallow; ~ 10m deep
Oligotrophic, acidic
10,000 BP
Less than 1 m
Bog during dry period
171 BC
Romans built Via Cassia
Rapid eutrophication
After 171 BC to 1000 AD
Decline in tree pollen/ increased sedimentation
Maintains eutrophic state
After 1000 AD
Sedimentation declined
Eutrophic/mesotrophic

16. Swamp
Woody vegetation through basin

17. Marsh
Wetland dominated by herbaceous plants

18. The Everglades

19. Mire
High humidity and high rainfall lead to thick peat accumulations

20. Fen
Minerotrophic Mire: groundwater supplies nutrients; usually circum neutral or basic

21. Bog
Ombotrophic Mire: inorganic nutrients from rainwater; pH drops as Sphagnum increases