The paleolimnology of North Pond: watershed-lake interactions

Abstract

We examined the stratigraphic record of North Pond, a small, oligotrophic lake in western Massachusetts, U.S.A. to describe late and post-glacial watershed-lake interactions. In particular we investigated the effects of two similar vegetation changes in the watershed on lake biogeochemistry. There was a transient (about 100 years) decline in hemlock ca. 7500 yr B.P. that has not been recorded in other pollen stratigraphies in the northeast. The second event was the classical hemlock decline that occurred ca. 4800 yr B.P. and lasted about 2000 years. This decline occurred throughout the range of hemlock and is thought to have been caused by a pathogen. As the climate began to warm ca. 10 000 yr B.P., a spruce dominated boreal woodland was established in the watershed. Sediment chemistry data showed that as soils became more acidic, the lake also acidified as evidenced by diatom-inferred (DI) pH. Hemlock was established in the watershed by about 8000 yr B.P. This was accompanied by a slight decrease in DI pH. The transient hemlock decline ca. 7500 yr B.P. was associated with an increase in sedimentary charcoal particles, that suggested fire was responsible for its demise. The diatom stratigraphy indicated a brief, slight, increase in productivity and alkalinity and a brief decrease in lakewater dissolved organic carbon concentrations. Aquatic microfossil data indicated a decrease in the area of the littoral zone ca. 7500 yr B.P. Following the transient decline the lake became more acidic. There were only brief, subtle changes associated with the classical hemlock decline, including a slight decline in DI pH. Although the two disturbances involved a similar vegetation shift, the timing and mechanisms of the disturbances had a greater impact on lake biogeochemistry.