Pre-industrial Assemblages Research Articles

Reconstructing the ecological impacts of eight decades of mining, metallurgical, and municipal activities on a small boreal lake in northern Canada

As a result of long-term metal mining and metallurgical activities, the sediment of Ross Lake (Flin Flon, MB, Canada) is highly contaminated with metals and other elements. Although the effluents likely were discharged into Ross Lake as early as the late 1920s, lake biophysical data were not collected until 1973, more than 4 decades after the onset of mining and municipal activities. The early influence of these activities on the ecology of Ross Lake is unknown, as are the effects of improvements to metallurgical effluent quality and discontinuation of municipal wastewater discharge into the lake's north basin. To address this knowledge gap, analyses typical of paleolimnological investigations were applied to cores of sediment collected in 2009 from the south basin of Ross Lake. Stratigraphic analyses of physicochemical sediment characteristics (e.g., the concentrations of metals and other elements, organic C, total N, and δ(13)C and δ(15)N values) and subfossil remains (diatoms, Chironomidae, Chaoborus, and Cladocera) were used to infer historical biological and chemical changes in Ross Lake. With the onset of mining activities, concentrations of various elements (e.g., As, Cr, Cu, Zn, and Se) increased dramatically in the sediment profile, eventually declining with improved tailings management. Nevertheless, concentrations of metals in recent sediments remain elevated compared with pre-industrial sediments. Constrained cluster analyses demonstrated distinct pre-industrial and postindustrial communities for both the diatoms and chironomids. The biodiversity of the postindustrial diatom assemblages were much reduced compared with the pre-industrial assemblages. The postindustrial chironomid assemblage was dominated by Chironomus and to a lesser extent by Procladius, suggesting that Ross Lake became a degraded environment. Abundances of Cladocera and Chaoborus were severely reduced in the postindustrial era, likely because of metals toxicity. Overall, improvements to the management of both metallurgical and municipal effluent are reflected in the physicochemical sediment record; nevertheless, the ecology of Ross Lake remains impaired and shows minimal signs of returning to a pre-industrial state. Recommendations are made regarding possible future investigations at this site and the need for a framework to help assess causation using paleolimnological and other site data.

Scaled-chrysophyte assemblage changes in the sediment records of lakes recovering from marked acidification and metal contamination near Wawa, Ontario, Canada

A remarkable example of point-source lake acidification and metal pollution, and subsequent recovery in limnological variables, has occurred in lakes near the former iron sintering plant at Wawa (Ontario, Canada). Surface water pH levels in some of these lakes have increased from 3 to 7 following local sulphur emission reductions with closure of industrial operations. Previous paleolimnological work documented striking successional changes in diatom species assemblages within dated sediment cores that could be related to past industrial activities. To gain additional insights into the chemical and biological recovery trajectories of the Wawa lakes, we used paleolimnological techniques to track euplanktonic scaled-chrysophyte (classes Chrysophyceae and Synurophyceae) species assemblage responses to historical water quality changes in five lakes. Coincident with the period of iron sintering from 1939 to 1998, striking successional changes were noted in the sedimentary profiles, with marked increases in the relative abundances of the acid- and metal-tolerant taxon Synura echinulata. The scaled chrysophyte changes pre-dated diatom responses, confirming the former’s status as reliable early warning indicators of lake acidification. Following closure of the sintering plant, species-specific chrysophyte responses to decreased emissions varied amongst the study lakes, perhaps reflecting differences in local bedrock geology and hydrological regime. Although some water chemistry variables may have recovered to near pre-industrial levels, similar to the diatom study, our data show that chrysophyte assemblages in the most recent sediments are now significantly different from pre-industrial assemblages.

Scaled-chrysophyte assemblage changes in the sediment records of lakes recovering from marked acidification and metal contamination near Wawa, Ontario, Canada

A remarkable example of point-source lake acidification and metal pollution, and subsequent recovery in limnological variables, has occurred in lakes near the former iron sintering plant at Wawa (Ontario, Canada). Surface water pH levels in some of these lakes have increased from 3 to 7 following local sulphur emission reductions with closure of industrial operations. Previous paleolimnological work documented striking successional changes in diatom species assemblages within dated sediment cores that could be related to past industrial activities. To gain additional insights into the chemical and biological recovery trajectories of the Wawa lakes, we used paleolimnological techniques to track euplanktonic scaled-chrysophyte (classes Chrysophyceae and Synurophyceae) species assemblage responses to historical water quality changes in five lakes. Coincident with the period of iron sintering from 1939 to 1998, striking successional changes were noted in the sedimentary profiles, with marked increases in the relative abundances of the acid- and metal-tolerant taxon Synura echinulata . The scaled chrysophyte changes pre-dated diatom responses, confirming the former’s status as reliable early warning indicators of lake acidification. Following closure of the sintering plant, species-specific chrysophyte responses to decreased emissions varied amongst the study lakes, perhaps reflecting differences in local bedrock geology and hydrological regime. Although some water chemistry variables may have recovered to near pre-industrial levels, similar to the diatom study, our data show that chrysophyte assemblages in the most recent sediments are now significantly different from pre-industrial assemblages.

A comparison of present-day and pre-industrial cladoceran assemblages from softwater Nova Scotia (Canada) lakes with different regional acidification histories

We compared cladoceran assemblages in modern and pre-industrial sediments from cores taken in 48 softwater lakes located in four main regions of Nova Scotia (Canada) to evaluate the impacts of acidification and other recent environmental stressors. Lakes in Kejimkujik National Park showed significant increases in Holopedium relative abundances and significant decreases in Alona and other chydorids since pre-industrial times, which appear to be related to declines in pH and calcium (Ca) concentrations caused by acidic deposition. Lakes in Bridgewater also showed a significant decrease in Alona, as well as a significant increase in macrothricid (Acantholeberis and Ophryoxus) taxa that cannot be explained by declines in pH, although declines in [Ca] have been recorded. Lakes in Yarmouth did not show any significant regional changes in major cladoceran species groups. Still, pre-industrial assemblages in these lakes significantly differed from modern assemblages, with assemblage changes being lake-specific and likely related to interactions between local and regional stressors acting on individual lakes. Finally, lakes in Cape Breton Highlands National Park, located on the taiga plateau, have received historically lower levels of sulphate deposition relative to other regions in the province, and recorded a significant decrease in Alona similar to Bridgewater lakes. The province-wide decrease in Alona across different acid deposition rates suggests that limnological changes related to climate warming may be responsible. Overall, this study shows that acidification history is an important predictor of cladoceran assemblage changes since pre-industrial times in Nova Scotia lakes, although multiple stressors result in complex Cladocera responses in some regions.