Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Weizhen Zhang, Ruirui Chen, Fanfan Meng, Haijun Yuan, Mengdie Geng, Longjuan Cheng, Huaqun Yin, Bin Xue, Jianjun Wang
Summary: The study found consistent patterns of microbial community in Lake Hulun with increasing water depth, leading to increased ecosystem functions related to carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus, and sulfur cycling. Ecosystem multifunctionality was mainly influenced by microbial evenness and community composition, rather than species richness. Water depth indirectly affected the relationships between microbial community and ecosystem multifunctionality.
ECOLOGICAL INDICATORS
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Xuan Wang, Yingying Zhi, Yun Chen, Nan Shen, Guoxiang Wang, Yan Yan
Summary: Evidence suggests that phosphorus deposited in sediment for many years can be released by microbial activity, causing harmful algal blooms in lakes. Sediment microbial fuel cells (SMFC) have been identified as an in-situ method for limiting phosphorus release. However, the impact of SMFC on the micro-environment near the electrodes, which can affect phosphorus distribution, has been overlooked. This study successfully established SMFC systems to investigate their influence on phosphorus species and spatial distribution in lake sediments.
Article
Microbiology
Xinshu Zhu, Yongcui Deng, Tao Huang, Cheng Han, Lei Chen, Zhigang Zhang, Keshao Liu, Yongqin Liu, Changchun Huang
Summary: Microbial communities in freshwater lake sediments show depth-dependent variability. Further exploration is needed to understand their biodiversity pattern and microbial interactions in vertical sediments. This study used amplicon sequencing to analyze microbial communities in sediment cores from two lakes on the Tibetan plateau. The results revealed distinct shifts in microbial community compositions at a depth of about 20 cm and highlighted the influence of nutrient conditions on microbial interactions in vertical sediments.
FRONTIERS IN MICROBIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Brittni L. Bertolet, Cristian Koepfli, Stuart E. Jones
Summary: Lake sediment microbial communities play a crucial role in mediating carbon diagenesis, especially in regard to methane production. A study conducted across 22 lakes found that the diversity and richness of non-methanogen community in sediment microbial communities were significantly correlated with the response of sediment methane production to changes in organic matter supply. This experimental evidence demonstrates that differences in sediment microbial communities influence the response of methane production to changes in organic matter availability.
FRONTIERS IN ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Ju Hyeon Lee, Sae Yun Kwon, Runsheng Yin, Laura C. Motta, Aaron Y. Kurz, Seung-Il Nam
Summary: The increasing mercury isotope ratios in lake sediment cores from pre-industrial to present-day are suggested to be a global phenomenon. It is mainly attributed to the increased contribution of mercury from local to regional anthropogenic sources. The magnitude of mercury isotope changes are more influenced by baseline mercury isotope ratios rather than the level of THg input.
GLOBAL BIOGEOCHEMICAL CYCLES
(2021)
Article
Food Science & Technology
James S. Metcalf, Sandra Anne Banack, Paul Alan Cox
Summary: The Great Salt Lake, one of the largest saline lakes in the Western hemisphere, has experienced a significant reduction in water levels over the past few decades. This study reveals that airborne cyanobacteria and cyanotoxins, which originate from the lake, may pose health risks to the nearby communities along the Wasatch Front.
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Junkai Gao, Guanglong Liu, Xiaowen Li, Mengjuan Tang, Xiuyun Cao, Yiyong Zhou, Chunlei Song
Summary: This study investigated the impact of organic carbon quantity and composition on nitrate reduction pathways in two basins of Lake Chaohu in Hefei City, China. It was found that the serious algal bloom in the west basin resulted in higher organic carbon accumulation and nitrate deficiency, leading to a high C/NO3--N ratio. This triggered dissimilatory nitrate reduction to ammonium (DNRA) and specific bacterial communities played a role in this process.
Article
Microbiology
Julia Kleinteich, Kurt Hanselmann, Falk Hildebrand, Andreas Kappler, Christiane Zarfl
Summary: This study analyzed 16 lakes in the Eastern Swiss Alps and found that glacial melt-down alters the hydrological and physico-chemical conditions, leading to changes in sediment-associated microbial communities.
FEMS MICROBIOLOGY ECOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Chelsea Salter, Danielle VanMensel, Thomas Reid, Johnna Birbeck, Judy Westrick, Scott O. C. Mundle, Christopher G. Weisener
Summary: Cyanobacterial blooms and the associated hepatotoxins present a significant human health risk in freshwater lakes, including Lake Erie. Laboratory studies have identified a potential remediation option based on the mlr gene operon for degrading microcystins, but field studies in Lake Erie have not been able to amplify the mlr genes from MC-degrading bacteria. Flow-through column experiments show that a complex microbial community is involved in the degradation of MC-LR, including taxa such as Burkholderiaceae, Illumatobacteraceae, Pseudomonadaceae, Rhodocyclaceae, and Nitrosomonadaceae.
Article
Microbiology
Erica Ewton, Scott Klasek, Erin Peck, Jason Wiest, Frederick Colwell
Summary: CT scanning has minimal effect on microbial community composition in sediment cores, but properties such as sediment layer and marsh location do influence microbial community structure. Some amplicon sequence variants showed differential abundance patterns between scanned and unscanned samples.
FRONTIERS IN MICROBIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Zhaokui Ni, Dongling Huang, Yu Li, Xiaofei Liu, Shengrui Wang
Summary: Organic phosphorus (P-o) plays a significant role in eutrophication and ecological equilibrium in lake systems. However, there has been limited understanding of the composition of P-o in lake sediments. This study used multiple methods to characterize P-o composition in ten lake sediments in China, revealing that P-o primarily consisted of monoester, diester, and phosphonate species. The traditional P-31 NMR methods underestimated the abundance of P-o, while the relationship between molecular weight and P-o components was observed to be significant.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Jie Lin, Xiaotian Zhou, Xiang Lu, Yaofei Xu, Zhipeng Wei, Aidong Ruan
Summary: This study used a multifractal model to characterize the heterogeneity of sediment grain size and pore space. The results showed that both environmental physiochemistry and microbial community structures varied significantly with depth, with grain size distribution being the key driver of sediment microbial diversity.
ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Chengqi Tu, Zhenghai Jin, Feifei Che, Xin Cao, Xinshan Song, Changyu Lu, Wei Huang
Summary: This study investigated the release of phosphorus from sediments during cyanobacteria growth and found a correlation between microbial community structure and phosphorus release.
Article
Ecology
Ahmed M. BadrElDin, Nadia B. E. Badr, Pamela M. Hallock
Summary: This study analyzed sediments from Lake Edku in Egypt to determine the distribution of eight metals and assess pollution and biological effects. The concentrations of trace metals increased upward in the sediment cores, indicating increasing human activities over time. Cd and Pb showed high and moderate ecological risk, respectively, and their increased use in human activities was associated with changes in the lake's environment.
REGIONAL STUDIES IN MARINE SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Caili Du, Fang Yang, Xiaoguang Li, Haiqing Liao, Zhonghong Li, Jiayue Gao, Lieyu Zhang
Summary: This study investigated the distribution and diversity of antibiotic and metal resistance genes in the sediment of Daihai Lake using high-throughput sequencing and metagenomic analysis. The results showed that there were no significant differences in the distribution and diversity of these resistance genes among the samples. Plasmids were identified as the most dominant mobile genetic elements in the sediments.
ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
John K. Pearman, Laura Biessy, Jamie D. Howarth, Marcus J. Vandergoes, Andrew Rees, Susanna A. Wood
Summary: Lake sediments serve as natural archives for biological information, with traditional paleolimnology focusing on fossilized remains of organisms. However, many organisms do not leave fossil evidence, leading to missing components in environmental reconstructions. New studies in paleolimnology now incorporate molecular methods, such as analyzing microbial communities using environmental DNA and RNA from sediment samples, to better understand past and present ecosystems.
MOLECULAR ECOLOGY RESOURCES
(2022)
Article
Geography, Physical
Sean Fitzsimons, Jamie Howarth
Summary: This study reports on the development of a flood frequency hydrological proxy based on lake sediment in southern South Island, New Zealand. Four distinct climate states driven by variations in the strength or persistence of westerly airflow are identified. Comparison with records from other locations suggests an increase in storm frequency in the middle Holocene and divergence in the late Holocene.
QUATERNARY SCIENCE REVIEWS
(2022)
Article
Microbiology
John K. Pearman, Georgia Thomson-Laing, Jacob Thomson-Laing, Lucy Thompson, Sean Waters, Lizette Reyes, Jamie D. Howarth, Marcus J. Vandergoes, Susanna A. Wood
Summary: Bacteria in lakes play important roles in biogeochemical cycles and ecosystem services. This study examined the distribution patterns of abundant and rare planktonic bacteria across 167 New Zealand lakes using 16S rRNA gene metabarcoding. The results showed that bacterial communities had a skewed distribution, with a few abundant species and many rare species. The abundance of local bacteria species was negatively correlated with the percentage of high productivity grassland in the catchment and positively correlated with altitude. Regionally rare bacteria species had a restricted distribution and were only found in a few lakes. Environmental processes played a larger role in structuring the regionally abundant community, while geographic distances were more important for regionally rare bacteria species.
FRONTIERS IN MICROBIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Microbiology
Mailys Picard, Susanna A. Wood, Xavier Pochon, Marcus J. Vandergoes, Lizette Reyes, Jamie D. Howarth, Ian Hawes, Jonathan Puddick
Summary: Understanding the historical onset of cyanobacterial blooms in freshwater bodies can help identify their potential drivers. Lake sediments are valuable archives for exploring these records. In this study, we compared the results obtained from a droplet digital PCR assay and high-performance liquid chromatography to analyze cyanobacterial DNA and pigments in sediment cores. Our findings suggest that the biphasic approach of combining these two methods can provide complementary information for studying changes in the cyanobacterial community.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Julia Short, John Tibby, Marcus J. Vandergoes, Susanna A. Wood, Neville Lomax, Jonathan Puddick, John K. Pearman, Jamie D. Howarth, Christopher M. Moy, Charlotte Sunde, Reece Martin, Xun Li, Adelaine Moody, Jenny Dahl, Claire Shepherd, Kiely McFarlane
Summary: Lakes are rapidly degrading due to human activity. Palaeolimnology provides important methods to study the historical state of lakes, and Lake Oporoa in New Zealand is an ideal study site. The study found that both Maori and European settlement had impacts on the lake's ecology, leading to water quality degradation and decline in native fish populations. The palaeolimnological data can guide lake rehabilitation and conservation measures.
AQUATIC CONSERVATION-MARINE AND FRESHWATER ECOSYSTEMS
(2022)
Article
Ecology
Georgia Thomson-Laing, Jamie D. Howarth, Marcus J. Vandergoes, Susanna A. Wood
Summary: Monitoring fish populations is crucial for understanding their dynamics and conservation efforts. This study focuses on finding the most effective method for extracting fish DNA from lake-surface sediments, using eel and perch as target genes. Two optimized methods are recommended, with the Lakes ABPS protocol being a cheaper and more automated option.
FRESHWATER BIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Limnology
John K. Pearman, Janet Adamson, Georgia Thomson-Laing, Lucy Thompson, Sean Waters, Marcus J. Vandergoes, Jamie D. Howarth, Susanna A. Wood
Summary: Biological communities in lake surface sediments are crucial for biogeochemical cycling and ecosystem services. This study investigated abundance-occupancy patterns and assembly processes of bacteria and eukaryotes across a large spatial scale and multiple environmental gradients. The results provide new insights into the ecology of these organisms and the effects of environmental stressors on lake sediment communities.
LIMNOLOGY AND OCEANOGRAPHY
(2023)
Article
Geochemistry & Geophysics
Sean Waters, Javier Atalah, Lucy Thompson, Georgia Thomson-Laing, John K. Pearman, Jonathan Puddick, Jamie D. Howarth, Lizette Reyes, Marcus J. Vandergoes, Susanna A. Wood
Summary: Lake ecosystems worldwide are experiencing eutrophication and degradation due to human activities. Limited data hinders the understanding of lake health at national scales, making long-term monitoring impractical. Analyzing sediment geochemistry provides an efficient method for assessing contemporary water quality and predicting trophic levels in unmonitored lakes.
APPLIED GEOCHEMISTRY
(2023)
Article
Geography, Physical
Stephen B. Piva, Simon J. Barker, Rewi M. Newnham, Andrew B. H. Rees, Colin J. N. Wilson, Lionel Carter, Nels A. Iverson, Benjamin Läuchli, Paul C. Augustinus
Summary: This study analyzed sediment cores from Onepoto maar palaeolake in Auckland to investigate the impacts of the Oruanui supereruption on vegetation and landscape. The results showed that the eruption caused partial defoliation of canopy trees, allowing more light penetration and promoting sub-canopy vegetation growth. This study also demonstrated the value of millimeter-scale stratigraphic pollen analysis for assessing eruptive impacts on sub-decadal timescales.
JOURNAL OF QUATERNARY SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Geography, Physical
Charlotte O. Pizer, Jamie D. Howarth, Kate J. Clark, Colin J. N. Wilson, Stephanie E. Tickle, Jenni L. Hopkins, Jenny A. Dahl
Summary: Volcanic ash (tephra) horizons are important for correlating natural archives, but age uncertainties can hinder their effectiveness. We use the Waimihia tephra as a case study to improve age constraints for Holocene tephra isochrons by employing detailed assessments, precise AMS dating, and Bayesian age models. Our findings have implications for refining paleoearthquake correlations and chronologies relying on the Waimihia isochron.
QUATERNARY SCIENCE REVIEWS
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Rose Gregersen, Jamie D. Howarth, Javier Atalah, John K. Pearman, Sean Waters, Xun Li, Marcus J. Vandergoes, Susanna A. Wood
Summary: Lakes are important for ecosystem services and biodiversity, but cultural eutrophication remains a major threat to their health. The lack of long-term monitoring records limits our ability to manage lake eutrophication. This study developed a bio-indicator approach using diatom communities to infer trophic levels in lakes, and the results were consistent with monitoring data and land-use histories. However, recent shifts in diatom communities were not captured by traditional trophic level indices, highlighting the importance of new approaches in preventing the decline of lake ecosystems worldwide.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Article
Biology
Georgia Thomson-Laing, Lena Schallenberg, David Kelly, Jamie D. Howarth, Susanna A. Wood
Summary: Freshwater fish are facing a perilous situation, as more than 30% of species are critically endangered. However, determining the impact of disturbances on native fish communities is challenging due to ecological and methodological complexities. This review examines current methods used to assess the responses of fish communities, particularly in lakes, and identifies knowledge gaps and challenges. The authors advocate for an integrative approach that combines emerging technologies and underutilized knowledge streams, alongside conventional methods, to enable more informed and effective management actions.
BIOLOGICAL REVIEWS
(2023)
Article
Marine & Freshwater Biology
Jonathan Puddick, Sebastian Naeher, John K. Pearman, Carrie D. Page, Donato Romanazzi, Lena A. Schallenberg, Jamie D. Howarth, Marcus J. Vandergoes, Susanna A. Wood
Summary: Cyanobacterial blooms are increasing globally, impacting lake ecosystems and posing a risk to human and animal health. Cyanobacterial pigments preserved in lake sediments can help understand the changes that have led to these blooms. By analyzing pigments in cyanobacteria cultures and applying the findings to lake sediments, we found that carotenoids can be used to evaluate cyanobacterial abundance and differentiate different cyanobacteria types. Ratios of specific carotenoids can be used as a proxy to evaluate historical shifts in cyanobacterial communities.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Rose Gregersen, John K. Pearman, Javier Atalah, Sean Waters, Marcus J. Vandergoes, Jamie D. Howarth, Georgia Thomson-Laing, Lucy Thompson, Susanna A. Wood
Summary: Anthropogenic eutrophication, a pressing issue for lakes globally, is difficult to manage due to limited monitoring records. This study presents a taxonomy-free diatom-based biomonitoring method using environmental DNA metabarcoding data, offering an accurate and automated alternative for eutrophication monitoring.
JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT
(2023)