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Identifying reference conditions for dimictic north German lowland lakes: implications from paleoecological studies for implementing the EU-Water Framework Directive

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Abstract

Using published paleolimnological results from 14 dimictic calcareous lakes, this study identifies total phosphorous (TP) reference values for the European lake type CB 1. The initial increase in settlement-associated pollen occurred in the catchments between ad ~1000 and ~1820. A departure from diatom-inferred TP reference conditions occurred during periods of increased human activities during Early to Late Medieval Times (ad ~1110–1325; four lakes), early Modern Times (ad ~1575–1600; two lakes), after the 30 years’ war (>ad 1650; two lakes) and during the Anthropocene (after ad ~1850, three lakes). Only one lake continuously has TP reference values until recent days, whilst TP reference values could not be detected in two cases. Thus, we refrain from setting a fixed point in time for defining reference conditions for lakes in the European Central Plains. This study also validates TP reference levels calculated based on common lake models for CB 1-lakes and assesses the range of TP reference levels using paleolimnological diatom studies. The highly variable diatom-inferred TP reference levels only partly support the modelled levels. Thus, we recommend using two subtypes (CB 1a and 1b), based on the watershed to volume ratio to better meet the requirements of lake type-specific reference levels.

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Acknowledgments

We would like to thank Jürgen Mathes (Ministry for Agriculture, Environment and Consumer Protection of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, Germany) for providing morphometric and limnologic variables of the lakes as well as actual measurements and assessments. Kirsten Langner and Anna-Marie Klammt (lab ‘phycology’ of Rostock University) analysed diatom samples from lakes DRE and GÜL, respectively. Sediment chemical data were analysed by Uwe Selig (Rostock University) and Hinrich Meyer (University of Greifswald), pollen by Walter Dörfler (University of Kiel) and Manuela Schult (University of Greifswald) and macrorests by Dierk Michaelis (University of Greifswald). 210Pb/137Cs and 14C-AMS analysis were conducted by Helmut Erlenkeuser, Pieter M. Grootes and Matthias Huels (University of Kiel). For coring we used the help and equipment from Burkhardt Scharf (Bremen), Walter Dörfler and Oliver Nelle (both University of Kiel), Reinhardt Lampe and Sebastian Lorenz (both University of Greifswald). Three anonymous journal reviewers provided many constructive comments and suggestions on an earlier version of this paper. We would also like to thank Francine Forrest (LimnoLogic Solutions Ltd) for reviewing the English.

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Hübener, T., Adler, S., Werner, P. et al. Identifying reference conditions for dimictic north German lowland lakes: implications from paleoecological studies for implementing the EU-Water Framework Directive. Hydrobiologia 742, 295–312 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10750-014-1992-4

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