Palaeolimnology of Neusiedlersee, Austria

Abstract

Eighteen sediment cores from the Neusiedlersee reed belt were analysed for organic and inorganic carbon, nitrogen, organic and inorganic phosphorus and trace metal content. The depth variation of the distribution patterns of C, P and N in the cores are influenced by: 1. temporal variability of organic matter deposition (e.g. burial of Phragmites litter) 2. the impact of a number of astatic phases in the history of the lake, and 3. early palaeo-ecological changes associated with the alteration of marine to lacustrine environment. At some sites, due to mineralisation, the organic phosphorus compartment in the Pannonian sediments is completely exhausted; accordingly there is a parallel decrease in carbon and nitrogen content in the profiles. These changes in the pattern of the distribution of the nutrients (especially organic phosphorus) can be used to differentiate between the recent and the upper boundary layer of the tertiary sediments. There is no clear trace metal distribution pattern observed in the cores but the Pannonian sediments recorded the lowest levels. In contrast, at some locations surface sediments register a two to three fold increase. The highest C, P, N, values and trace metal concentrations are recorded in the surface sediments deposited after the drying up of the lake a hundred and twenty-two years ago.