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- Hansson, L. A., et al.
(author)
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Variation in physical, chemical and biological components in the subantarctic lakes of South Georgia
- 1996
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In: Ecography. - : Wiley. - 0906-7590. ; 19:4, s. 393-403
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Physical, chemical and biological variables were quantified in 19 subantarctic lakes (South Georgia) as a prelude to comparing these pristine systems with temperate lakes and to improve the knowledge of spatial and temporal variation in water chemistry and abundances of organisms. Lakes close to the sea had higher phosphorus concentrations, contained higher abundances of most organisms, and had higher number of invertebrate species than lakes situated further from the sea. Differences were attributed to higher nutrient input from marine organisms, such as penguins, seals and petrels, and probably also to a somewhat longer ice-free period. Since the lakes of South Georgia lack fish, the pelagic invertebrate fauna is dominated by herbivorous macrozooplankton. Rotifers are rare in the open water and are restricted to the vegetation (mainly mosses) in shallow areas and to the sediment surface. Generally, the algal abundance at the sediment surface is high in subantarctic lakes, indicating that the main part of the primary production is provided by benthic algae, which is in contrast to what is normally the case in temperate waters.
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- Persson, Anders, et al.
(author)
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Effects of enrichment on simple aquatic food webs
- 2001
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In: American Naturalist. - : University of Chicago Press. - 0003-0147 .- 1537-5323. ; 157:6, s. 654-669
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Simple models, based on Lotka-Volterra types of interactions between predator and prey, predict that enrichment will have a destabilizing effect on populations and that equilibrium population densities will change at the top trophic level and every second level below. We experimentally tested these predictions in three aquatic food web configurations subjected to either high or low nutrient additions. The results were structured by viewing the systems as either food chains or webs and showed that trophic level biomass increased with enrichment, which contradicts food chain theory. However, within each trophic level, food web configuration affected the extent to which different functional groups responded to enrichment. By dividing trophic levels into functional groups, based on vulnerability to consumption, we were able to identify significant effects that were obscured when systems were viewed as food chains. The results support the prediction that invulnerable prey may stabilize trophic-level dynamics by replacing other, more vulnerable prey. Furthermore, the vulnerable prey, such as Daphnia and edible algae, responded as predicted by the paradox of enrichment hypothesis; that is, variability in population density increased with enrichment. Hence, by describing ecosystems as a matrix of food web interactions, and by recognizing the interplay between interspecific competition and predation, a more complete description of the ecosystem function was obtained compared to when species were placed into distinct trophic levels.
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- Abbott, Benjamin W., et al.
(author)
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Biomass offsets little or none of permafrost carbon release from soils, streams, and wildfire : an expert assessment
- 2016
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In: Environmental Research Letters. - : IOP Publishing. - 1748-9326. ; 11:3
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- As the permafrost region warms, its large organic carbon pool will be increasingly vulnerable to decomposition, combustion, and hydrologic export. Models predict that some portion of this release will be offset by increased production of Arctic and boreal biomass; however, the lack of robust estimates of net carbon balance increases the risk of further overshooting international emissions targets. Precise empirical or model-based assessments of the critical factors driving carbon balance are unlikely in the near future, so to address this gap, we present estimates from 98 permafrost-region experts of the response of biomass, wildfire, and hydrologic carbon flux to climate change. Results suggest that contrary to model projections, total permafrost-region biomass could decrease due to water stress and disturbance, factors that are not adequately incorporated in current models. Assessments indicate that end-of-the-century organic carbon release from Arctic rivers and collapsing coastlines could increase by 75% while carbon loss via burning could increase four-fold. Experts identified water balance, shifts in vegetation community, and permafrost degradation as the key sources of uncertainty in predicting future system response. In combination with previous findings, results suggest the permafrost region will become a carbon source to the atmosphere by 2100 regardless of warming scenario but that 65%-85% of permafrost carbon release can still be avoided if human emissions are actively reduced.
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- Almeida, Rafael M., et al.
(author)
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Phosphorus transport by the largest Amazon tributary (Madeira River, Brazil) and its sensitivity to precipitation and damming
- 2015
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In: Inland Waters. - 2044-2041 .- 2044-205X. ; 5:3, s. 275-282
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Originating in the Bolivian and Peruvian Andes, the Madeira River is the largest tributary of the Amazon River in terms of discharge. Andean rivers transport large quantities of nutrient-rich suspended sediments and are the main source of phosphorus (P) to the Amazon basin. Here, we show the seasonal variability in concentrations and loads of different P forms (total, particulate, dissolved, and soluble reactive P) in the Madeira River through 8 field campaigns between 2009 and 2011. At our sampling reach in Porto Velho, Brazil, the Madeira River transports similar to 177-247 Gg yr(-1) of P, mostly linked to particles (similar to 85%). Concentrations and loads of all P forms have a maximum at rising waters and a minimum at low waters. Total P concentrations were substantially higher at a given discharge at rising water than at a similar discharge at falling water. The peak of P concentrations matched the peak of rainfall in the upper basin, suggesting an influence of precipitation-driven erosion. Projected precipitation increase in the eastern slopes of the Andes could enhance sediment yield and hence the P transport in the Madeira River. Because most of the P is particulate, however, we hypothesize that the planned proliferation of hydropower dams in the Madeira basin has the potential to reduce P loads substantially, possibly counteracting any precipitation-related increases. In the long term, this could be detrimental to highly productive downstream floodplain forests that are seasonally fertilized with P-rich deposits.
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- Barros, Nathan, et al.
(author)
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Carbon emission from hydroelectric reservoirs linked to reservoir age and latitude
- 2011
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In: Nature Geoscience. - : Nature Publishing Group. - 1752-0894 .- 1752-0908. ; 4:9, s. 593-596
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Hydroelectric reservoirs cover an area of 3.4 x 10(5) km(2) and comprise about 20% of all reservoirs. In addition, they contain large stores of formerly terrestrial organic carbon. Significant amounts of greenhouse gases are emitted(2), especially in the early years following reservoir creation, but the global extent of these emissions is poorly known. Previous estimates of emissions from all types of reservoir indicate that these human-made systems emit 321 Tg of carbon per year (ref. 4). Here we assess the emissions of carbon dioxide and methane from hydroelectric reservoirs, on the basis of data from 85 globally distributed hydroelectric reservoirs that account for 20% of the global area of these systems. We relate the emissions to reservoir age, location biome, morphometric features and chemical status. We estimate that hydroelectric reservoirs emit about 48 Tg C as CO(2) and 3 Tg C as CH(4), corresponding to 4% of global carbon emissions from inland waters. Our estimates are smaller than previous estimates on the basis of more limited data. Carbon emissions are correlated to reservoir age and latitude, with the highest emission rates from the tropical Amazon region. We conclude that future emissions will be highly dependent on the geographic location of new hydroelectric reservoirs.
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