Small Changes in Climate Can Profoundly Alter the Dynamics and Ecosystem Services of Tropical Crater Lakes
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Date
2014
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
PLoS ONE
Abstract
African tropical lakes provide vital ecosystem services including food and water to some of the fastest growing human
populations, yet they are among the most understudied ecosystems in the world. The consequences of climate change and
other stressors on the tropical lakes of Africa have been informed by long-term analyses, but these studies have largely
focused on the massive Great Rift Valley lakes. Our objective was to evaluate how recent climate change has altered the
functioning and services of smaller tropical lakes, which are far more abundant on the landscape. Based on a paired analysis
of 20 years of high-resolution water column data and a paleolimnological record from a small crater lake in western Uganda,
we present evidence that even a modest warming of the air (,0.9uC increase over 20 years) and changes in the timing and
intensity of rainfall can have significant consequences on the dynamics of this common tropical lake type. For example, we
observed a significant nonlinear increase (R2
adj = 0.23, e.d.f.=7, p,0.0001) in thermal stability over the past 20 years. This
resulted in the expansion of anoxic waters and consequent deterioration of fish habitat and appears to have abated primary
production; processes that may impair ecosystem services for a vulnerable human population. This study on a system
representative of small tropical crater lakes highlights the far-reaching effects of global climatic change on tropical waters.
Increased research efforts into tropical aquatic ecosystem health and the development of sound management practices are
necessary in order to strengthen adaptive capabilities in tropical regions.
Description
Keywords
Climate, Ecosystem Services, Tropical Crater Lakes
Citation
Saulnier-Talbot E´ , Gregory-Eaves I, Simpson KG, Efitre J, Nowlan TE, et al. (2014) Small Changes in Climate Can Profoundly Alter the Dynamics and Ecosystem Services of Tropical Crater Lakes. PLoS ONE 9(1): e86561. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0086561