Small Changes in Climate Can Profoundly Alter the Dynamics and Ecosystem Services of Tropical Crater Lakes

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dc.contributor.authorSaulnier-Talbot, Emilie
dc.contributor.authorGregory-Eaves, Irene
dc.contributor.authorSimpson, Kyle G.
dc.contributor.authorEfitre, Jackson
dc.contributor.authorNowlan, Tobias E.
dc.contributor.authorTaranu, Zofia E.
dc.contributor.authorChapman, Lauren J.
dc.date.accessioned2023-01-24T18:47:04Z
dc.date.available2023-01-24T18:47:04Z
dc.date.issued2014
dc.description.abstractAfrican 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.en_US
dc.identifier.citationSaulnier-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.0086561en_US
dc.identifier.other10.1371/journal.pone.0086561
dc.identifier.urihttps://nru.uncst.go.ug/handle/123456789/7182
dc.language.isoenen_US
dc.publisherPLoS ONEen_US
dc.subjectClimateen_US
dc.subjectEcosystem Servicesen_US
dc.subjectTropical Crater Lakesen_US
dc.titleSmall Changes in Climate Can Profoundly Alter the Dynamics and Ecosystem Services of Tropical Crater Lakesen_US
dc.typeArticleen_US
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