Recent climate-driven ecological changes in tropical montane lakes of Rwenzori Mountains National Park, central Africa

A recent study reveals that tropical montane lakes in Rwenzori Mountains National Park, central Africa, have undergone significant ecological changes over the past 150 years due to climate warming and glacial recession. The research, using paleolimnological analysis from Lake Mahoma, found a shift in diatom communities towards more tychoplanktonic taxa, concurrent with declining nitrogen isotope values, suggesting increased thermal stratification linked to regional warming. Comparisons across three lakes showed unidirectional compositional turnover, indicating deterministic processes affecting diatom communities, primarily driven by competition for resources. The study also highlighted the influence of glacial history on sediment organic carbon sources, providing insights into the ecological impacts of climate change in these sensitive alpine ecosystems.

Mackay, A. W., Lee, R., & Russell, J. M. (2020). Recent climate-driven ecological changes in tropical montane lakes of Rwenzori Mountains National Park, central Africa. Journal of Paleolimnology, 65(2), 219–234. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10933-020-00161-x