Cladocera responses to ~200-year history of environmental stressors on Rideau Canal (Ontario, Canada) lakes

Recent climate warming has significantly altered cladoceran assemblages in Rideau Canal lakes, Ontario, with increased dominance of Bosmina spp. and declines in littoral taxa, despite relatively stable changes during the canal's 200-year history. This study reconstructs past ~200 years of cladoceran dynamics using sediment cores to assess responses to environmental stressors such as climate change, zebra mussel invasions, and cyanobacterial blooms. Unlike diatom assemblages, which showed major shifts, cladoceran turnover was consistently lower but reflected recent limnological changes, including reduced total phosphorus concentrations and altered food resources. The findings highlight the sensitivity of this key intermediate trophic level to contemporary environmental pressures.

Graves, E. L., Balasubramaniam, K., Rühland, K. M., Paterson, A. M., & Smol, J. P. (2026). Cladocera responses to ~200-year history of environmental stressors on Rideau Canal (Ontario, Canada) lakes. Journal of Limnology, 85. https://doi.org/10.4081/jlimnol.2026.2258