Contrasting effects of nutrients and climate on algal communities in two lakes in the Windermere catchment since the late 19th century

A centennial-scale analysis of two lakes in the English Lake District reveals that nutrient pollution and climate change have contrasting effects on algal communities, with local land-use practices acting as a filter to regional climate impacts. The study found that rising densities of livestock in Blelham Tarn's catchment correlated strongly with increases in cyanobacterial pigments and stable isotopes post-1970s, while seasonal changes in hydraulic flushing influenced siliceous algae abundance after 1990. In contrast, Lake Windermere's North Basin showed synchronous vernal algal blooms following mid-19th century agricultural intensification but asynchronous summer taxa changes due to differences in wastewater management. This research underscores the importance of palaeolimnology in identifying significant nutrient sources for effective catchment water management.

Moorhouse, H. L., McGowan, S., Jones, M. D., Barker, P., Leavitt, P. R., Brayshaw, S. A., & Haworth, E. Y. (2014). Contrasting effects of nutrients and climate on algal communities in two lakes in the Windermere catchment since the late 19th century. Freshwater Biology, 59(12), 2605–2620. Portico. https://doi.org/10.1111/fwb.12457