Environmental impacts on the distribution of microbial tetraether lipids in Chinese lakes with contrasting pH: Implications for lacustrine paleoenvironmental reconstructions

Glycerol dialkyl glycerol tetraethers(GDGTs) in lake sediments are useful biomarkers for the continental paleoclimatic reconstruction. However, the environmental controls on the distribution of these compounds, in particular the 6-methyl isomers of bacterial branched GDGTs(bGDGTs), in the lakes with contrasting pH, are still unknown, hindering their application for paleo-reconstructions. Here, we investigated the environmental impacts on the distribution of GDGTs in 17 alkaline lakes and 1 acid lake in China. It was found that the dissolved oxygen content in water column may have an impact on the distribution of archaeal isoprenoid GDGTs(iGDGTs) by causing the change in archaeal communities. The ratio of GDGT-0/crenarchaeol increases with decreasing oxygen content, indicating that the relative abundance of anaerobic methanogenic archaea or Miscellaneous Crenarchaeotic Group(MCG) vs. aerobic Thaumarchaeota is controlled by the oxygen content dissolved in water of these lakes. Thaumarchaeota are likely to contribute only a small proportion of iGDGTs in the relatively oxygen-depleted lakes, and thus TEX_(86) is not suitable for the reconstruction of the surface temperature of these lakes. The abundance ratio of iGDGTs to bGDGTs(R_(i/b)) appears to show no relationship with water pH in all the lakes, but exhibits a significant positive correlation with the water depth of the acid Lake Qinghai in Tengchong. As expected, the methylation degree of bGDGTs(MBT′) was found to correlate with both mean annual air temperature(MAT) and water pH, and the cyclization degree of bGDGTs(CBT) correlates only with water pH in these lakes. However, the MBT′_(5ME), an index to measure the methylation degree of 5-methyl bGDGTs, exhibits no relationship with MAT, whereas MBT′_(6ME), the methylation degree of 6-methyl bGDGTs, was found to correlate significantly with MAT. This is opposite to the situation observed in the global soils, pointing to a different adaptation of b GDGT-producing bacteria to environmental variables or different microbial sources of bGDGTs in these lakes. The relative abundance of 6- vs. 5-methyl bGDGTs is controlled by pH in these lakes, similar to that observed in worldwide soils. Hence, the isomer ratio(IR) of 6-methyl bGDGTs or CBT′ can be used as a proxy for water pH, although they might be influenced by other environmental factors including temperature in the lakes with a narrow range of pH.     

Distribution of GDGTs in lake surface sediments on the Tibetan Plateau and its influencing factors

Quantitative paleotemperature records are vital not only for verifying and improving the accuracy of climate model simulations, but also for estimating the amplitude of temperature variability under global warming scenarios. The Tibetan Plateau (TP) affects atmospheric circulation patterns due to its unique geographical location and high elevation, and studies of the mechanisms of climate change on the TP are potentially extremely valuable for understanding the relationship of the region with the global climate system. With the development of biomarker-based proxies, it is possible to use lake sediments to quantitatively reconstruct past temperature variability. The source of Glycerol Dialkyl Glycerol Tetraethers (GDGTs) in lake sediments is complex, and their distribution is controlled by both climatic and environmental factors. In this work, we sampled the surface sediments of 27 lakes on the TP and in addition obtained surface soil samples from six of the lake catchments. We analyzed the factors that influence GDGT distribution in the lake sediments, and established quantitative relationship between GDGTs and Mean Annual Air Temperature (MAAT). Our principal findings are as follows: the majority of GDGTs in the lake sediments are bGDGTs, followed by crenarchaeol and GDGT-0. In most of the lakes there were no significant differences between the GDGT distribution within the lake sediments and the soils in the same catchment, which indicates that the contribution of terrestrial material is important. iGDGTs in lake sediments are mainly influenced by water chemistry parameters (pH and salinity), and that in small lakes on the TP, TEX₈₆ may act as a potential proxy for lake pH; however, in contrast bGDGTs in the lake sediments are mainly controlled by climatic factors. Based on the GDGT distribution in the lake sediments, we used proxies (MBT, CBT) and the fractional abundance of bGDGTs (f_abun) to establish calibrations between GDGTs and MAAT, respectively, which potentially provide the basis for paleoclimatic reconstruction on the TP.     

不同时间尺度青海湖沉积物总有机碳对气候变化的敏感性

湖泊沉积物总有机碳（TOC）含量通常作为表征流域和湖泊生产力的指标,在亚洲季风区也常常被当作夏季风的代用指标,被广泛应用于气候与环境变化研究.本文梳理了过去千年、全新世以及冰期-间冰期时间尺度上青海湖沉积物TOC的变化特征,并探讨了其指示气候变化的敏感性与有效性.结果表明,过去千年青海湖沉积物TOC含量与区域暖季温度和降水表现出较为一致的周期性波动.通过对比全新世区域夏季温度、基于孢粉的降水定量重建结果,以及湖泊水位、风沙活动反映的湿度状况等,发现不能简单地将青海湖沉积物TOC含量或沉积通量作为夏季风强度或者季风降水强度的代用指标.青海湖沉积物TOC含量在冰期和间冰期表现出巨大的差异,指示了冰期-间冰期时间尺度上较大的温度与降水变幅.因此,不同地域条件及不同时间尺度下,湖泊沉积物TOC对气候变化的敏感性不同,将湖泊沉积物TOC含量作为亚洲夏季风的代用指标需要特别谨慎,特别是在高寒气候区.     

Evolution of the East China Sea sedimentary environment in the past 14 kyr: Insights from tetraethers-based proxies

We reconstruct the environmental evolution of the East China Sea in the past 14 kyr based on glycerol dialkyl glycerol tetraethers(GDGTs) in a sediment core from the subaqueous Yangtze River Delta. Two primary phases are recognized. Phase I(13.8–8 cal kyr BP) reflects a predominantly continental influence, showing distinctly higher concentrations of branched GDGTs(averaged 143 ng/g dry sediment weight, dsw) than isoprenoid GDGTs(averaged 36 ng/g dsw), high BIT index(branched vs. isoprenoid tetraethers) values(0.78) and a fluctuating GDGT-0/crenarchaeol ratio(R_(0/5), varied from 0.52 to 3.81). Within this interval, temporal increases of terrestrial and marine influence are attributed to Younger Dryas(YD)(ca. 12.9–12.2 cal kyr BP) cold event and melt-water pulse(MWP)-1B(11.5–11.1 cal kyr BP), respectively. The prominent transition from 8 to 7.9 cal kyr BP shows a sharp decrease in BIT index value(0.4) and increase in crenarchaeol, which marks the beginning of phase II. Afterwards, the proxies remain relatively constant, which indicates that phase II(7.9 cal kyr BP-present) is a shelf sedimentary environment with high stand of sea level. Overall, the BIT index in our record serves as a good marker for terrestrial influence at the site, and likely reflects the flooding history of the region. The TEX_(86)(Tetra Ether Index of tetraethers consisting of 86 carbons) proxy is not applicable in phase I because of an excess terrestrial influence; but it seems to be valid for revealing the annual SST in phase II(21.6±0.9°C, n=49). In contrast, the MBT'/CBT(Methylation of Branched Tetraethers and Cyclization of Branched Tetraethers) proxy appears to faithfully record the annual mean air temperature(MAT)(14.3±0.63°C, n=68) and presents an integrated signal over the middle and lower Yangtze River drainage basin.     

Geophysical survey on the tectonic and sediment distribution of Qinghai Lake basin

1 Introduction in China, with an area of 4400 km2 and a drainage area With the advancement of global change study, peo- of nearly 29,660 km2[2]. Occurring at a “climatic triple ple are paying more and more attention to the conti- junction” among the East Asian monsoon, Indian nental environment (in which we reside), its evolution Monsoon and the Westerly Jet Stream, it lies in the and its future tendency. As a component of the global transitional belt of the east monsoonal humid areas sys…     

Distribution of branched glycerol dialkyl glycerol tetraethers in soils on the Northeastern Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau and possible production by nitrite-reducing bacteria

Branched glycerol dialkyl glycerol tetraethers (bGDGTs) are ubiquitous and abundant in soils, but their sources remain elusive. Recent studies demonstrate that the distributions of bGDGTs are sensitive to various environmental factors. In an effort to understand how and to what extent soil moisture (expressed as soil water content (SWC) or mean annual precipitation (MAP), pH and temperature may impact the distribution of bGDGTs, and to shed more light on the biological sources of bGDGTs in cold and arid regions, we investigated the distribution of bGDGTs as well as bacterial 16S rRNA gene and functional genes involved in the N cycle (including amoA, nirS and nirK) in 41 surface soil samples from around Lake Qinghai and east of Qaidam Basin on the Northeastern Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau. We found that lower soil moisture reduced the fractional concentrations of cyclic bGDGTs and thus the cyclisation ratio of branched tetraethers (CBT) index correlated negatively with SWC and MAP, suggesting that soil moisture is an important factor controlling bGDGT distributions in soils in this arid and semi-arid region. Two subgroups of bGDGTs were assigned on the basis of cluster analysis, and bGDGT indices behaved differently in the two groups, hinting at different biosynthetic mechanisms for bGDGTs under different environmental conditions. Real time PCR results showed that nirS and nirK genes correlated significantly with the concentration of bGDGTs, suggesting that the nirS- or nirK-encoding bacteria involved in denitrification might potentially be an additional biological source for soil bGDGTs (besides Acidobacteria). Moreover, our results also support the application of new indices based on 5-methyl bGDGTs and 6-methyl bGDGTs in reconstructing past temperature and pH variations in this region.     

Float‐transient electromagnetic method: in‐loop transient electromagnetic measurements on Lake Holzmaar,Germany

Lake sediments may serve as archives on paleoclimatic fluctuations, geomagnetic field variations and volcanic activities. Lake Holzmaar in Eifel/Germany is a maar lake and its lacustrine sediments provide paleoclimatic proxy data. Therefore, knowledge about the geometry and, especially, about the thickness of the sediments is very important for determining an optimum drilling location for paleoclimatic studies. We have developed a floating in‐loop transient electromagnetic method field set up (Float‐transient electromagnetic method) with a transmitter and receiver size of 18 × 18 m² and 6 × 6 m² respectively. This special set up enables in‐loop transient electromagnetic method measurements on the surface of freshwater lakes that define the geometry and the thickness of sediments beneath such lakes thus helping to determine optimum drilling locations. Due to the modular design of the new Float‐transient electromagnetic method field set up, this system can be handled by two operators and can easily be transported. Sixteen in‐loop soundings were carried out on the surface of Lake Holzmaar. The transient electromagnetic method data could not be interpreted by conventional 1D inversions because of the 3D distribution of subsurface conductivity caused by the lake's geometry. Three‐dimensional finite element modelling was applied to explain the observed transients and the 3D conductivity distribution beneath the lake was recovered by taking its geometry into account. The 3D interpretation revealed approximately 55 m thick sediments beneath 20 m deep water in the central part of the lake.     

137Cs质量平衡法测算青海湖现代沉积速率的尝试

本文是~(137)Cs质量平衡法测算青海湖现代沉积速率的尝试.青海湖和其他低沉积速率湖泊沉积物剖面中,深度数cm处的~(137)Cs蓄积峰,也可能是沉降到底泥表面的~(137)Cs尘埃,以扩散和迁移的方式向下入渗形成.因此,将沉积剖面中的~(137)Cs蓄积峰解释为1963年的沉积,并据此计算沉积速率,未必合理.青海湖湖滨草地测得的2005年~(137)Cs本底值为1 17.7mBq/cm~2.湖泊中部海心山到东南部渔场一线的6个孔的~(137）Cs面积活度介于92.9-325.0mBq/cm~2,其中青海湖东南部两个孔的~(137)Cs面积活度较高,分别为本底值的155%和270%;湖泊中部4个孔的~(137)Cs面积活度略高于或低于本底值.显然,湖泊东南部有明显沉积发生,特别是位于江西沟冲积扇前缘水下部分的QHH02孔,沉积强烈,水深也最小;湖泊中部沉积轻微.根据表层底泥样品的~(137)Cs浓度,入湖河流泥沙的~(137)Cs浓度和流域内草地表层土壤~(137)Cs浓度的分析,初步确定C=30mBq/g,为1963年以来青海湖沉积泥沙的平均~(137)Cs浓度.利用~(137)Cs质量平衡模型求得的湖泊中部的平均沉积速率为0.020cm/a,和根据布哈河输沙模数求算出的青海湖平均沉积速率0.018cm/a吻合,远低于已报导的断代法测定的青海湖沉积速率.湖泊东南部的沉积速率大于湖泊中部,QHH02孔的沉积速率高达0.229cm/a,是已报导的青海湖沉积速率的两倍.     

青海湖最近25年变化的遥感调查与研究

青海湖是我国最大的内陆水体,它及其流域的生态环境近来一直倍受广泛关注．其水位下降、湖水面积缩小、湖体分离等更是研究的热点问题．本文针对这些问题展开遥感调查与研究,收集了多时相、多种信息源的影像数据;分析了1975年至2000年25年以来湖泊的变迁及成因,湖岸变化及湖体分离状况;用遥感方法反推25年以来湖水位的变化;计算了1975、2000年两个年份的湖水面积,并遥感分析了湖水面积萎缩的原因．此外,对青海湖进行了实地调查与水深测量,建立了该湖泊水深反演模型．     

哈纳斯湖的水下地貌与表层沉积物的若干特征

测量表明,哈纳斯湖最大水深达188.5m,平均水深达120.1m,优质淡水容量达53.78×10~8m~3,均在我国湖泊中居突出地位。横断面为罕见的典型箱形,断陷作用仍在强烈进行之中。湖底表层沉积物粒度参数之分布主要受纵向搬运作用控制,局部受横向搬运作用影响。沉积物的矿物学特征与元素分布特征明显受沉积环境控制。沉积物中营养元素含量总体偏低。~(210)Pb法测得平均沉积速率为0.52mm/a,难以补偿断陷作用,湖盆将继续加深。     

Occurrence and distribution of hydroxylated isoprenoid glycerol dialkyl glycerol tetraethers(OH-GDGTs) in the Han River system,South Korea

We investigated the occurrence and distribution of terrestrial-derived hydroxylated isoprenoid glycerol dialkyl glycerol tetraethers(OH-GDGTs) in the Han River system and their potential impact on the application of the ring index of OH-GDGTs(RI-OH) as a sea surface temperature(SST) proxy in the eastern Yellow Sea. Thereby, we analyzed various samples collected along the Han River and from its surrounding areas(South Korea, n = 34). The OHGDGTs were found in all samples investigated. OH-GDGT-0 was the dominant OH-GDGT component in the estuary and marine samples while OH-GDGT-2 was generally dominant in the soils, the lake sediments and the river suspended particulate matter(SPM). Our results thus suggests a possible warm bias of the RI-OH-derived summer SSTs in the coastal zone to which a large amount of terrestrial organic matter is being supplied. Further studies are necessary to better assess the applicability of the RI-OH proxy in the eastern Yellow Sea.     

柴达木盆地托素湖不同位置岩芯沉积物指标对比及其环境意义

湖泊不同位置岩芯沉积物相同代用指标的变化是否一致对于重建可靠的区域气候变化历史至关重要.目前多数研究仅利用深水区单一的沉积岩芯来反演区域的气候环境变化,对于不同位置岩芯重建结果的异同尚缺乏研究.本文选择托素湖不同位置、不同水深的4根短钻岩芯沉积物,在放射性核素(210 Pb和137 Cs)定年的基础上,对比分析各岩芯沉积物粒度、碳酸盐含量等代用指标的变化情况.结果显示,湖泊内相近的沉积岩芯沉积物粒度变化相似,但相距较远的岩芯之间粒度变化差异较大;浅水区的沉积物粒度(粒径或组分含量)在短时间尺度上变化很大,而深水区的沉积环境比较稳定,在百年尺度上的变化不明显;有机质与碳酸盐含量总体变化趋势一致且有较好的相关性,表明碳酸盐可能受到湖泊生产力的影响.碳酸盐含量、碳酸盐氧同位素(δ18 O)和TL06孔孢粉的A/C比值变化基本一致,反映的有效湿度变化与同期气象记录的相对湿度一致,但与降水量和蒸发量的变化不一致.因此,托素湖粒度指标仅指示不同位置钻孔沉积环境状况,与气候变化的关系并不明显,用碳酸盐及其同位素等地球化学指标恢复区域气候变化历史更可靠.     

Biomarker evidence for changes in terrestrial organic matter input into the Yellow Sea mud area during the Holocene

We present lipid biomarker records of two cores(ZY1 and ZY3) from the central South Yellow Sea mud area to investigate the changes in sources and transport processes of the sedimentary organic matter(OM) throughout the Holocene. Based on the analysis of marine biomarker content(SPB(Phytoplankton Biomarker, total content of brassicasterol, dinosterol and C_(37)-alkenones) and crenarchaeol), and terrestrial biomarkers(Sn-alkanols and br GDGTs) as well as TMBR′ and BIT index values, the marine organic matter(MOM) and terrestrial organic matter(TOM) deposition history was reconstructed. Changes in TOM and MOM were related to variations in land vegetation density and marine productivity, as well as transport processes dominated by the oceanic circulation system. The marine biomarker contents from the South Yellow Sea have generally increased throughout the Holocene, indicating that the increased MOM contents were mainly controlled by the strengthening of the circulation system. The terrestrial biomarkers, on the other hand, were more variable, indicating more complex influence of TOM burial in the Yellow Sea. During the Early Holocene(7200–6000 cal yr BP), the moderate TOM input revealed by the terrestrial proxy records may result from abundant land source supply by strong river transport despite the lack of transport via circulation system. The Mid-Holocene(6000–3000 cal yr BP) was characterized by decreased terrestrial biomarker contents. The balance between the decrease in land source supply and increase of transportation by the current system of the TOM resulted in the lower but stable contents of TOM. During the Late Holocene(3000 cal yr BP to present), the TOM deposition in the South Yellow Sea increased as the current system was further enhanced and thus transported more TOM to the central South Yellow Sea, although the land supply of TOM was further reduced.     

Identifying a reliable target fraction for radiocarbon dating sedimentary records from lakes

Lake basins that experience rapid rates of deposition act as high-resolution environmental archives because they produce sedimentary records that have centennial or even decadal resolution. However, identifying target fractions for radiocarbon dating of lake sediments remains problematic because reworked organic material from fluvial catchments can produce anomalously old radiocarbon ages. This study determines the extent to which reworked material from catchment soils impacts radiocarbon dates on pollen and other organic concentrates by comparing radiocarbon dates produced by these techniques against a chronostratigraphic marker in cores from Lake Mapourika, New Zealand. Pollen preferentially preserved and reworked from catchment soils was identified using soil palynology. A technique was then developed to remove reworked pollen types from pollen concentrates extracted from lake sediment. Identification and removal of reworked pollen from pollen concentrates produced ages that were consistently closer to the age of the chronostratigraphic horizon than other organic concentrates. However, these dates were still between 736 and 366 calendar years older than expected. The only organic fractions that reliably reproduced the age of the chronostratigraphic horizon were terrestrial leaf macrofossils, although terrestrial leaf macrofossils isolated from megaturbidite deposits, which are formed by high-energy depositional events, also provided anomalously old ages. The results indicate that leaf material extracted from hemipelagite, which accumulates gradually, is likely to be the only organic fraction to produce reliable chronology in lakes where a component of sedimentation is driven by the fluvial system. The results also demonstrate the importance of conducting a detailed investigation of physical sedimentology before selecting material for radiocarbon dating lake sediments.     

云南腾冲青海——酸性湖泊的环境特征

火山口湖成因和持续酸性地下水补给是腾冲青海呈现酸性湖泊环境的地质基础,通过对青海环境的实际调查和水、土、生物样品的分析、鉴定,结果表明：湖水具较低pH值、极低的阳离子组成和矿化度;沉积物中Ca、Mg、Al、Fe等元素有明显流失;湖泊生物种群少且生物量低,缺失蓝藻和腹足类、瓣鳃类、甲壳类动物等为区别于一般中、碱性湖泊最显著的特点,酸性水介质湖泊系统元素地球化学行为的变化及其对生物的影响－－生物贫化和耐酸种扩张,既是腾冲青海的基本特点,也是酸性湖泊环境形成的动力机制。     

长江中游湖泊表层沉积物多环芳烃的分布、来源特征及其生态风险评价

为明确长江中游地区湖泊沉积物中多环芳烃（PAHs）的分布特征、来源及其生态风险,于2018年7月采集了该地区12个湖泊的表层沉积物样品.采用气相色谱-质谱联用仪（GC-MS）测定了沉积物中16种PAHs的含量.结果表明：12个湖泊沉积物中均检测出16种优控PAHs,PAHs的总含量在572.7~1766.2 ng/g （dw）之间（均值为976.5±285.0 ng/g （dw））.武汉市东湖沉积物中PAHs含量最高,达到1634.8±111.4 ng/g （dw）.与国内外其他地区湖泊沉积物相比,长江中游地区湖泊沉积物中PAHs含量高于国内偏远地区的抚仙湖、青海湖及博斯腾湖,低于东部地区的巢湖、太湖及美国经济工业发达地区的湖泊.根据单体PAH的聚类分析结果,12个湖泊可以分成3种类型,类型1主要以低环为主,占比为64.04%±7.02%,类型2低环和中高环分布相对平均,分别为50.76%±5.17%和49.24%±5.17%,类型3低、中、高环分布相对平均,占比分别为35.35%±3.56%、26.17%±0.45%和38.48%±3.84%.综合该区域PAHs的分布特征及异构体比值法与主成分分析法的结果表明,类型1湖泊沉积物中PAHs主要来源为煤炭、木材等生物质的燃烧源;类型2和类型3湖泊沉积物中PAHs主要来源为煤炭、木材等生物质的低温燃烧以及机动车等燃烧汽油、柴油的尾气排放和工业炼焦等化石燃料的高温燃烧源.沉积物中PAHs与总有机碳（TOC）之间显著的相关性表明,沉积物中TOC含量是影响长江中游湖泊沉积物中PAHs归趋分布的主要因素.长江中游流域湖泊沉积物中PAHs的RQ_NCs值均小于800,且RQ_MPCs值大于1的风险商值法生态风险评价结果表明,长江中游流域湖泊表层沉积物中PAHs整体呈中等风险水平.     

长江中下游湖泊沉积物生物可利用磷分布特征

利用化学提取方法对太湖6个样点,巢湖4个样点和龙感湖3个样点的表层沉积物和沉积物柱样进行了生物可利用磷(BAP)测定．北太湖表层沉积物的平均含量为259．5mg／kg,而西部湖区平均含量为114 6mg／kg,湖心区平均含量为40．6 mg/kg,而东太湖平均含量为50．7 mg／kg,呈显著北高南低的特点．巢湖西部湖区表层沉积物的BAP平均含量为 254．2 mg／kg,而东部湖区BAP含量降低为101．9mg／kg．龙感湖表层沉积物BAP平均含量为67．8 mg／kg．显著表明污染程度较高的湖区沉积物的BAP相应较高．BAP在沉积物中随深度呈指数降低,显示生物可利用磷在沉积作用下向稳定的非活性磷转化．夏季沉积物中的BAP由于生物活性的增强向溶解态活性磷转化过程增强,显示为较低的BAP含量．BAP 含量与水体溶解态活性磷呈正相关关系,且该相关性在BAP含量较低的样点好于高BAP的样点．     

青海湖及柴达木盆地地区现代湖泊沉积物中长链烯酮的分布特征

研究了我国青海湖和柴达木盆地地区不同类型湖泊表层沉积物中的长链烯酮。结果表明该地区湖泊中可能广泛存在长链烯酮,多数淡水湖、咸水湖现代沉积物中C37／C38〉1,而盐湖中C37／38〈1。根据文献中报道的湖泊环境下长链烯酮不饱和度U^K＋37与温度的方程,估计的温度在青海湖地区处于实际温度范围内,而在柴达木盆地低于实际温度,结果亦显示在青海湖和柴达木盆地地区,长链烯酮的含量在咸水湖中要明显的高于淡水湖和盐湖,最高含量出现在咸水湖（盐度为103.2g／L）尕海中,高达86.09μg／g;这种含量和分布特征可能表明生产长链烯酮的藻类应该更喜欢生长于具有一定盐度的环境;长链烯酮含量的变化可能指示咸水或淡水环境。     

Oligochaete distribution patterns in two German hardwater lakes of different trophic state

We investigated the effect of contrasting trophic conditions on the distribution and dominance patterns of Oligochaeta species assemblages in lake sediments and their relation to the environmental variables depth, season, and substrate. The study was performed on the highly eutrophic Lake Haussee and the oligotrophic Lake Stechlin, both hardwater lakes in the Baltic Lake District of Northern Germany. Quantitative monthly and seasonal sampling took place over one year at 14 representative sites, covering littoral and profundal sediments of both lakes. Between-lake differences in the profundal were clearcut with an absence of any zoobenthos in Lake Haussee and a peculiar meiobenthic species assemblage in Lake Stechlin (Collado et al. 1999). Between-lake differences in the littoral, however, were small and mainly attributable to a small number of species exclusive to Lake Stechlin and an overall higher abundance of oligochaetes, especially naidids, in Lake Haussee. Species-richest family in both lakes were Naididae; Tubificidae were dominant in Lake Stechlin; in Lake Haussee Tubificidae and Naididae were equally abundant. Most striking were diversity of habitat types and species distribution patterns in the littoral. Multivariate analysis (CA, CCA) showed that the distribution patterns of oligochaete species assemblages are significantly correlated with depth, season and substrate. Depth is the major factor when the whole water body is considered. When confining to the littoral, species abundance and distribution are strongly related to seasonality and substrate type. Naididae show, in general, maximal abundances in autumn and summer and a preference for plants, plant debris and soft sediments; Tubificidae are more abundant in spring and prefer mineral substrate. The relation between seasonality, substrate and food availability is discussed.     

The paleoenvironmental significance of spatial distributions of grain size in groundwater‐recharged lakes: A case study in the hinterland of the Badain Jaran Desert,northwest China

For lakes in desert hinterlands that are not recharged by river runoff, sediment input solely comes from wind transport. While the processes of sediment transport and deposition in these lakes differ significantly from those with river discharge, the spatial distribution of sediment grain size in these groundwater‐recharged lakes remains largely unknown. Moreover, whether the grain size distribution in these lake sediments can be used as a proxy in the study of past climatic change and environmental evolution studies is unclear. In this study, five lakes with a range of surface areas that had no runoff recharge were selected from the hinterland of the Badain Jaran Desert of north‐western China, and a total of 108 samples of lake surface sediments were collected to examine the spatial distribution of grain size. Moreover, an end‐member‐modeling algorithm was used to calculate end members from all grain size measurements. Our results showed that both the median and mean grain sizes in the lake sediments decreased from the nearshore to the offshore, deep‐water zone. However, the lowest median and mean grain sizes were not found in the center of the lakes, in contrast to lakes recharged by surface runoff. The median grain size of sediment in the lake center was negatively correlated with lake level, and thus could help reveal lake evolution at low resolutions. Moreover, EM1 and EM2 were interpreted as wind transported sediment, and sediment perturbed by lake waves after wind transport, respectively. The modal grain size of EM1 varied slightly between lakes, while changes in the modal grain size of EM2 were related to lake area. Given the positive relationship found between EM2 content and lake level, changes in the EM2 content (%) can serve as a rough indicator of lake level fluctuations at low temporal resolutions. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.