Paleolimnological studies of saline lakes

Salt water lakes are located in arid to semi-arid regions where evaporation rates exceed precipitation rates. As such, saline lakes are very sensitive to changes in their hydrological cycle. Research into the current limnology of saline lakes is expanding as population growth in these regions increases. Emerging concerns include water diversions, eutrophication, and toxic substances. Paleolimnological investigations of saline lakes are providing valuable new information on paleoclimate and paleohydrology. Such studies may allow for better predictions of the environmental consequences of global warming and for a better understanding of past climate change. Paleolimnological studies may also provide some insight to more recent, anthropogenic perturbations in the arid and semi-arid regions of the world.This publication is the introduction to a series of papers presented at the Conference on Sedimentary and Paleolimnological Records of Saline Lakes. The conference was held August 13–16, 1991 at the University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Canada. Dr. Evans is serving as Guest Editor.     

The biota of Romanian saline lakes on rock salt bodies: A review

An inventory of the aquatic and circum-lacustrine flora and aquatic fauna of 23 karst- and anthroposaline lakes formed on Miocene rock salt bodies in Romania was undertaken. Simultaneous field determinations of water and sediment pH, total dissolved solids, Secchi transparency and lake maximum depth were also made. Environmental conditions for phytoplankton, microphytobenthos, macrophyte and cormophyte species were defined. Relations between the numbers of plankton, microbenthos, macrophyte and cormophyte species differentiated pelogenous (usually, therapeutic) and non-pelogenous lakes. High densities and occurrence frequencies characterized the most representative species. For three of these species, Amphora veneta, Artemia sp. and Potamogeton pectinatus, ecological conditions were noted. In the circum-lacustrine vegetation, glycophytes were more important than halophytes.     

Zooplankton distribution and abundance in saline lakes of Alberta and Saskatchewan,Canada

Zooplankton collections were made during 1985, 1986, 1988 and 1989 from 17 lakes in Saskatchewan and 3 in Alberta. Salinity ranged from 2.8 to 269 g L⁻¹ (total filtrable residue). A total of 35 species was present in four taxa: Anostraca (3 species), Cladocera (11), Copepoda (7) and Rotifera (14). Species richness was greatest at salinities <7 g L⁻¹ (15–16 species). Lakes with salinities between 7 and 100 g L⁻¹ generally had 6–8 zooplankton species, while the most saline lakes (>100 g L⁻¹) had 2–5 species. The largest concentrations of zooplankton occurred at <30 g L⁻¹, but some species (Brachionus plicatilis, Hexarthra polyodonta, Artemia franciscana, Diaptomus connexus) were abundant at salinities >50 g L⁻¹. Eurysaline species included the rotifersAsplanchna girodi (3–111 g L⁻¹),Brachionus plicatilis (13–146) andKeratella quadrata (2.8–103).Artemia franciscana (33–269—but absent from Big Quill Lake, 49–82),Daphnia similis (3–104).D. connexus (9–82),Diacyclops thomasi (3–72), andCletocamptus albuquerquensis (17 to 126—but never abundant in the plankton). About half the species were restricted to hyposaline waters (3–20 g L⁻¹), but some (Hexarthra fennica, Moina hutchinsoni, Hexarthra polyodonta) occurred only at intermediate salinities. The latter two species were also only present at high pH values (>9.2). There was a trend of decreasing species richness with increasing salinity. TWINSPAN classification of 94 lake samples (six parameters) based on zooplankton species abundances yielded a dendrogram with 14 ‘indicator’ species characteristic of seven lake groups related partly to a salinity gradient, but with other environmental factors such as water column depth, pH, Secchi disk transparency, water temperature and month sampled also influenced lake separation. *** DIRECT SUPPORT *** A02GG004 00002     

Zooplankton distribution and abundance in saline lakes of British Columbia,Canada

Zooplankton in saline lakes of the Southern Interior Plateau of British Columbia were collected on three occasions: mid-May and early August, 1990, and in late July, 1991. Salinities ranged from 2.6 to 45.8 g L⁻¹. Of the 17 lakes examined, 13 were hyposaline (∼-20g L⁻¹), four, mesosaline (20–50 g L⁻¹) and none, hypersaline (>50 g L⁻¹). pH ranged from 8.7 (Three Mile) to 10.7 (Goodenough), with values <9.6 in 10, and <9.0 in only three lakes. Lakes with high pHs had high bicarbonate-carbonate alkalinities. Thirty one species of zooplankton occurred: Protista (1), Rotifera (13), Anostraca (2), Cladocera (7), Ostracoda (1) and Copepoda (7). Sixteen species were restricted to hyposaline waters, with seven found only in salinities of ≤5 gL⁻¹. Two species (Diaptomus connexus, Artemia franciscana) were restricted to mesosaline waters of salinity >35 g L⁻¹. Eurysaline species includedBrachionus plicatilis, Hexarthra fennica, Limnocythere staplini, Artemia franciscana andDiaptomus connexus. Most species were abundant in 1+ lakes, but six species always had low populations.B. plicatilis, Hexarthra polyodonta, A. franciscana, Limnocythere staplini, Daphnia similis andD. connexus had densest populations in one or more of the three most saline lakes, viz. Long, Goodenough and Three Mile. Cladocerans other thanD. similis (Alona sp., Ceriodaphnia quadrangula, Daphnia pulex) were usually abundant in lakes of low salinity (<5 g L⁻¹).Diatomus sicilis, present in all except the three most saline lakes, also occurred in abundance in ten of these lakes.Moina hutchinsoni andH. polyodonta were present in both hyposaline and mesosaline lakes, but, more importantly, tended to occur only at higher pH values (>pH 9.4) but not in all such lakes. These can be regarded as alkaline-saline species. Sorensen’s Coefficient of Community Similarity was used to compare communities in Alberta-Saskatchewan and British Columbia. It was low (0.37). A comparison restricted to just Cladocera gave a slightly higher value, 0.44, but a comparison of Copepoda gave a value of 71 per cent similarity between the regions. Multiple regression analyses using pH, TDS and K regressed on species richness for all samples accounted for only 41 per cent of the variance. However, when the analysis was seasonally restricted (May), and thus to a limited chemical range, 47 to 77.5 per cent of the variance was accounted for by these three variables.     

Inland saline lakes of Wadi El Natrun depression, Egypt

The morphology and geochemistry of saline lakes in the Wadi El Natrun depression were studied. All lakes had pH values of 8.5--9.5 and a salinity from 283 to 540 g/L. The main ionic components were sulphate, chloride, carbonate and sodium. Traces of magnesium were also present. The water of the lakes is of the Cl^– to SO ₄ ^2– -Cl^– type. Increased Cl^– in Wadi El Natrun brines can increase metal solubility due to the formation of soluble chloro-complexes of trace elements. The metal concentrations decrease in the order: Pb > Cu > Cd > Ni > Zn > Fe > Mn. The characteristics of Wadi El Natrun saline lakes are compared with those from other saline lakes.     

Falling water-levels in saline lakes of the central Rift Valley of Kenya: The case of Lake Elmenteita

Reasons why Lake Elmenteita and rivers flowing into it decreased in volume during 1958–1987 were investigated. The effects of changing climate, landcover and landuse were considered. The study suggested that falling lake water-levels are not due to climate change alone: landuse changes and river abstraction and damming may also be important. Long-term trends in rainfall and evaporation reveal various patterns: monthly evaporation has slightly decreased recently but with no effect on lake levels; rainfall has remained more or less constant in total amount, but monthly falls show increased variability. Although flows in rivers and streams are primarily determined by rainfall, other factors operate near the lake so discharge into the lake cannot be predicted from rainfall. Increased settlement and farming on former forested areas within the catchment and irrigation along rivers also indirectly affect discharge values. Additionally, accelerated soil erosion from farmed lands has led to a reduced lake volume following soil deposition in the lake. It is noted that landuse changes need to be carefully monitored because of their effect on lake levels.     

Littoral benthos of the saline crater lakes of the basin of Oriental, Mexico

Two saline crater lakes in the basin of Oriental, Puebla-Tlaxcala-Veracruz, were investigated for littoral benthic macroinvertebrates. Fifty taxa were identified with the oligochaetes, amphipods, chironomids and leeches the dominant organisms. These four taxa made up to 99 per cent in both number and biomass.Limnodrilus hoffmeisteri, Hyalella azteca, Tanypus (Apelopia) sp. andStictochironomus sp. were the most abundant organisms. Unlike other saline lakes which have a littoral benthos dominated by chironomids, Alchichica and Atexcac were dominated by oligochaetes (70–73 per cent). The gastropod,Physa sp., was found up to a salinity of 8 g L⁻¹; in other studies, it has been found in lower salinities.L. hoffmeisteri is also a typical inhabitant of freshwater lakes, particularly of deep waters. It was dominant in the shallow, saline waters of the two lakes studied. Salinity did not affect species richness. Alchichica, the most saline of the six crater lakes of Puebla (salinity, 7.4 g L⁻¹), had 30 per cent more species than the freshwater lakes, and double the species number of Atexcac. It seems the main factor controlling species richness and the density and biomass of organisms in Alchichica and Atexcac is the presence of aquatic vegetation. It does this by increasing habitat heterogeneity and providing food and protection against predators.     

Chemical composition of saline and subsaline lakes of the northern Great Plains,western Canada

The northern Great Plains of Canada stretch from the Precambrian Shield near Winnipeg, Manitoba, westward for ∼1,700 km to the Rocky Mountains foothills. This vast region of flat to gently rolling terrain contains a very large number of salt lakes. Major ion chemical data on ∼500 of them are available. Although the average brine (salinity, 37 ppt) is a Na⁺−SO₄ ²⁻ type of water, the lakes exhibit a wide range of salinities and ionic compositions. This diversity is confirmed by Q-mode cluster analysis; it identified thirteen major water chemistry types. Most ions display distinct trends, both spatially and with increasing salinity. All dissolved components increase with increasing salinity, but at different rates. The relative proportions of Ca²⁺ and HCO₃ ⁻+CO₃ ²⁻ ions show a strong decrease with increasing brine salinity, whereas SO₄ ²⁻ ions increase with increasing salinity. The ionic proportions of Na⁺, Mg²⁺, K⁺ and Cl⁻ exhibit no significant relationship with salinity. R-mode factor analysis of the lake water chemistry, combined with selected environmental parameters, identifies groundwater composition, climate, and the elevation of the lake within the drainage system as most important in controlling brine chemistry and salinity on a regional basis. Variability in source of ions, reaction processes and products are undoubtedly key factors in helping to explain brine chemistry of an individual basin or variation from a local perspective, but these factors are generally poorly understood and not quantified on a regional basis. Palliser Triangle Global Change Project Contribution Number 3.     

Nutrients as a link between ionic concentration/composition and diatom distributions in saline lakes

Diatom profiles in closed-basin lake sediments are commonly used to reconstruct climate change based on the observed correlations between salinity (ionic concentration) and modern diatom assemblages. Diatom assemblages are strongly correlated not only with salinity but also anion composition, with certain taxa characteristic of carbonate systems and others sulfate-dominated waters. Although strong correlations exist, the actual mechanisms behind these correlations are unknown. Here we briefly review the influence of salinity and ionic composition on nutrient dynamics in saline lakes and suggest that these interactions may drive shifts in diatom species composition along gradients of ionic concentration/composition. We discuss the influence of salinity and anion composition on nutrient availability, as well as on nutrient requirements and uptake by diatoms.     

Enzymological classification of salt lakes in Romania

Sediments of 56 salt lakes from Romania were studied enzymologically. The following 7 enzymatic and nonenzymatic catalytic activities have been measured: phosphatase, H₂O₂-splitting in nonautoclaved (catalase) and autoclaved samples, TTC reduction in nonautoclaved (dehydrogenase) and autoclaved samples, without or with glucose addition. A formula is proposed for the evaluation of the enzymatic potential of salt lake sediments or other habitats. A hierarchy of the studied lakes has been established on the basis of the enzymatic potential of their sediments expressed as enzymatic indicator.     

Diatom preservation in the recent sediment record of Spanish saline lakes: implications for palaeoclimate study

In palaeoclimate research, fossil diatoms from saline lakes can be excellent indicators of past salinity, a proxy for climate change, although they are sometimes poorly preserved in sediment cores. Spain has numerous salt lakes but the potential of diatoms for studies of climate change has never been investigated. A comprehensive survey of diatom preservation is described based on modern and fossil diatoms from short cores (<50 cm depth) in a representative data-set of 59 sites, and the main factors affecting preservation are investigated using principal components analysis (PCA). Most lakes do not preserve a diatom record; four sites in southern Spain are identified which both contain diatoms and have suitable limnological characteristics for a climate study. Many lakes are ephemeral and the physical effects of desiccation, coupled with other factors such as turbidity and high salinity, are the main factors enhancing diatom dissolution or their failure to be incorporated into the sediment record.     

Inland saline lakes with lagoonal biota: some reflections on the concept and nature of athalassic (non-marine), paralic and marine saline waters

First, some inland basins with lagoonal (or paralic) biota are brieffly described. The different kinds of saline aquatic environments are then defined and the composition of their biota are discussed. Finally, the still unknown microbiogeochemical composition of concentrated inland waters is discussed. Under arid and endorheic conditions, it seems that the wider and the more geologically complex a hydrological basin is, the more biogeochemically similar to seawater is the water of its terminal lake. The evolution of the microbiogeochemical complexity of seawater through geological times is considered.This paper has been the subject of considerable discussion among referees. Not all of the views expressed by the author are accepted by them.     

The siliceous sediments of Lake Cantara South,a saline lake in South Australia

A textural analysis of the siliceous sediments component of a small saline lake in south-eastern South Australia (Lake Cantara South) was undertaken. The data indicated periods of marine incursion, lagoonal dominance and elevated freshwater inputs. Lake Cantara originated as a marine embayment; then followed periods of intermittent marine connection; finally, the lake became athalassic (mostly saline but with occasional freshwater inundations). This history accords well with that derived from an examination of mollusc fossils (marine, estuarine, athalassic saline, and freshwater forms) and with previously published mineralogical, geochemical and geomorphological evidence.     

Paleohydrology of Andean saline lakes from sedimentological and isotopic records, Northwestern Argentina

The paleohydrological evolution of several high altitude, saline lakes located in the southernmost Altiplano (El Peinado and San Francisco basins, Catamarca province, NW Argentina) was reconstructed applying sedimentological, geochemical and isotopic techniques. Several playa lakes from the San Francisco basin (26° 56 S; 68° 08 W, 3800-3900 m a.s.l.) show evidence of a recent raise in the watertable that led to modern deposition of carbonate and diatomaceous muds. A 2 m - long core from El Peinado Lake (26° 29 59 S, 68°05 32 W, 3820 m a.s.l.) consists of calcitic crusts (unit 3), overlaid by an alternation of macrophyte-rich and travertine clast- rich, laminated muds (unit 2), and topped by travertine facies (unit 1). This sedimentary sequence illustrates a paleohydrological evolution from a subaerial exposure (unit 3) to a high lake stand (unit 2), and a subsequent smaller decrease in lake level (unit 1). The ¹³C_{organic matter}record also reflects the lake transgression between units 3 and 2. Although there is a general positive correlation between ¹⁸O_carbonate and salinity proxies (Na, Li and B content), the large data dispersion indicates that other factors besides evaporation effects control chemical and isotopic composition of lakewater. Consequently, the oxygen isotopic composition cannot be interpreted exclusively as an indicator of salinity or evaporation ratio. The degassing of CO₂ during groundwater discharge can explain the enriched ¹³C values for primary carbonates precipitated. The carbon budget in these high altitude, saline lakes seems to be controlled by physical rather than biological processes.The Altiplano saline lakes contain records of environmental and climatic change, although accurate ¹⁴C dating of these lacustrine sediments is hindered by the scarcity of terrestrial organic material, and the large reservoir effects. Sedimentologic evidence, a ²¹⁰Pb-based chronology, and a preliminary U/Th chronology indicate a very large reservoir effect in El Peinado, likely as a result of old groundwaters and large contributions of volcanic and geothermal ¹⁴C-free CO₂ to the lake system. Alternative chronologies are needed to place these paleorecords in a reliable chronological framework. A period of increased water balance in the San Francisco basin ended at about 1660 ± 82 yr B.P. (calendar yr U/Th age), and would correlates with the humid phase between 3000 and 1800 yr B.P detected in other sites of the southern Altiplano. Both, ²¹⁰Pb and preliminary U/Th dating favor a younger age for the paleohydrological changes in El Peinado. The arid period reflected by subaerial exposure and low lake levels in unit 3 would have ended with a large increase in effective moisture during the late 17th century. The increased lake level during deposition of unit 2 would represent the period between AD1650 - 1900, synchronous to the Little Ice Age. This chronological framework is coherent with other regional records that show an abrupt transition from more arid to more humid conditions in the early 17th century, and a change to modern conditions in the late 19th century. Although there are local differences, the Little Ice Age stands as a significant climatic event in the Andean Altiplano.     

The phytoplankton of some saline lakes in Central Asia

The Aral Sea, Lake Balkhash, and Lake Kamyslybas are closed lakes in Central Asia. They range from oligosaline to metasaline. The salinity of the Aral Sea has increased by more than 30 g L⁻¹ since widespread irrigation began in its catchment area. Few studies of the phytoplankton have been conducted on these lakes since extensive irrigation started. The investigation reported here compares the flora of phytoplankton in these saline lakes. In the Small Aral Sea, phytoplankton density gradually decreased with increasing electrical conductivity (EC) (∼ salinity), but there was no such relation in Lake Balkhash and Lake Kamyslybas. In the Aral Sea, Dinophyceae and Bacillariophyceae were frequently observed in most areas of high EC value, and Cyanophyceae were most conspicuous in the area of medium and lower EC values. In Lake Balkhash, Cyanophyceae were most conspicuous, but Chlorophyceae were also noticeable. Most Cyanophyceae in Aral Sea formed filaments with heterocysts. The distinct characteristic of the phytoplankton of the Lake Balkhash was that all dominant species form colonies covered with a gelatinous film. Siliceousplankton diversity gradually decreased with increasing EC values in the Aral Sea and Lake Balkhash.     

The CASPIA project: diatoms,salt lakes,and environmental change

The Climate and Salinity (CASPIA) Project is concerned with diatoms as environmental indicators in inland waters and their use in reconstructing salinity and major ion composition from fossil diatom assemblages in lake sediments. By comparing saline lake diatom floras from around the world the project aims to establish a common, harmonised approach to sample collection, diatom identification and nomenclature, and to develop techniques for numerical analysis and data storage.This is the first in a series of papers published in this issue on the paleolimnology of arid regions. These papers were presented at the Sixth International Palaeolimnology Symposium held 19–21 April, 1993 at the Australian National University, Canberra, Australia. Dr A. R. Chivas served as guest editor for these papers.Palliser Triangle Global Change Project Contribution Number 19.     

Hydrochemical regime of saline lakes in the Southeastern Transbaikalia

Results from hydrochemical investigations into macrocomponent composition of some of the lakes in the Southeastern Transbaikalia are presented. The region's saline lakes, as a rule, are soda-chloride or chloride-soda lakes according to their chemical composition. The lakes hydrochemistry is determined by a combination of evaporative concentration of salt composition, intra-water body hydrobiological processes, especially by the production of organic matter and reduction of sulfates as well as by hydrogenic sedimentation.     

The relationship between zooplankton,conductivity and lake-water ionic composition in 111 lakes from the Interior Plateau of British Columbia,Canada

Zooplankton collected from vertical net tows were related to the environmental variables from 98 lakes from the Interior Plateau of British Columbia. Canonical correspondence analysis showed that both salinity and ionic composition (pH and Mg) of the lake-water made major and significant contributions to the first two ordination axes (=0.42 and 0.11 respectively,P<0.05). BothArtemia franciscana andMoina hutchinsoni had their highest relative abundance in meso-hypersaline waters. However,Artemia franciscana preferred waters that were higher in Mg and Ca, whileMoina hutchinsoni was found in waters that were lower in Mg and Ca. Similarly, at intermediate salinities,Daphnia pulex and the calanoid copepods preferred waters slightly lower in Mg and Ca, whereasCeriodaphnia laticaudata andSimocephalus spp. were relatively more common in waters higher in Mg and Ca. Because the freshest lakes studied varied much less in ionic composition, the zooplankton in these lakes did not show a preference to ionic composition. As expected, multi-generic groups, such as the calanoid copepods, cyclopoid copepods and nauplii, had wider tolerances to conductivity than groups identified to lower taxonomic levels. Significant weighted-averaging regression and calibration models of conductivity were developed based on zooplankton species composition from the study lakes (r ²=0.56,P<0.05). Samples composed largely of multi-generic taxa yielded the worst estimates of salinity in the reconstruction model. This study suggests that zooplankton community composition may be developed into a useful proxy for paleosalinity reconstruction.     

Saline lakes in the lower Grand Coulee,Washington, USA

Changes in the limnology of two saline lakes, Lake Lenore and Soap Lake, in the lower Grand Coulee, Washington, between 1949 and the present are described. This paper is an abbreviated version of Chapter 11 in: W.T. Edmondson,The Uses of Ecology: Lake Washington and Beyond, pp. 209–226. University of Washington Press, Seattle. The book is based upon lectures given by the author inthe Jessie and John Danz Lectures. The considerable interest of studies on Lake Lenore and Soap Lake in the lower Grand Coulee, the authoritative account of these studies in the book, and the possibility that this account would not easily attract the attention of limnologists who study salt lakes were behind the decision to reproduce the chapter. Its reproduction has been graciously permitted by the author and the University of Washington Press. This permission is gratefully acknowledged. Whilst only Chapters 11 and 5 (Mono Lake) directly concern salt lakes, the book as a whole is an outstanding account of how limnological studies (with focus on those of Lake Washington) can serve humanity Ed.     

Determination of orthophosphate in highly saline waters

Standard methods for the determination of phosphorus as phosphate ion are now well established for fresh and marine waters. In highly saline waters, however, salt effects due to ionic strength, or to particular ions present, may result in method interferences. Three methods of analysis of phosphate based on the formation of phosphomolybdenum blue complexes have been evaluated here for hypersaline waters. Stannous chloride reduction in aqueous media exhibits a substantial salt effect and its use is not recommended. Stannous chloride reduction following extraction into non aqueous solvents shows a significant salt effect (up to 30 per cent) in solutions of salinity >100 g L^–1. Dilution of hypersaline waters to below this salinity may overcome the salt effect but the method suffers from other disadvantages involving resource constraints and health and safety considerations. Ascorbic acid reduction, catalysed by antimony (III) ions, appears to offer the most promise for hypersaline waters. Turbidity in samples having high salinity (> 100 g L^–1) and high phosphorus concentrations (> 500 g P L^–1) changes the spectral characteristics of solutions but linear calibration curves still result for concentrations in the range 400 to 1,000 g P L^–1. The occurrence of turbidity is also affected by the ionic composition of hypersaline waters since solutions made from sea salt give different results to those made from sodium chloride. Dilution of samples, to give salinities less than 100 g L^–1 prior to reduction is recommended to avoid turbidity. The salt effect in these lower salinity waters is less than 3 per cent up to 100 g L^–1.