Paleolimnology and environmental change

古湖泊学和环境变化

• 批准号: 170321-2011
• 负责人: Cumming, Brian
• 金额: $ 3.64万
• 依托单位: Queen's University
• 依托单位国家: 加拿大
• 项目类别: Discovery Grants Program - Individual
• 财政年份: 2012
• 资助国家: 加拿大
• 起止时间: 2012-01-01 至 2013-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/ase-oro/Details-Detailles_eng.asp?id=513881
• 关键词: Paleolimnology; environmental; change

My research program helps us to understand the importance of natural factors and human activities on lakes and terrestrial ecosystems over time. This research involves using a paleolimnological approach, where past aquatic and terrestrial environments are reconstructed using physical, chemical and biological information preserved in lake sediment cores. Paleolimnological approaches can be used to study how climate has changed in the past. With unprecedented warm temperatures over the last several decades, industry and governments are struggling to understand the risks associated with this warming, and the vulnerabilities of ecosystems and natural resources, such as water and forests, upon which we depend. Computer models suggest that many regions will become warmer by 1-3°C by 2020, but we have little information on how such changes will impact lakes and forests. The proposed research will focus on the development and application of approaches to gain a better understanding of the role that climate has had on forested regions in northwestern (NW) Ontario and the Adirondack Park (NY, USA). By studying information preserved in lake sediment cores, from a network of forested sites in NW Ontario, at a time when temperatures were 1-2°C warmer in the past (the mid-Holocene warm period, 8,000 to 4,500 year ago), we will be able to assess the impact of warmer conditions on lakes, vegetation and fire. This research will help address important questions related to regional changes in: water quantity and quality; the relationship between climate and fire under warmer conditions; and the development of new approaches that will help in identifying past changes in lake levels. In the Adirondack Park, we will investigate if recent increases in temperature have caused changes in algal and invertebrate assemblages by examining changes in 'undisturbed' references lakes. This information is essential, if we are to understand the role of recent climate change on recovery of algal and invertebrate assemblages from acidified lakes. Funding in this proposal will support the training of three Ph.D. and four M.Sc. students, and a number of fourth-year honours students.

随着时间的推移，我的研究计划帮助我们了解自然因素和人类活动对湖泊和陆地生态系统的重要性。这项研究涉及使用古湖沼学方法，即利用保存在湖泊沉积物岩芯中的物理、化学和生物信息重建过去的水生和陆地环境。古湖沼学方法可以用来研究过去气候是如何变化的。随着过去几十年来前所未有的温暖，工业界和政府正在努力了解与这种变暖相关的风险，以及我们赖以生存的生态系统和自然资源(如水和森林)的脆弱性。计算机模型表明，到2020年，许多地区将变暖1-3摄氏度，但我们几乎没有关于这种变化将如何影响湖泊和森林的信息。拟议的研究将侧重于开发和应用方法，以更好地了解气候对安大略省西北部(NW)和阿迪朗达克公园(美国纽约)林区的作用。通过研究保存在湖泊沉积物岩芯中的信息，从安大略省西北部的森林遗址网络，在过去气温升高1-2摄氏度的时候(8000至4500年前的中期全新世暖期)，我们将能够评估气候变暖对湖泊、植被和火灾的影响。这项研究将有助于解决与区域变化有关的重要问题：水量和水质；变暖条件下气候和火之间的关系；以及开发新的方法，帮助确定湖泊水位过去的变化。在阿迪朗达克公园，我们将研究最近气温上升是否导致了藻类和无脊椎动物组合的变化，方法是检查未受干扰的参照湖的变化。如果我们要了解最近的气候变化对从酸化的湖泊中恢复藻类和无脊椎动物群落的作用，这些信息是必不可少的。这项提案中的资金将支持三名博士和四名硕士的培训。学生，以及多名四年级优等生。