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: 2015
• 资助国家: 加拿大
• 起止时间: 2015-01-01 至 2016-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/ase-oro/Details-Detailles_eng.asp?id=569568
• 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.

我的研究计划有助于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，使用保存在湖泊沉积物岩心中的物理，化学和生物信息重建过去的水生和陆地环境。 古湖沼学的方法可以用来研究气候在过去是如何变化的。 在过去几十年中，由于前所未有的温暖气温，工业和政府正在努力了解与这种变暖相关的风险，以及我们所依赖的生态系统和自然资源（如水和森林）的脆弱性。计算机模型显示，到2020年，许多地区将变暖1-3°C，但我们对这些变化将如何影响湖泊和森林的信息很少。拟议的研究将侧重于方法的开发和应用，以更好地了解气候对安大略西北部森林地区和阿迪朗达克公园（美国纽约州）的作用。 通过研究保存在湖泊沉积物岩心中的信息，来自西北部安大略的森林遗址网络，在过去温度高出1-2°C的时候（全新世中期温暖时期，8,000至4,500年前），我们将能够评估温暖条件对湖泊，植被和火灾的影响。 这项研究将有助于解决与以下方面的区域变化有关的重要问题：水量和水质;在较温暖的条件下气候与火灾之间的关系;以及制定有助于确定湖泊水位过去变化的新方法。 在阿迪朗达克公园，我们将调查，如果最近的温度上升造成的藻类和无脊椎动物组合的变化，通过检查“未受干扰”的参考湖泊的变化。 这些信息是必不可少的，如果我们要了解最近的气候变化的作用，从酸化湖泊藻类和无脊椎动物组合的恢复。本提案中的资金将用于培训三名博士。和四个硕士生，以及一些四年级的优等生。