Abstract
Lakes in the Taylor Valley, Antarctica were investigated to determine the impact of a significant air temperature warming event that occurred during the austral summer of 2001–2002. The warming in the valleys caused an increase in glacial run-off, record stream discharge, an increase in lake levels, and thinning of the permanent ice covers. These changes in the physical environment drove subsequent changes in the biogeochemistry of the lakes. Primary production in West Lake Bonney during the flood was reduced 23% as a consequence of stream induced water column turbidity. Increased nutrient levels within the lakes occurred in the year following the temperature induced high flow year. For example, soluble reactive phosphorus loading to Lake Fryxell was four-fold greater than the long-term average loading rates. These high nutrient levels corresponded to an increase in primary production in the upper water columns of Lakes Bonney and Fryxell. Depth integrated chlorophyll-a values increased 149% in East Lake Bonney, 48% in West Lake Bonney, and showed little change in Lake Fryxell; chlorophyll-a in Lake Hoare decreased 18% compared to long-term averages recorded as part of our ten year monitoring program, presumably from a reduction in under-ice PAR caused by increased sediment loads on the ice cover. Overall the warming event served to “recharge” the ecosystem with liquid water and associated nutrients. Such “floods” may play an important role in the long-term maintenance of liquid water in these dry valley lakes.
Article PDF
Similar content being viewed by others
Explore related subjects
Discover the latest articles, news and stories from top researchers in related subjects.Avoid common mistakes on your manuscript.
References
E.E. Adams J.C. Priscu C.H. Fritsen S.R. Smith S. L. Brackman (1998) Permanent ice covers of the McMurdo Dry Valley Lakes, Antarctica: Bubble formation and metamorphism J.C. Priscu (Eds) Ecosystem Dynamics in a Polar Desert. The McMurdo Dry Valleys, Antarctica American Geophysical Union Washington D.C. 281–295
G.R. Aiken D. McKnight R. Harnish R. Wershaw (1996) ArticleTitleGeochemistry of aquatic humic substances in the Lake Fryxell Basin, Antarctica Biogeochemistry 34 157–188
J.D. Allan (1995) Stream Ecology: Structure and Function of Running Waters Chapman and Hall London, UK
E. E. Angino K. B. Armitage J. C. Nash (1962) ArticleTitleChemical stratification in Lake Fryxell, Antarctica Science 138 399–402
E. E. Angino K. B. Armitage (1963) ArticleTitleA geochemical study of Lakes Bonney and Vanda, Victoria Land, Antarctica J. Geology 71 89–95
Chinn T. J. (1993) Physical hydrology of the Dry Valley lakes. In Physical and Biogeochemical Processes in Antarctic Lakes (Eds. W. J. Green and E. I. Friedman), Vol. 59, pp. 1--51, Antarctic Research Series
G.D. Clow C. P. McKay Simmons G.M. SuffixJr. Wharton R. A. (1988) ArticleTitleClimatological observations and predicted sublimation rates at Lake Hoare,Antarctica J. Climate 1 715–728
P.A. Conovitz D.M. McKnight L.H. MacDonald A.G. Fountain H.R. House (1998) Hydrologic Processes Influencing Streamflow Variation in Fryxell Basin, Antarctica J.C. Priscu (Eds) Ecosystem Dynamics in a Polar Desert. The McMurdo Dry Valleys, Antarctica American Geophysical Union Washington, D.C 93–108
W.K. Dodds (2003) ArticleTitleMisuse of inorganic nitrogen and soluble reactive phosphorus concentrations to indicate nutrient status of surface waters J. North American Benthological Society 22 171–181
P.T. Doran R.A. Wharton SuffixJr. Lyons W. B. (1994) ArticleTitlePaleolimnology of the McMurdo Dry Valleys, Antarctica J. Paleolimnology 10 85–114
P.T. Doran J.C. Priscu W.B. Lyons J.E. Welsh A.G. Fountain D.M. McKnight D.L. Moorhead R.A. Virginia D.H. Wall G.D. Clow C.H. Fritsen C.P. McKay A.N. Parsons (2002) ArticleTitleAntarctic climate cooling and terrestrial ecosystem response Nature 415 517–520
J.E. Dore J.C. Priscu (2001) ArticleTitlePhytoplankton nutrient deficiency and alkaline phosphatase activity in McMurdo Dry Valley lakes, Antarctica Limnology and Oceanography 46 IssueID6 1331–1346
J.J. Elser W. F. Fagan R. F. Denno D. R. Dobberfuhl A. Folarin A. Huberty S. Interlandi S.S. Kilham E. McCauley K. L. Schulz E.H. Stiemann R. W. Sterner (2000) ArticleTitleNutritional constraints in terrestrial and freshwater foodwebs Nature 408 578–580
P.G. Falkowski (1980) Light-shade adaptation in marine phytoplankton P.G. Falkowski (Eds) Primary Productivity in the Sea Plenum New york 99–119
P.G. Falkowski J.A. Raven (1997) Aquatic photosynthesis Blackwell Science Publishers Oxford
K. Fennel E. Boss (2003) ArticleTitleSubsurface maxima of phytoplankton and chlorophyll: Steady-state solutions from a simple model Limnology and Oceanography 48 1521–1534
A.G. Fountain G. L. Dana K.J. Lewis B.H. Vaughn D.M. McKnight (1998) Glaciers of the McMurdo Dry Valleys, Southern Victoria Land, Antarctica J.C. Priscu (Eds) Ecosystem Dynamics in a Polar Desert, The McMurdo Dry Valleys, Antarctica Antarctic Research Series, American Geophysical Union Washington, D.C. 65–76
A.G. Fountain W.B. Lyons M. B. Burkins G.L. Dana P.T. Doran K.J. Lewis D.M. McKnight D. L. Moorhead A.N. Parsons J.C. Priscu D.H. Wall R.A. Wharton SuffixJr. R.A. Virginia (1999) ArticleTitlePhysical controls on the Taylor Valley Ecosystem, Antarctica Bioscience 49 IssueID12 961–971
Fountain A. G., Tranter M., Nylen T. H., Lewis K. J. and Mueller D. (2004) Evolution of Cryoconite Holes and their Contribution to Melt-Water Runoff from Glaciers in the McMurdo Dry Valleys, Antarctica. J. Glaciology. in press
C.H. Fritsen E. E. Adams C.P. McKay J.C. Priscu (1998) Permanent Ice Covers of the McMurdo Dry Valleys Lakes, Antarctica: Liquid Water Contents J.C. Priscu (Eds) Ecosystem Dynamics in a Polar Desert. The McMurdo Dry Valleys, Antarctica American Geophysical Union Washington D.C. 269–280
C.H. Fritsen J.C. Priscu (1999) ArticleTitleSeasonal Changes in the Optical Properties of the Permanent Ice Cover on Lake Bonney, Antarctica: Consequences for Lake Productivity and Phytoplankton Dynamics Limnology and Oceanography 44 447–454
C.R. Goldman (1970) Antarctic Freshwater Ecosystems Antarctic Ecology Academic Press New York 609–627
Goldman C. R. (1970) Antarctic Freshwater Ecosystems. In Antarctic Ecology. Academic Press, New York, pp. 609-627
W.J. Green M.P. Angle K.E. Chave (1988) ArticleTitleThe geochemistry of Antarctic streams and their role in the evolution of four lakes in the McMurdo Dry Valleys Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta 52 1265–1274
Gudding J. A. (2003) Phosphorus in Taylor Valley, Antarctica: The Connection between Landscape Age and Nutrient Limitation in Aquatic Ecosystem Components, MSc. Thesis, The Ohio State University, 118 pp
B.L. Hall G.H. Denton (2000) ArticleTitleExtent of the Wilson Piedmont Glacier and the Ross Sea ice sheet along the Scott Coast at and since the last glacial maximum Geografiska Annaler 82B 411–432
F.P. Healey L.L. Hendzel (1980) ArticleTitlePhysiological indicators of nutrient deficiency in lake phytoplankton Can. J. Fisheries and Aquatic Science 37 42–453
C. Howard-Williams C.L. Vincent P.A. Broady W.F. Vincent (1986) ArticleTitleAntarctic stream ecosystems: variability in environmental properties and algal community structure Internationale Revue gestamten de Hydrobiologie 71 511–544
C. Howard-Williams A.M. Schwarz I. Hawes J.C. Priscu (1998) Optical Properties of the McMurdo Dry Valley Lakes, Antarctica J.C. Priscu (Eds) Ecosystem Dynamics in a Polar Desert. The McMurdo Dry Valleys, Antarctica American Geophysical Union Washington, D.C 189–203
J.R. Keys (1979) ArticleTitleThe saline discharge at the terminus of the Taylor Glacier Antarctic J. US 14 82–85
M. P. Lizotte J.C. Priscu (1992) Spectral irradiance and bio-optical properties in perennially ice-covered lakes of the Dry Valleys (McMurdo Sound Antarctica) D.H. Elliott (Eds) Contributions to Antarctic Research III, Antarctic Research Series AGU Washington, D.C. 1–14
W.B. Lyons S.W. Tyler R.A. Wharton SuffixJr. D.M. McKnight B.H. Vaugh (1998a) ArticleTitleA late Holocene desiccation of Lake Hoare and Lake Fryxell, McMurdo Dry Valleys, Antarctica Antarctic Science 10 247–256
W.B. Lyons K.A. Welch K. Neumann J.K. Toxey R. McArthur C. Williams D.M. McKnight D. Moorhead (1998b) Geochemical Linkages Among Glaciers, Streams, And Lakes Within the Taylor Valley, Antarctica J.C. Priscu (Eds) Ecosystem Dynamics in a Polar Desert. The McMurdo Dry Valleys, Antarctica American Geophysical Union Washington, D.C. 77–92
W.B Lyons A. Fountain P. Doran J. C. Priscu K. Neumann K.A. Welch (2000) ArticleTitleImportance of landscape position and legacy: the evolution of the lakes in Taylor Valley, Antarctica Freshwater Biology 43 355–367
W.B. Lyons K.A. Welch J.C. Priscu J. Laybourn-Parry D. Moorhead D.M. McKnight P.T. Doran M. Tranter (2001) ArticleTitleThe McMurdo Dry Valleys Long-Term Ecological Research Program: New Understanding of the Biogeochemistry of the Dry Valley Lakes: A Review Polar Geography 25 IssueID3 202–217
W. B. Lyons K. A. Welch A. G. Fountain G. L. Dana B. H. Vaughn D. M. McKnight (2003) ArticleTitleSurface glaciochemistry of Taylor Valley, southern Victoria Land, Antarctica and its relationship to stream chemistry Hydrological Processes 17 115–130
D. McKnight K. Niyogi A.S. Alger A. Bomblies P.A. Conovitz C.M. Tate (1999) ArticleTitleDry valley streams in Antarctica: ecosystems waiting for water Bioscience 49 985–995
J.C. Priscu C.R. Goldman (1983) ArticleTitleSuspensoid characteristics in sub-alpine Castle Lake, California: I. Chemical composition Archives for Hydrobiology 97 373–388
J.C. Priscu W.F. Vincent C. Howard-Williams (1989) ArticleTitleInorganic nitrogen uptake and regeneration in perennially ice-covered Lakes Fryxell and Vanda, Antarctica J. Plankton Research 11 335–351
J.C. Priscu (1995) ArticleTitlePhytoplankton nutrient deficiency in lakes of the MCMurdo Dry Valleys, Antarctica Freshwater Biology 34 215–227
Priscu J. C. (1998) Ecosystem Dynamics in a Polar Desert. The McMurdo Dry Valleys, Antarctica (Ed. J. C. Priscu), Vol. 72, American Geophysical Union, Washington, D.C.
J.C. Priscu C.H. Fritsen E.A. Adams S.J. Giovannoni H.W. Paerl C.P. McKay P.T. Doran D.A. Gordon B.D. Lanoil J.L. Pinckney (1998) ArticleTitlePerennial Antarctic Lake Ice: An Oasis for Life in a polar desert Science 280 2095–2098
J.C. Priscu C.F. Wolf C.D. Takacs C.H. Fritsen J. Laybourn-Parry E.C. Roberts B. Sattler W. B. Lyons (1999) ArticleTitleCarbon Transformations in a Perennially Ice-Covered Antarctic Lake Bioscience 49 IssueID12 997–1008
A.C. Redfield (1958) ArticleTitleThe biological control of chemical factors in the environment American Scientist 46 205–221
A.C. Redfield (1963) The influence of organisms on the composition of seawater M.N. Hill (Eds) The Sea Wiley New York 26–77
C.S. Reynolds (1984) The Ecology of Freshwater Plankton Cambridge University Press Cambridge
Sharp T. R. (1993) Temporal and spatial variation of light, nutrients, and phytoplankton production in Lake Bonney, Antarctica. M.S. Thesis. Montana State University-Bozeman
R.H. Spigel J.C. Priscu (1998) Physical Limnology of the McMurdo Dry Valley Lakes J.C. Priscu (Eds) Ecosystem Dynamics in a Polar Desert. The McMurdo Dry Valleys American Geophysical Union Washington, D.C. 153–188
Strickland J.H. and Parsons T.R. (1972) A practical handbook of seawater analysis, 2nd Edn. Bull. Fish. Res. Bd Can. 167
C.D. Takacs J.C. Priscu (1995) ArticleTitleResponses of bacterial growth to inorganic and organic nutrient enrichment in the lakes of the Dry Valleys, Antarctica Antarctic J. United States 30 303–305
C.D. Takacs J. C. Priscu (1998) ArticleTitleBacterioplankton Dynamics in the McMurdo Dry Valley Lakes, Antarctica: Production and Biomass Loss over Four Seasons Microbial Ecology 36 239–250
M. Tranter A. Fountain C. Fritsen B. Lyons J. Priscu P. Statham K. Welch (2004) ArticleTitleExtreme hydrochemical conditions in natural microcosms entombed within Antarctic ice Hydrological Processess 18 379–387
W.F. Vincent (1981) ArticleTitleProduction strategies in Antarctic inland waters: phytoplankton eco-physiology in a permanently ice-covered lake Ecology 62 1215–1224
W. F. Vincent C.L. Vincent (1982) ArticleTitleFactors controlling phytoplankton production in Lake Vanda (77S) Can. J. Fisheries and Aquatic Science 39 1602–1609
B. Vinçon-Leite P.-E. Bournet X. Gayte D. Fontvieille B. Tassin (1998) ArticleTitleImpact of a flood event on the biogeochemical behaviour of a mesotrophic alpine lake: Lake Bourget (Savoy) Hydrobiologia 373/374 361–377
K.A. Welch W.B. Lyons E. Graham K. Neumann J.W. Thomas D. Mikesell (1996) ArticleTitleThe determination of major element chemistry in terrestrial waters of Antarctica using ion chromatography J. Chromatography A 739 257–263
K.A. Welch W.B. Lyons D.M. McKnight P.T. Doran A.G. Fountain D. Wall C. Jaros T. Nylen C. Howard-Williams (2003) Climate and hydrological response in the McMurdo Dry Valleys, Antarctica D. Greenland D.G. Goodin R.C. Smith (Eds) Climate Variability and Ecosystem Response at Long-Term Ecological Research Sites Oxford University Press Oxford
R.A. Wharton SuffixJr. C. P. McKay G. D. Clow D.T. Anderson (1993) Perennial ice covers and their influence on Antarctic lake ecosystems W. Green W. Friedmann (Eds) Physical and Biogeochemical Processes in Antarctic Lakes, Antarctic Research Series AGU Washington, D.C 53–70
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Foreman, C.M., Wolf, C.F. & Priscu, J.C. Impact of Episodic Warming Events. Aquat Geochem 10, 239–268 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10498-004-2261-3
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10498-004-2261-3