from Part V - Other applications
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 05 June 2012
Introduction
The application of diatoms in paleoenvironmental studies has largely focused on tracking past changes in water chemistry (e.g. nutrients, salinity, pH) and habitat features (e.g. lake ice or macrophytes). When used in conjunction with other paleolimnological proxies, however, diatoms can be used to infer past changes in vertebrate populations or harvests such as fish, birds, and whales. This research is particularly insightful because the fossil record of these vertebrates is fragmented and sparsely distributed. Time series of inferred animal population dynamics also provide the much-needed long-term data required to develop sustainable management plans for these often ecologically sensitive and sometimes commercially harvested taxa (e.g. Selbie et al., 2007).
Many studies that are included in this review are focused on population dynamics of migratory animals. A common thread across these studies is that large densities of migratory animals can introduce substantial nutrient loads to lakes. If the animal population is, at any time, contributing the largest source of nutrients to a study lake, then fluctuations in nutrients can be correlated to the animal's population size. Given that diatom community composition is strongly influenced by nutrient status (see Hall and Smol, this volume), the diatoms are then indirect indicators of animal population dynamics. A second field of study included in this review is focused on changes in non-anadromous fish populations. There have been numerous studies showing that fish kills, fish introductions, or human manipulations of fish community structure can influence primary producers and/or water quality.
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