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Organic geochemical record of environmental changes in Lake Dianchi, China

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Abstract

In order to investigate the natural ecosystem of Lake Dianchi and to assess its anthropogenic impacts, a stratigraphic study of bulk and molecular compositions of organic matter was conducted using a 63-cm long sediment core. The results show that two apparent environmental changes occurred during the evolution of Lake Dianchi: (1) the first change occurred in the 43–63 cm sediment depth, and was revealed by the amount and the composition of organic matter in the stage. Natural changes were possibly major factors responsible for triggering the environmental change, but the influence of human activities could not be excluded. Subsequently, the lake entered into a relatively stable and oligotrophic stage, which maintained until 20-cm sediment depth. (2) Eutrophication started in the upper 20 cm depth. Human activities became a major factor influencing environmental changes in this stage. Vertical profiles of various organic geochemical variables in the upper 20-cm sediments show evidence that primary productivity of the lake increased progressively and that the lake started eutrophic. Especially in the uppermost 10 cm, notable excursions to less negative δ13Corg and δ15Ntotal and high TOC concentrations have recorded an abrupt change in the lacustrine environment, suggesting that the lake entered a hypereutrophic stage. In addition, enhancement of αβ-hopanes reflects the contribution of fossil fuels to the lake sediments.

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Acknowledgments

This work was financially supported by China’s National Basic Research Program (No. 2008CB418204) and the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. U0833603, 40525011, 40632011). And it is contribution No. IS-1136 from GIGCAS. We are grateful to Chen H. S. and Xiang T. S. for technical assistance. Drs. Thomas J. Whitmore and Jonathan Holmes and two anonymous reviewers are acknowledged for their constructive comments and suggestions on the manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. State Key Laboratory of Organic Geochemistry, Guangzhou Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 510640, Guangzhou, China

    Yongqiang Xiong & Yun Li

  2. State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory for Lake Pollution Control, Research Center of Lake Eco-Environment, Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, 100012, Beijing, China

    Fengchang Wu, Jidun Fang, Lifang Wang & Haiqing Liao

  3. State Key Laboratory of Environmental Geochemistry, Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 550002, Guiyang, China

    Jidun Fang & Lifang Wang

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  1. Yongqiang Xiong
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  5. Yun Li
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Correspondence to Yongqiang Xiong or Fengchang Wu.

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Xiong, Y., Wu, F., Fang, J. et al. Organic geochemical record of environmental changes in Lake Dianchi, China. J Paleolimnol 44, 217–231 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10933-009-9398-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10933-009-9398-4

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