Extreme summer storm elicits shifts in biogeochemistry, primary productivity, and plankton community structure in a large‐scale lake enclosure experiment
Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: Climate change increases the magnitude and frequency of extreme weather events. This includes severe summer storms altering lake physical structure, biodiversity and ecosystem processes. However, insights into lake responses to extreme storms and the underlying mechanisms primarily rest on unreplicated and observational case studies, without separating effects of physical forcing from secondary drivers such as external nutrient and dissolved organic matter inputs. In a large‐scale replicated experiment conducted in a unique enclosure facility mimicking realistic environmental conditions, we tested how storm‐induced mixing entails changes in lake ecosystems. Consequences include altered phytoplankton composition, nutrient, oxygen and carbon dynamics, with potential negative feedbacks on climate through organic matter sequestration. These experimental results are reflected in a minimal dynamical model and are also supported by observations made during a natural severe storm. An important practical implication is that efforts to abate lake eutrophication needs to accommodate the projected increases in extreme weather situations.
DOI: 10.1002/lol2.70058
Authors: Hans‐Peter Grossart, Thomas Hornick, Stella A. Berger, Jens C. Nejstgaard, Michael T. Monaghan, Takeshi Miki, Darren P. Giling, Geza B. Selmeczy, Judit Padisak, Jörg Sareyka, Peter Kasprzak, Christian Wurzbacher, Georgiy Kirillin, Christof Engelhardt, Mark O. Gessner
Institutions: University of Potsdam, Leibniz Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries, Berlin Brandenburg Institute of Advanced Biodiversity Research, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research, German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research, Freie Universität Berlin, Ryukoku University, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, Charles Sturt University, CSIRO Environment, University of Pannonia, Technical University of Munich, Technische Universität Berlin
Language: English
Subfield: Environmental Chemistry
Field: Environmental Science
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $3,700
Awards: G1773981928, G3173285114, Eine Versuchsplattform zur Klimafolgeforschung für Seen, BIBS-Verbund: Bridging in Biodiversity Science (BIBS) - Teilprojekt 7: LakeScapeLabs, Kopplung in Metaökosystemen, G7016240083, Verbundprojekt: NITROLIMIT - Stickstofflimitation in Binnengewässern - ist Stickstoffreduktion ökologisch sinnvoll und wirtschaftlich vertretbar? Teilprojekt: Verfügbarkeit von gelösten organischen N-Verbindungen, Produktion von Lachgas und Stickstoffeinträge, G8948271141
OpenAlex ID: W4415396701