Effects of Salinization on Lake Metabolism

Abstract: With rising salinity levels in many freshwaters across the globe caused by for example sealevel rise and de-icing salts, it becomes important to understand what effect it has on freshwater ecosystems, since the lakes and rivers themselves are important parts in the global carbon cycle. In this study I have looked at what effects increased salinity levels have on different lakes metabolism, specifically oxygen concentration and primary production. The experiment was conducted using mesocosms in three different lakes in Sweden, separated both geographically and by nutrient status (eutrophic, oligotrophic, and dystrophic as well as oligotrophic). The response to increased salinity differed between the lakes; the increased salinity had a strong negative effect on the oligotrophic lake. In general, increased salinity caused a decline in oxygen content, both the maximum value and the amount of diurnal variation, as well as primary production. Therefore, the conclusion is that a rise in salinity will affect lake metabolism in a detrimental way, with a stronger effect on more sensitive lakes.