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The Science Seminar Series: August 26, 2010
Changing Landscapes Shape Contemporary Lake Systems on the Coastal Plain of North Carolina
Dr. Matthew Waters
Department of Biology
Valdosta State University
Student Union Theater
Time: 4:00 -5:00pm
Trophic structure in shallow aquatic ecosystems has been linked to internal and external loading of nutrients from surrounding landscapes. However, less attention has been given to the amount and type of organic material entering these ecosystems. Here, a paleolimnological investigation was conducted on three lakes located on the coastal plain of North Carolina, USA. Lake Mattamuskeet, Pungo Lake and Lake Phelps are similar in nutrient inputs, depth and geography, but they currently contain tropic structures of hypereutrophic, dystrophic and oligotrophic, respectively. Multiple chemical and biological proxies were measured on sediment cores from each lake, including sedimentary photosynthetic pigments, lignin-phenols, nutrients and metals, in order to investigate changes in organic matter inputs and trophic responses throughout the Holocene. Results show that trophic alterations are linked to organic matter inputs resulting from anthropogenic and climatic stressors.