Projects / Programmes
Pathways of carbon, nutrients and pollutants through food-webs in Slovenian mountain lakes
Code |
Science |
Field |
Subfield |
1.08.00 |
Natural sciences and mathematics |
Control and care of the environment |
|
Code |
Science |
Field |
B260 |
Biomedical sciences |
Hydrobiology, marine biology, aquatic ecology, limnology |
B280 |
Biomedical sciences |
Animal ecology |
P305 |
Natural sciences and mathematics |
Environmental chemistry |
P470 |
Natural sciences and mathematics |
Hydrogeology, geographical and geological engineering |
alpine lakes, ecology, geochemistry, mercury, biogeochemical cycles
Researchers (11)
Organisations (3)
Abstract
High altitude mountain lakes represent one of the most remote and least disturbed environments found on Earth. They were used as reliable sensors of environmental change, providing valuable information on the consequences of human impact on pristine environments.
Pathways of carbon, nutrients and pollutants will be studied in four Slovenian mountain lakes. Their morphological characteristics are similar, but the lakes differ in the size and characteristic of their catchment areas, exposure to atmospheric deposition of pollutants, type and abundance of in-lake biota and the overall trophic status. The lakes will be studied from the biological, geochemical, physical and hydrological point of view. Species composition and quantitative analysis of zooplankton and phytoplankton will be analyzed in the water columns and sediments. Precipitation and lake water samples will be also collected to determine major ions. C/N ratios and stable carbon and nitrogen isotopes will be measured in the sediments, biological samples and soil and vegetation in the catchment areas to get an information on the source of organic matter. Lipid biomarkers will be also analyzed in the sediments to further refine information on the source of organic matter. Primary production and intensity of mineralization will be measured in the water columns. Intensity of mineralization will be additionally assessed in the sediments and biota. Mercury, as one of pollutants of primary concern, will be determined in the sediments to study the extent and exposure to long-range transport of pollutants in the Julian Alps. Finally, a model on biogeochemical pathways (input, output, storage) of carbon, nutrients and pollutants in Slovenian mountain lakes will be generated.