Human impact leads to unexpected oligotrophication and deepwater oxygen increase in a Swiss mountain lake

Abstract

Human impacts on lakes can lead to nutrient release, increased algal productivity and consequently low oxygen concentrations in deepwater environments. Here we report the unexpected and contrasting finding of a pronounced shift to chironomid and invertebrate assemblages suggesting oligotrophication and oxygen increase in Lac de Champex, a Swiss mountain lake, due to human activities during the Mediaeval period. Chironomid assemblages in the lower part of the lake sediment record show changes that agree with known climatic shifts during the Lateglacial period and early Holocene and a progressively stronger influence of peat development, and possibly humic conditions, from ca. 8500 calibrated 14C years BP (cal. BP) onwards. This resulted in low chironomid influx and assemblages with high abundances of Procladius and Chaoborus ca. 2000–3000 cal. BP. These assemblages resemble those found in relatively nutrient-rich, oxygen-poor lakes and may have developed due to natural, long-term development to more nutrient-rich and possibly humic conditions, and from the Bronze Age (ca. 4000 cal. BP) onwards, due to human activities such as pasturing. Ca. 1000 cal. BP, an abrupt increase in sediment accumulation, chironomid influx and distinct changes in the chironomid assemblage composition were observed, coinciding with evidence for local human activities from pollen data. A major transition in chironomid and invertebrate assemblages followed ca. 500 cal. BP with the disappearance of Chaoborus, a decrease in Procladius, and the increase or appearance of several chironomid taxa, including several rheophilous groups. We conclude that Late-Holocene human impact led to re-oligotrophication and increased oxygen availability for invertebrates in the lake. This reversal of the long-term Holocene trend was possibly promoted by increased erosion from the Mediaeval period onwards and from ca. 500 cal. BP likely by the construction of an irrigation canal (bisse), leading to inflow of clear, cool water which changed the lake’s hydrological characteristics.