Lakes in hot water: the impacts of a changing climate on aquatic ecosystems

Woolway, R. I. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0498-7968, Sharma, S. and Smol, J. P. (2022) Lakes in hot water: the impacts of a changing climate on aquatic ecosystems. BioScience, 72 (11). pp. 1050-1061. ISSN 0006-3568 doi: 10.1093/biosci/biac052

Abstract/Summary

Our planet is being subjected to unprecedented climate change, with far-reaching social and ecological repercussions. Below the waterline, aquatic ecosystems are being affected by multiple climate-related and anthropogenic stressors, the combined effects of which are poorly understood and rarely appreciated at the global stage. A striking consequence of climate change on aquatic ecosystems is that many are experiencing shorter periods of ice cover, as well as earlier and longer summer stratified seasons, which often result in a cascade of ecological and environmental consequences, such as warmer summer water temperatures, alterations in lake mixing and water levels, declines in dissolved oxygen, increased likelihood of cyanobacterial algal blooms, and the loss of habitat for native cold-water fisheries. The repercussions of a changing climate include impacts on freshwater supplies, water quality, biodiversity, and the ecosystem benefits that they provide to society.

Item Type	Article
URI	https://reading-pure-test.eprints-hosting.org/id/eprint/106470
Identification Number/DOI	10.1093/biosci/biac052
Refereed	Yes
Divisions	Central Services Science > School of Mathematical, Physical and Computational Sciences > Department of Meteorology
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