Insights from long-term studies in the Windermere catchment: external stressors, internal interactions and the structure and function of lake ecosystems

Maberly, S.C. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3541-5903; Elliott, J.A.. 2012 Insights from long-term studies in the Windermere catchment: external stressors, internal interactions and the structure and function of lake ecosystems. Freshwater Biology, 57 (2). 233-243. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2427.2011.02718.x

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Official URL: http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1365-...

Abstract/Summary

1. Lakes provide essential ecosystem goods and services on which humans depend, and are integral to many global biogeochemical cycles, yet are sensitive to environmental perturbation operating at global, regional and local scales, many resulting from human influence. 2. The complex web of external stressors and internal interactions that control the biological structure and ecological function of lakes requires a ‘systems approach’, where different trophic levels are studied and different approaches, including long-term monitoring are taken. 3. This Special Issue celebrates the ecological insights that have been gained from long-term monitoring and research on the lakes in the catchment of Windermere in the English Lake District. The research was started by the Freshwater Biological Association in the 1930s and has been continued by the Centre for Ecology & Hydrology since 1989 to produce a valuable record of lake response to changing conditions extending over 65 years. 4. We introduce a conceptual diagram of lake response and feedbacks to a hierarchy of conditions at different scales and interactions within the lake, and illustrate it using the contributions of papers in the literature and this Special Issue. 5. Long-term monitoring is often threatened at times of economic austerity, yet its continuation as part of a programme of research is a key activity that can produce mechanistic understanding and insights, and data to produce and validate models, and hence forecast future responses. These scientific disciplines interact synergistically to help us understand the whole system and safeguard the ecosystem services provided by lakes.

Item Type:	Publication - Article
Digital Object Identifier (DOI):	https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2427.2011.02718.x
Programmes:	CEH Topics & Objectives 2009 - 2012 > Water > WA Topic 1 - Variability and Change in Water Systems > WA - 1.1 - Continued long term monitoring and integrated observation of freshwater systems
UKCEH and CEH Sections/Science Areas:	Parr
ISSN:	0046-5070
Additional Information. Not used in RCUK Gateway to Research.:	This document is the author’s final manuscript version of the journal article, incorporating any revisions agreed during the peer review process. Some differences between this and the publisher’s version remain. You are advised to consult the publisher’s version if you wish to cite from this article. The definitive version is available at http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com
Additional Keywords:	bottom-up, English Lake District, long-term monitoring, multiple stressors, top-down
NORA Subject Terms:	Ecology and Environment Earth Sciences
Date made live:	11 Jan 2012 15:57 +0 (UTC)
URI:	https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/16312

Item Type:

Publication - Article

Digital Object Identifier (DOI):

https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2427.2011.02718.x

Programmes:

CEH Topics & Objectives 2009 - 2012 > Water > WA Topic 1 - Variability and Change in Water Systems > WA - 1.1 - Continued long term monitoring and integrated observation of freshwater systems

UKCEH and CEH Sections/Science Areas:

Parr

ISSN:

0046-5070

Additional Information. Not used in RCUK Gateway to Research.:

This document is the author’s final manuscript version of the journal article, incorporating any revisions agreed during the peer review process. Some differences between this and the publisher’s version remain. You are advised to consult the publisher’s version if you wish to cite from this article. The definitive version is available at http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com

Additional Keywords:

bottom-up, English Lake District, long-term monitoring, multiple stressors, top-down

NORA Subject Terms:

Ecology and Environment
Earth Sciences

Date made live:

11 Jan 2012 15:57 +0 (UTC)

URI:

https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/16312