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Cited by 10Aquatic Ecosystems and Phytoplankton DynamicsGeology and Paleoclimatology ResearchPaleontology and Stratigraphy of Fossils

Annual-scale assessment of mid-20th century anthropogenic impacts on the algal ecology of Crawford Lake, Ontario, Canada

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Marshall, Matthew G., Hamilton, Paul B., Lafond, Krysten M., Nasser, Nawaf A., McCarthy, Francine M.G., Patterson, R. Timothy·2023·PeerJ
DOI 10.7717/peerj.14847PMC PMC10007962
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Abstract

Meromictic Crawford Lake, located in SW Ontario, Canada is characterized by varved sediments, making it suitable for high-resolution paleoecological studies. Freeze cores, the only coring method available that reliably preserves the fragile laminations representative of seasonal deposition in the lake, were used to document siliceous diatom and chrysophyte community structure at an annual resolution from 1930–1990CE. Stratigraphically constrained cluster analysis identified major assemblage changes that are believed to have been caused by local, regional and possibly global anthropogenic impacts. The assemblage changes within the siliceous algae are attributed to regional weather and increased industrial emissions and related effects of acid deposition on the lake’s catchment associated with the Great Acceleration –the massive economic, industrial, and demographic expansion beginning in the mid-20th century. Observed increases in spheroidal carbonaceous particles (SCPs) in varved lake sediment dating to the early 1950s record rapidly expanding steel production without emission controls around 30 km upwind of the lake. The findings reported here reflect major changes in earth systems that the Anthropocene Working Group recommends for a proposed epoch to be termed the Anthropocene, providing support for the laminated sediments from Crawford Lake as a potential Global boundary Stratotype Section and Point (GSSP).

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  • Analysis at annual scale from 1930 to 1980 CE confirmed the near disappearance of Lindavia michiganiana after 1950 CE as well as the increase in the chrysophyte genus Synura in the mid-1950s.

    “Analysis at annual scale from 1930 to 1980 CE confirmed the near disappearance of Lindavia michiganiana after 1950 CE as well as the increase in the chrysophyte genus Synura in the mid-1950s (Marshall et al., 2023).”

    From The varved succession of Crawford Lake, Milton, Ontario, Canada as a candidate Global boundary Stratotype Section and Point for the Anthropocene series (2023) · cites this paper as Marshall et al., 2023

    Split into 2 atoms — 1 confirmed, 1 partially supported, 0 disputed, 0 misattributed, 0 unverifiable. Expand the claim to see per-atom verdicts.

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured

  • Abundant Mallomonas acaroides var. acaroides occur from ~1950 CE to the top of the core section.

    “with abundant Mallomonas acaroides var. acaroides from ~1950 CE to the top of the core section (Gushulak et al., 2022; Marshall et al., 2023).”

    From The varved succession of Crawford Lake, Milton, Ontario, Canada as a candidate Global boundary Stratotype Section and Point for the Anthropocene series (2023) · cites this paper as Marshall et al., 2023

    The Results (Chrysophyte-delineated zones; page not provided) report M. acaroides at over 70% relative abundance in 1979–1990, supporting abundance near the top of the studied core. They instead describe 1930–1952 as dominated by other Mallomonas species and 1952–1978 chiefly by Synura, with only a later spike of M. acaroides. The paper does not establish abundance continuously from about 1950 or use the varietal designation “var. acaroides” in these passages. (LLM, conf=0.88)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured

  • The higher-resolution analysis refined the pattern of subsequent increases in the planktonic diatoms Cyclotella distinguenda, Lindavia intermedia, and Fragilaria andreseniana, replacing non-planktonic taxa through the 1950-1970s.

    “The higher-resolution analysis refined the pattern of subsequent increases in the planktonic diatoms Cyclotella distinguenda, Lindavia intermedia, and Fragilaria andreseniana (identified as Fragilaria tenera var. nanana in Gushulak et al., 2022), replacing non-planktonic taxa (e.g. Achnanthidium spp.; Figure 16) through the 1950–1970s (Marshall et al., 2023).”

    From The varved succession of Crawford Lake, Milton, Ontario, Canada as a candidate Global boundary Stratotype Section and Point for the Anthropocene series (2023) · cites this paper as Marshall et al., 2023

    The Discussion (page not provided) reports a shift back toward planktic diatoms in 1968–1969, and the Results describe C. distinguenda and F. andreseniana in the 1969–1978 assemblage. But the paper identifies Lindavia affinis, not L. intermedia, and reports that the earlier transition favored benthic taxa, including Achnanthidium, rather than their replacement throughout the 1950s–1970s. (LLM, conf=0.88)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured

  • Stratigraphically constrained cluster analysis of siliceous microfossils at annual resolution from core CRA19-2FT-D1 identified three zones, with Zone B defined by a decline in the planktonic diatoms Lindavia michiganiana and Fragilaria crotonensis that dominated Zone C and sharp increases in non-planktonic taxa such as Achnanthidium spp.

    “Stratigraphically constrained cluster analysis identified three zones, with Zone B defined by a decline in the planktonic diatoms Lindavia michiganiana and Fragilaria crotonensis that dominated Zone C and sharp increases in non-planktonic taxa such as Achnanthidium spp.”

    From The varved succession of Crawford Lake, Milton, Ontario, Canada as a candidate Global boundary Stratotype Section and Point for the Anthropocene series (2023) · cites this paper as Marshall et al. (2023)

    Split into 2 atoms — 0 confirmed, 2 partially supported, 0 disputed, 0 misattributed, 0 unverifiable. Expand the claim to see per-atom verdicts.

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured

  • Significant dissimilarity was noted around 1950 CE, primarily in the scaled chrysophyte record, with several species of Synura dominating assemblages in the upper part of zone B.

    “Significant dissimilarity was also noted around 1950 CE (solid line), primarily in the scaled chrysophyte record, with several species of Synura dominating assemblages in the upper part of zone B.”

    From The varved succession of Crawford Lake, Milton, Ontario, Canada as a candidate Global boundary Stratotype Section and Point for the Anthropocene series (2023) · cites this paper as Marshall et al. (2023)

    The Results (Chrysophyte-delineated zones; page unavailable) describe a shift beginning in 1953 in which three Synura species became the most abundant scaled chrysophytes. The copy does not identify an upper “zone B” or report a statistically significant dissimilarity around 1950 CE, so those specifics are not supported. (LLM, conf=0.84)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured

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Cites

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Cited by

Sorted by citations

Authors
Marshall, M. G., Hamilton, P. B., Lafond, K. M., Nasser, N. A., McCarthy, F. M. G., & Patterson, R. T.
Affiliations
  • Carleton University (CA)
  • Canadian Museum of Nature (CA)
  • Queen's University (CA)
  • Brock University (CA)
Corresponding author
Marshall, Matthew G.
ORCID
Venue
PeerJ
Publisher
PeerJ
Published
2023-03-08
Volume
11
Pages
e14847
ISSN
2167-8359 (ISSN-L)
DOI
10.7717/peerj.14847
PMC
PMC10007962
OpenAlex
W4323565169
Cited by
10
References
4
Citations by year
2026: 2 · 2025: 2 · 2024: 3 · 2023: 3
FWCI
0.86
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
Locations
  • PeerJ (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion, cc-by-sa)
Funders
NSERC
Topics
  • Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Environmental Chemistry › Aquatic Ecosystems and Phytoplankton Dynamics
  • Physical Sciences › Earth and Planetary Sciences › Atmospheric Science › Geology and Paleoclimatology Research
  • Physical Sciences › Earth and Planetary Sciences › Paleontology › Paleontology and Stratigraphy of Fossils
Keywords
Crawford Lake, anthropogenic impacts, diatom assemblages, Chrysophyceae, varved lake sediments, acid deposition, industrial emissions, Great Acceleration, Anthropocene, spheroidal carbonaceous particles, steel industry, paleoecology, lake stratigraphy, GSSP
MeSH terms
Anthropogenic Effects, Ecology, Ontario, Geologic Sediments, Lakes

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