Influence of Lateglacial meltwater influx from alpine glaciers on the aquatic ecosystem of Kanas Lake in the Altai Mountains, China

Glacier retreat in high altitude areas triggered by anthropogenic warming exerts a profound impact on the ecology of glacier-fed lakes. In this paper, we report on the results of a multi-proxy analysis of a Lateglacial (13.3-11.3 cal kyr B.P.) core obtained from the glacier-fed Kanas Lake in the Altai Mountains, China, to understand the responses of aquatic ecosystems to meltwater influxes. Core intervals with high sand fractions and enriched silicon dioxide and zirconium (similar to 11.5, 11.7, 11.8, 12.2 and 13.0 cal kyrs B.P.) reflect intense meltwater pulses from alpine glaciers. In the core, these pulses generally coincide with low abundance of littoral cladocerans, high abundance of planktonic Pediastrum, and high phosphorus concentrations. Our results suggest that intense meltwater influxes not only brought nutrients (nitrogen and phosphorus) into the lake and promoted phytoplankton growth, they also generated cold, turbid water masses and restricted the growth of benthic algae and invertebrates. Therefore, we infer that future anthropogenic warming may lead to significant changes in the structure and function of aquatic ecosystems in glacier-fed lakes worldwide.

Automated summary

Glacier retreat in high altitude areas triggered by anthropogenic warming has a significant impact on the ecology of glacier-fed lakes. This study analyzed a core from Kanas Lake in the Altai Mountains, China, and found that intense meltwater influxes resulted in increased nutrient levels, promoting phytoplankton growth, and a decrease in benthic algae and invertebrates. These findings suggest that future anthropogenic warming could lead to significant changes in aquatic ecosystems in glacier-fed lakes worldwide.