ABSTRACT: Trophic state responses to anthropogenic disturbances of several lakes in the Rideau Canal System, Ontario: a paleolimnological approach to landscape ecology.

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Abstract

The Rideau Canal is one of North America' oldest continuously operating canals (1832 - present). It stretches approximately 200 km linking a series of lakes, rivers and canal cuts between Kingston and Ottawa. It has primarily served military, commercial, and currently recreational purposes. Recent concern about water quality in the canal system has prompted several mitigation initiatives (e.g. Rideau Canal Biodiversity Project, museum of nature); however, long-term water chemistry data are limited. To address the need for historical data, we have used diatom-based paleolimnological techniques to reconstruct water-quality changes in response to natural and anthropogenic influences for several lakes over the last two centuries. Impacts of canal construction on lake trophic state is being investigated, as widespread flooding during construction altered the natural surrounding environment and possibly affected water quality. Previous paleolimnological studies within the Rideau System have demonstrated varying degrees of response to flooding during canal construction, and it is hypothesized that such differences are associated with a variety of factors, but lake depth and extent of macrophyte growth may be especially critical. This study further explores the differences between paleo-inferred trophic state of deep and shallow macrophyte dominated lakes in response to past disturbances within the Rideau Canal system. Results from this study provide lake managers with important information regarding past water quality within the Rideau System and trophic state responses of lakes with varying depths and macrophyte growth following water-level changes.

Bibliography of Canadian Geomorphology