Diatoms in freshwater laminated sediments

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Abstract

Diatoms are a key proxy indicator in annually laminated (varved) lake sediments. Varves are critical records for paleoecological reconstruction due to their seasonal to annual resolution. Varves can form in many settings and diatoms can play an important role in the formation of some biogeochemical varve structures, as part of a seasonal diatom bloom that is preserved in the sediment record as part of the annual varve signature. In addition, the seasonal signal preserved in varved lakes allows a more detailed understanding of diatom community structures. The study of diatoms in varved lakes can contribute to a series of wider scientific questions namely (i) understanding detailed changes in varve deposition through diatom analyses; (ii) determining the role diatoms can play in the reconstruction of abrupt climate change when analyzed in annually laminated lakes; (iii) using diatom-based methods to decipher human impacts on the limnological system in varved lakes; and (iv) diatom studies as part of modern lake monitoring to understand varve formation processes. The chapter concludes with a series of recommendations for future work in this area, such as linking varve studies with modern day monitoring and using diatom studies in varves to assist with tests for synchroneity between sites to understand different drivers of change at the local to regional scale.


This is an update of H. Simola, Diatom Records | Freshwater Laminated Sequences, Editor(s): S.A. Elias, C.J. Mock, Encyclopedia of Quaternary Science (Second Edition), Elsevier, 2013, Pages 540–545, ISBN 9780444536426, https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-444-53643-3.00224-7.
Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationReference Module in Earth Systems and Environmental Sciences
PublisherElsevier
Number of pages10
ISBN (Print)978-0-12-409548-9
DOIs
Publication statusE-pub ahead of print - 28 Feb 2024

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