Live Poster Session: Zoom Link
Thursday, July 30th 1:15-2:30pm EDT
Abstract: Stable carbon and nitrogen isotopes can reveal information about the paleoenvironmental history of lakes and their surrounding regions. Human activity has contributed significantly to environmental degradation within lake systems. The process of eutrophication, where excess nutrient inputs trigger abundant algal growth, is often linked to the use of fertilizers, inept septic systems, or major changes of land use. Excess nutrient inputs, along with other human-caused environmental changes, can be reflected in measurements of %C, %N, C/N/P, δ13C, and δ15N. These changes to the carbon and nitrogen cycle exist in both lake sediments and also the wildlife in the region. There are many lakes in Connecticut that have demonstrated significant changes in %C, %N, C/N/P, δ13C, and δ15N over time. However, the causes of these changes have not yet been discovered. Specifically, δ15N values vary not only throughout time for individual lakes, but also vary significantly compared to lakes in other regions. Lake sediment cores and fish samples from present day and historic periods were used to reconstruct the history of multiple lakes in Connecticut. This evidence will aid in measuring the impact humans have had on these lake environments. With this evidence, future remediation efforts can be adapted to the unique characteristics of individual lakes in Connecticut.
Downer-Summer-2020-Poster-Rebecca-DownerLive Poster Session: Zoom Link
Thursday, July 30th 1:15-2:30pm EDT