Small and shallow previously unstudied lakes: land-use, overgrowth and eutrophication

• Published in: Management of Environmental Quality: An International Journal
• Main Author: Rizhinashvili, Alexandra
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Emerald 2017
• Subjects: Four Lakes; Single Lake; North-Western Russia
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1108/meq-09-2015-0170; http://www.emeraldinsight.com/doi/full-xml/10.1108/MEQ-09-2015-0170; https://www.emerald.com/insight/content/doi/10.1108/MEQ-09-2015-0170/full/xml; https://www.emerald.com/insight/content/doi/10.1108/MEQ-09-2015-0170/full/html

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to compare trophic characteristics of the ecosystems of small and shallow lakes with a different character of land-cover in their catchments (as exemplified by several previously unstudied lakes of the Leningrad Region, North-Western Russia, that belong to a single lake-river system). Design/methodology/approach The key limnetic parameters of four lakes are analysed. Two of the lakes are located on the territory of allotment gardens, the other two are in the forest-covered areas. A preliminary assessment was made for the production-to-destruction ratio in the ecosystems of the lakes of the study region and their vulnerability factors. Findings For the lakes with a largely unexploited catchment, humus of terrigenous origin can act as a “hidden” source of nutrient load (primarily as phosphates). For the lakes with a catchment occupied by allotment gardens, an elevated trophic status and intensive overgrowth by vegetation (floating forms) is driven by an increased nitrogen load. Practical implications The results can be used for planning land and water management activities in North-Western Russia and in other world’s regions with similar environmental conditions. Originality/value These results can lay a foundation for creating a region-specific model to predict trends in eutrophication and overgrowth of small shallow lakes.