| NSF Org: |
DEB Division Of Environmental Biology |
| Recipient: |
|
| Initial Amendment Date: | April 29, 2019 |
| Latest Amendment Date: | April 29, 2019 |
| Award Number: | 1856224 |
| Award Instrument: | Standard Grant |
| Program Manager: |
Kendra McLauchlan
kmclauch@nsf.gov (703)292-2217 DEB Division Of Environmental Biology BIO Directorate for Biological Sciences |
| Start Date: | July 1, 2019 |
| End Date: | June 30, 2023 (Estimated) |
| Total Intended Award Amount: | $199,945.00 |
| Total Awarded Amount to Date: | $199,945.00 |
| Funds Obligated to Date: |
|
| History of Investigator: |
|
| Recipient Sponsored Research Office: |
21 N PARK ST STE 6301 MADISON WI US 53715-1218 (608)262-3822 |
| Sponsor Congressional District: |
|
| Primary Place of Performance: |
680 N Park St Madison WI US 53706-1413 |
| Primary Place of
Performance Congressional District: |
|
| Unique Entity Identifier (UEI): |
|
| Parent UEI: |
|
| NSF Program(s): | Ecosystem Science |
| Primary Program Source: |
|
| Program Reference Code(s): | |
| Program Element Code(s): |
|
| Award Agency Code: | 4900 |
| Fund Agency Code: | 4900 |
| Assistance Listing Number(s): | 47.074 |
ABSTRACT
The field of limnology is the study of inland waters. Historically, limnologists have dedicated their efforts to studying lakes in the summer, while overlooking winter. Winter field work is challenging. Most lakes in the United States, however, freeze over for at least part of the winter. A bias for summer research has left gaps in knowledge on lake chemistry and biology under ice. More pressingly, with anticipated changes in environmental conditions, there is a need for information on how lakes and reservoirs function in the winter for a more complete understanding of lakes. This knowledge is also critical to future management of freshwater resources in a future with shorter winters and less lake ice. The project advances the growing field of winter limnology by using long-term data collected on northern lakes in Wisconsin in conjunction with a snow-removal experiment to look at under-ice algae and the implications for ice-loss on spring algae blooms. This research will also provide hands-on research experience for students, including K-12, undergraduates, and graduate students.
This project will advance the understanding of under-ice ecology by leveraging the rich winter limnology datasets of the North Temperate Lakes Long Term Ecological Research (NTL-LTER) site, high-frequency sensors, and the resources of a year-round limnological field station. To address the overarching question of how lake ice loss will impact lake productivity, this project focuses on three questions: is there a seasonal succession of planktonic events under lake ice; what are the major drivers of winter productivity; and how do seasons with less ice, or early-ice off, alter spring phytoplankton blooms? These three questions will be addressed through a combination of long-term data analysis, comparative and experimental studies, and modeling. The seven study lakes are in Northern Wisconsin and have been routinely monitored since 1981. Additionally, a bog lake will be the site of a snow manipulation experiment. This project will produce multiple outcomes, including insight into under-ice community dynamics and productivity, the dynamic nature of chlorophyll and oxygen production under ice, and the role of light availability in under-ice productivity. All of these analyses will further our ability to predict how a future with less lake ice will alter lake ecosystem dynamics.
This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.
PUBLICATIONS PRODUCED AS A RESULT OF THIS RESEARCH
Note:
When clicking on a Digital Object Identifier (DOI) number, you will be taken to an external
site maintained by the publisher. Some full text articles may not yet be available without a
charge during the embargo (administrative interval).
Some links on this page may take you to non-federal websites. Their policies may differ from
this site.
PROJECT OUTCOMES REPORT
Disclaimer
This Project Outcomes Report for the General Public is displayed verbatim as submitted by the Principal Investigator (PI) for this award. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this Report are those of the PI and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation; NSF has not approved or endorsed its content.
Our project investigated the impact of changing lake ice conditions on the ecosystem ecology of north-temperate lakes through the analysis of long-term datasets and an ecosystem manipulation.
Over the course of the award, we trained three graduate students, numerous undergraduate students, and published three notable studies that shed light on this critical topic.
In one research publication, we delved into the relationship between ice cover duration and spring lake dynamics. Using 274 years of lake records from eight lakes in two climate zones, we found that when lakes thermally stratify immediately following ice melt, bottom water conditions have ecological memory of the timing of ice-off. Therefore, lakes which currently have the longest duration of lake ice will likely experience the largest changes in spring and summer lake ecosystem properties.
A second research publication documented our study of a small lake in northern Wisconsin, where we found that a large amount of greenhouse gas emissions occurs during spring ice-melt and fall mixing. The study highlighted the importance of conducting high frequency measurements for a full year and emphasized the significance of shoulder seasons in contributing to carbon dioxide and methane gas emissions in lakes.
In a third research publication, we examined the impact of changing ice and snow dynamics on aquatic ecosystems in north-temperate lakes by removing snow from the surface of a bog lake over two winters. In no-snow years, we observed changes in under-ice light conditions and the composition of plankton communities. The study suggested that alterations in ice cover duration and snow conditions could significantly affect the functioning of these ecosystems.
Our findings highlight the vulnerability of lake ecosystems to climate change and emphasize the importance of considering the impacts of ice loss when addressing future ecological management strategies. This work has the potential to inform policymakers, resource managers, and the general public about the importance of mitigating climate change impacts on freshwater systems. By elucidating the ecological effects of lake ice loss, we can promote the conservation and sustainable management of these critical habitats. Furthermore, our research can guide climate change adaptation strategies, informing decision-makers on the potential impacts of altered ice cover dynamics and the need for proactive measures to ensure ecosystem resilience.
Throughout the duration of this award, the research team participated in many outreach activities. These included helping with winter schoolyard activities at Trout Lake Station, where approximately 100 elementary and middle school students spend part of their day getting hands-on experience in the field then conducting experiments and making observations in the lab. The team also ran a winter limnology station at Madison’s annual Frozen Assets festival. During this day-long event, hundreds of community members gather on Frozen Lake Mendota to learn about the importance of lakes and lake ice. Our research was also covered by WXPR, a public radio station serving north central Wisconsin and adjacent areas of Michigan's Upper Peninsula. Lastly, this project has provided field work opportunities for graduate and undergraduate students. Field work experiences are critical to retaining students in ecology, and we are actively trying to increase the number and diversity of students we bring to the field.
Last Modified: 08/04/2023
Modified by: Hilary Dugan
Please report errors in award information by writing to: awardsearch@nsf.gov.
