Reconstructing Trophic Changes in Two Lakes Located in Nahuel Huapi National Park, Patagonia Argentina Using Non-Biting Midges (Diptera: Chironomidae)

MONTES DE OCA, F.; PLASTANI, M.S.; MOTTA, L.; MASSAFERRO, J.

Tahoe

Congreso; Sixth International Limnogeology Congress; 2015

International Association of Limnogeology

Lakes located in remote areas are the best reference ecosystems for the implementation of paleoenvironmental studies as they can provide baseline information about past climates and trophic history of the area. In protected areas, this kind of long term studies can help to early detection of impacts that may affect lake conditions, providing tools for management policies.Subfossil chironomids (Diptera: Chironomidae) are useful lake paleoindicators due to their specific response to different environmental factors. The aim of this study was to study chironomids combined with fossil pigments (Chlorophyll Derivatives and Total Carotenoids) and organic matter (OM) to provide information about the trophic history of two high altitudinal lakes (Laguna Toncek and Laguna Verde) located both above 1,000 m in the protected area of Nahuel Huapi National Park (ca. 41°S- 71°W), Rio Negro, Argentina.