North-Patagonian Andean Deep Lakes: Impact of Glacial Recession and Volcanic Eruption

BALSEIRO, E.; MODENUTTI, B.; BASTIDAS NAVARRO, M.; MARTYNIUK, N.; SCHENONE, L.; LASPOUMADERES, C.

FRESHWATERS AND WETLANDS OF PATAGONIA

Springer

Año: 2022;

This chapter will deal with the characteristics of the Patagonian Andean lakes and the effect of climate change on them. In the first part, we will explore how climate change will affect the region, and what to expect in the future. Based on obtained results, we will show how climate change is already affecting deep lakes as well as shallow lakes in the area. How these changes are affecting and will affect in the future the functioning of biological communities, from bacteria to plankton. Glacier recession is one of the most visible consequences of the climate change, and we will explore how this recession is affecting lakes, changing water transparency, light and nutrient availability, and species interactions. Changes in the transparency of lakes have consequences in the vertical distribution of organisms and in the ecological stoichiometry of the systems. Finally, how changes in the thermal structure of lakes may affect biological communities.