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Project Code [2008-PhD-W-2]

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Project title

Limno- and palaeo-ecological responses to lake water dissolved organic carbon (DOC)

Primary Funding Agency

Environmental Protection Agency

Co-Funding Organisation(s)

n/a

Lead Organisation

University of Limerick (UL)

Lead Applicant

Catherine Dalton

Project Abstract

A trend of increasing dissolved organic carbon in surface waters has been documented for areas of Northern Europe and North America in the last 15-20 years. Several hypotheses have been proposed to explain these increases including land use changes, declines in acid deposition and anthropogenic climate change. Increased colour and humic content of surface waters has potentially critical effects on aquatic ecosystems as well as on drinking water production. This research will help establish (i) the present ecological response in bacterioplankton and phytoplankton populations and the recent palaeoecology of two lake systems, (ii) evaluate change in system state, (iii) assess the ecological response to increases in the DOC stressor and (iv) evaluate the potential roles of land use changes, declines in acid deposition, climate change and help inform predictions of future state.

Grant Approved

�94,645.00

Research Hub

Natural Environment

Research Theme

Improve our Knowledge on the State of our Water Resources and Pressures

Start Date

01/10/2008

Initial Projected Completion Date

01/10/2011