AsianScientist (Jun. 10, 2013) – Researchers have found a lake on an island off the coast of Queensland that has been relatively untouched by climate changes for the past 7,000 years.
Blue Lake, one of the largest lakes on North Stradbroke Island, southeast of Brisbane, has been the focus of research examining the lake’s response to environmental change over time.
Researchers studied the lake’s water discharge, water quality, and comparisons of historical photos over the past 117 years, as well as fossil pollen and algae to better understand its history over the past 7,500 years.
The results, published in the journal Freshwater Biology, show that Blue Lake has remained relatively stable and resilient for millennia.
“Blue Lake is one of those rare, beautiful lakes in Australia. It’s unusual because it’s more than ten meters deep but it’s so clear you can see to the bottom,” said the lead author of the study, Dr. Cameron Barr from the University of Adelaide’s Discipline of Geography, Environment and Population.
Although the region experienced a significant shift towards a drier climate around 4,000 years ago, the lake has demonstrated little variation over this period, Barr said, which is in stark contrast to other changes in the region due to shifts in climate.
“It appears that Blue Lake has been an important climate ‘refuge’ for the freshwater biota of the region, and is in the same condition now as it was 7,500 years ago. With appropriate management, the lake could continue relatively unchanged for hundreds, possibly thousands of years to come,” she said.
Project leader and co-author Dr. John Tibby, also from the University of Adelaide, said the results of this research could affect decision making about utilizing the freshwater aquifer of North Stradbroke Island as a source of fresh water for the mainland.
“Our study suggests that increased extraction of ground water represents one of the few obvious threats to the stability of Blue Lake. The threat this could pose to the lake’s status as a stable freshwater refuge needs serious consideration if the regional aquifer of North Stradbroke Island is to be contemplated,” he said.
The article can be found at: Barr C et al. (20130) Combining monitoring, models and palaeolimnology to assess ecosystem response to environmental change at monthly to millennial timescales: the stability of Blue Lake, North Stradbroke Island, Australia.
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Source: University of Adelaide; Photo: Ashley Natt/U Adelaide.
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