Isotopic Geochemistry of Lacustrine Ecosystems
Summary
Isotopic geochemistry in lacustrine ecosystems employs stable isotope measurements and trace‐element proxies to decipher the physical, chemical and biological history of lakes. Oxygen and carbon isotope ratios in biogenic carbonates and dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC) serve as fundamental indicators of water temperature, hydrological balance and carbon cycling, while trace‐element parameters such as magnesium/calcium (Mg/Ca) ratios enhance palaeotemperature reconstructions. Reliable interpretation hinges upon site‐specific calibrations and correction for vital effects arising from organism physiology. Recent methodological advances in clumped‐isotope thermometry and compound‐specific isotope analysis are improving resolution of seasonal and subannual climate variability. When integrated with sedimentological records and ecological surveys, isotopic data illuminate nutrient dynamics, catchment–lake interactions and human impacts, thereby underpinning assessments of freshwater resource sensitivity and the broader implications of climate change on inland waters.
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Isotopic Geochemistry of Lacustrine Ecosystems publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in isotopic geochemistry of lacustrine ecosystems across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
Stable isotope: Variant of an element with a constant nucleus used as a tracer of environmental processes.
δ18O and δ13C: Notation for deviations in heavy‐to‐light isotope ratios of oxygen and carbon relative to international standards, expressed in parts per thousand (‰).
Biogenic carbonates: Calcium carbonate structures formed by organisms that preserve environmental signals at the time of deposition.
Mg/Ca ratio: Proportion of magnesium to calcium in carbonate minerals, employed as a proxy for palaeotemperature.
Vital effect: Systematic offset in isotopic or elemental composition imparted by biological processes during biomineralisation.
Clumped‐isotope thermometry: Technique measuring the abundance of heavy‐isotope bonds in carbonate molecules to infer formation temperatures independent of fluid composition.
References
- A modern snapshot of the isotopic composition of lacustrine biogenic carbonates – records of seasonal water temperature variability. Biogeosciences (2022).
- Seasonal Mg/Ca-inferred temperatures of brackish water ostracods. Marine Micropaleontology (2023).
- Neotropical ostracode oxygen and carbon isotope signatures: implications for calcification conditions. Biogeochemistry (2022).
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