Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Changes in the water level of Lake Peipsi and their reflection in a sediment core

  • ELLS 2007
  • Published:
Hydrobiologia Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

A comprehensive study (chronological, lithological and geochemical) of an 8.5 m postglacial sediment sequence from Lake Peipsi was conducted to elucidate the effects of lake-level changes on the sedimentary environment and biogeochemical dynamics in a large lake. Four lithological units were distinguished in the sediment sequence studied: clayey silt, slightly laminated greyish carbonaceous gyttja, brownish-grey gyttja and dark gyttja. These units indicate that large shifts in sedimentation processes occurred in the past. The sediment data show that fluctuations in water depth had a profound impact on the lake environment, recorded as changes in the lithological composition, phosphorus content of sediments and composition of diatom assemblages. The corresponding changes are best reflected in sediments accumulated during phases of regression when the lake area was also smaller. As the water depth and area of the lake increased, wave-induced erosion and resedimentation smoothed or even disturbed the initial information. The increase of phosphorus content in the unconsolidated, high-porosity surface sediments (0.5 m) is most probably connected with active diffusion and matter exchange between the water-sediment pools.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Barker, P. A., N. Roberts, H. F. Lamb, S. van der Kaars & A. Benkaddour, 1994. Interpretation of Holocene lake-level changes from diatom assemblages in Lake Sidi Ali, Middle Atlas, Morocco. Journal of Paleolimnology 12: 223–234.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Battarbee, R. W., V. J. Jones, R. J. Flower, N. G. Cameron & H. Bennion, 2001. Diatoms. In Smol, J. P., H. J. B. Birks & W. M. Last (eds), Tracking Environmental Change Using Lake Sediments, Vol. 3: Terrestrial, Algal and Siliceous Indicators. Kluwer Academic Publishers, Dordrecht, 155–202.

    Google Scholar 

  • Battarbee, R. W., N. Anderson, E. Jeppesen & P. Leavitt, 2005. Combining paleolimnological and limnological approaches in assessing lake ecosystem response to nutrient reduction. Freshwater Biology 50: 1772–1780.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Blinova, I., 2001. Riverine load into L. Peipsi. In Nõges, T. (ed.), Peipsi. Meteorology, Hydrology, Hydrochemistry. Sulemees Publishers, Tartu, 94–96.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ciglenečki, I., M. Carić, F. Kršinić, D. Viličić & B. Ćosović, 2005. The extinction by sulphide – turnover and recovery of a naturally eutrophic, meromictic seawater lake. Journal of Marine Systems 56: 29–44.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Davydova, N., 1981. Diatoms in sediment cores from Lake Peipsi–Pskov. In Raukas, A. (ed.), Bottom Deposits of Lake Peipsi. Estonian Academy of Sciences, Tallinn, 74–81, (In Russian).

    Google Scholar 

  • Davydova, N., 1985. Diatoms – Indicators of Natural Conditions of Water Reservoir in Holocene. Nauka, Leningrad, (In Russian).

    Google Scholar 

  • Davydova, N. & K. Kimmel, 1991. Palaeogeography of Lake Peipsi on the basis of biostratigraphical studies of bottom sediments. Proceedings of the Estonian Academy of Sciences, Geology 40: 16–23, (In Russian).

    Google Scholar 

  • Dean, W. E., 1999. The carbon cycle and biogeochemical dynamics in lake sediments. Journal of Paleolimnology 21: 375–393.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Golterman, H. L., 2004. The Chemistry of Phosphate and Nitrogen Compounds in Sediments. Kluwer Academic Publishers, Dordrecht/Boston/London.

    Google Scholar 

  • Håkanson, L. & M. Jansson, 1983. Principles of Lake Sedimentology. Springer-Verlag, Berlin.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hang, T. & A. Miidel, 1999a. Bedrock topography. In Miidel, A. & A. Raukas (eds), Lake Peipsi: Geology. Sulemees Publishers, Tallinn, 27–28.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hang, T. & A. Miidel, 1999b. Holocene history of the lake. In Miidel, A. & A. Raukas (eds), Lake Peipsi: Geology. Sulemees Publishers, Tallinn, 131–135.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hang, T., A. Miidel, V. Kalm & K. Kimmel, 2001. New data on the distribution and stratigraphy of the bottom deposits of Lake Peipsi. Proceedings of the Estonian Academy of Sciences, Geology 50: 233–253.

    Google Scholar 

  • Heiri O., A. F. Lotter & M.-J. Lemcke, 2001. Loss on ignition as a method for estimating organic and carbonate content in sediments: reproducibility and comparability of results. Journal of Paleolimnology 25: 101–110.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kangur, K., T. Möls, J. Haberman, K. Kangro, R. Laugaste, A. Milius, T. Nõges, H. Timm, T. Timm & P. Zingel, 2002. Lake Peipsi change of ecological state during 1992–2001. In Roose, A. (ed.), Estonian Environmental Monitoring 2001. Tartu, 57–64, (In Estonian).

  • Kangur, M., K. Kangur, R. Laugaste, J.-M. Punning & T. Möls, 2007. Combining limnological and palaeolimnological approaches in assessing degradation of Lake Pskov. Hydrobiologia 584: 121–132.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kozerski H. P., H. Behrendt & J. Köhler, 1994. Possibilities and limitations of sediment traps to measure sedimentation and resuspension. Hydrobiologia 284: 93–100.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kozerski H. P., H. Behrendt & J. Köhler, 1999. The N and P budget of the shallow, flushed lake Müggelsee: retention, external and internal load. Hydrobiologia 408/409: 159–166.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Krammer, K. & H. Lange-Bertalot, 1986–1991. Bacillariophyceae. In Susswasserflora Mitteleuropas 2/1–4. Stuttgart.

  • Miidel, A., T. Hang, R. Pirrus & A. Liiva, 1995. On the development of the southern part of Lake Peipsi in the Holocene. Proceedings of the Estonian Academy of Sciences, Geology 44: 33–44.

    Google Scholar 

  • Niinemets, E., 1999. Ostracods. In Miidel, A. & A. Raukas (eds), Lake Peipsi: Geology. Sulemees Publishers, Tallinn, 90–97.

    Google Scholar 

  • Nõges, T., A. Heinsalu, T. Alliksaar & P. Nõges, 2006. Paleolimnological assessment of eutrophication history of large transboundary Lake Peipsi, Estonia/Russia. Verhandlungen der Internationalen Vereinigung für Limnologie 29: 1135–1138.

    Google Scholar 

  • Orviku, K., 1960. Geomorphology. In Orviku, K. (ed.), Geology of U.S.S.R., 28. Gosgeoltekhizdat, Moscow, 209–230, (In Russian).

    Google Scholar 

  • Pirrus, R. & V. Tassa, 1981. On the sapropel layer at Värska. In Raukas, A. (ed.), Bottom Deposits of Pihkva-Peipsi Lake. Estonian Academy of Sciences, Tallinn: 82–93, (In Russian).

    Google Scholar 

  • Punning, J.-M. & A. Leeben, 2003. A comparison of sediment and monitoring data: implications for paleomonitoring a small lake. Environmental Monitoring and Assessment 89: 1–13.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Punning, J.-M., M. Kangur, T. Koff & G. Possnert, 2003. Holocene lake-level changes and their reflection in the paleolimnological records of two lakes in northern Estonia. Journal of Paleolimnology 29: 167–178.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Punning, J.-M., L. Puusepp & T. Koff, 2004. Spatial variability of diatoms, subfossil macrophytes and OC/N values in surface sediments of Lake Väike Juusa (southern Estonia). Proceedings of the Estonian Academy of Sciences. Biology, Ecology 53: 147–160.

    Google Scholar 

  • Punning, J.-M., T. Koff, E. Kadastik & A. Mikomägi, 2005. Holocene lake level fluctuations recorded in the sediment composition of Lake Juusa, southeastern Estonia. Journal of Paleolimnology 34: 377–390.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Raukas, A., 1981. On the lithological composition of bottom deposits in Pihkva-Peipsi Lake. In Raukas, A. (ed.), Bottom Deposits of Pihkva-Peipsi Lake. Estonian Academy of Sciences, Tallinn, 23–41, (In Russian).

    Google Scholar 

  • Sarv, A. & E. Ilves, 1975. On Holocene deposits in the delta of River Emajõgi (Saviku). Proceedings of Estonian Academy of Sciences. Chemistry, Geology 24: 64–69, (In Russian).

    Google Scholar 

  • SFS 3025: 1986. Determination of Phosphorus in Water. Finnish Standards Association SFS, Helsinki.

  • SFS 3026: 1986. Determination of Phosphate in Water. Finnish Standards Association SFS, Helsinki.

  • Simonsen, R., 1987. Atlas and Catalogue of the Diatom Types of Friederich Hustedt, Vol. I–III. Stuttgart.

  • Søndergaard, M., J. P. Jensen & E. Jeppesen, 2003. Role of sediment and internal loading of phosphorus in shallow lakes. Hydrobiologia 506/509: 135–145.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yang, J.-R. & H. C. Duthie, 1995. Regression and weighted averaging models relating surficial sedimentary diatom assemblages to water depth in Lake Ontario. Journal of Great Lakes Research 21: 84–94.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

The study was supported by the Estonian target financed project SF0280016s07 and the Estonian Science Foundation (grant no. 5370). This research was partly supported by the Estonian Environmental Investment Centre (contract no. 06-06-3/381). We thank our colleagues Jaanus Terasmaa for assistance in the fieldwork and Liisa Puusepp and Anna Ludikova for the help in compiling the diatom diagram. We thank the Estonian Border Guard for supporting field work in Lake Peipsi and Mrs Tiia Kaare for improving the language. The journal reviewers and the guest editor of the special issue are acknowledged for constructive comments.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Ecology, Tallinn University, Uus-Sadama 5, 10120, Tallinn, Estonia

    Jaan-Mati Punning, Galina Kapanen & Mihkel Kangur

  2. Institute of Geology, University of Tartu, Vanemuise 46, 51014, Tartu, Estonia

    Tiit Hang

  3. Institute of Limnology, Russian Academy of Sciences, Sevastjanova 9, 196105, St. Petersburg, Russia

    Natalia Davydova

Authors
  1. Jaan-Mati Punning
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Galina Kapanen
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Tiit Hang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Natalia Davydova
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Mihkel Kangur
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Jaan-Mati Punning.

Additional information

Guest editors: T. Nõges, R. Eckmann, K. Kangur, P. Nõges, A. Reinart, G. Roll, H. Simola & M. Viljanen.

European Large Lakes—Ecosystem changes and their ecological and socioeconomic impacts.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Punning, JM., Kapanen, G., Hang, T. et al. Changes in the water level of Lake Peipsi and their reflection in a sediment core. Hydrobiologia 599, 97–104 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10750-007-9192-0

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10750-007-9192-0

Keywords

Search

Navigation