Impacts of volcanic eruptions and early recovery in freshwater environments and organisms |
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Authors: | Uara Carrillo Verónica Díaz-Villanueva |
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Institution: | Laboratorio de Limnología, Instituto de Investigaciones en Biodiversidad y Medioambiente, CONICET - Universidad Nacional del Comahue, Quintral 1250, Bariloche, Río Negro, 8400 Argentina |
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Abstract: | Volcanic eruptions modify environments physically and chemically with serious consequences for the biota. In this review, we analysed 80 papers reporting the effects of volcanic eruptions in freshwater environments and on freshwater organisms. An increase in water turbidity is the most common reported physical effect while increases in concentrations of inorganic elements, many representing nutrients for primary producers, are the most common chemical effects. Bacterial growth is usually stimulated, while autotrophs can be either positively or negatively affected depending on the type of impact. A persistent effect reported in the biota is changes to the assemblage, which could generate further changes in terms of ecosystem functions. This analysis also identifies some information gaps, particularly involving the effects of eruptions on heterotrophic biofilms in streams and on invertebrates and fish in lakes. Most studies were carried out soon after the volcanic eruption, so it is difficult to assess the recovery of the ecosystems. Eruptions present unique opportunities for scientific discovery, although such studies are often hindered by a lack of pre-eruption data, which would allow for a more comprehensive assessment of the effects. |
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Keywords: | tephra impacts natural disturbances bacteria algae invertebrates fishes |
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