Diatom and chrysophycean cyst profiles in sediment cores from two linked but contrasting Welsh lakes

Llyn Padarn and Llyn Peris are linked by a small river, and although originally a single larger lake, the lakes now support contrasting algal communities. A study of the sequences of diatom remains and chrysophycean cysts present in long sediment cores has been carried out to assess the historical extent of the differences in these algae between the two lakes.

Investigations have included statistical analysis to determine the precision of counting sediment samples. The most efficient sampling and counting procedure, resulting in counts of acceptable precision, involved taking a single sample of sediment from a depth horizon, preparing two replicate slides and counting the entire area of each slide. A comparison of the variation in distribution of these siliceous algae in replicate sediment samples taken from the surface sediment with the variation in distribution down the long sediment core from Llyn Padarn showed that the vertical variation greatly exceeded the horizontal variation. Thus variation in diatom numbers down the sediment core reflects changes in the alga reaching the sediments rather than horizontal patchiness of distribution in the top most layers of sediment.

Studies of the sequences of diatoms and chrysophycean cysts were carried out on a 4·75 m core from Llyn Padarn and 2·1 m core from Llyn Peris representing c. 6000 years and c. 900 years of the two lakes respective history. From c. 6000 until c. 2200 years B.P., Llyn Padarn was an acid oligotrophic lake. It appears that about 2200 years B.P., Llyn Padarn became more enriched, Asterionella formosa was the most numerous diatom preserved in the sediment at this time. Reversion to oligotrophic conditions then occurred c. 2000 years B.P. The oldest material from the Peris sediment core was characterized by centric diatoms similar to those found in Padarn sediment dating from 2000 years B.P. to the surface of the Padarn core. Thus at this time, c. 900 years B.P., the algal communities in the two lakes were similar. Both lakes were oligotrophic. However, by 200 years B.P. the chemistry of the sediment core from Peris showed evidence of extensive copper and slate mining in the environment. At this time the species of siliceous algae preserved in the Peris core changed, and the current differences in algal communities in the two lakes appear to originate from this point in history.