Six decades of Lake Ontario ecological history according to benthos.

ABSTRACT: The Laurentian Great Lakes have experienced multiple anthropogenic changes in the past century, including cultural eutrophication, phosphorus abatement initiatives, and the introduction of invasive species. Lake Ontario, the most downstream lake in the system, is considered to be among the most impaired. The benthos of Lake Ontario has been studied intensively in the last six decades and can provide insights into the impact of environmental changes over time. We used multivariate community analyses to examine temporal changes in community composition over the last 54 years, and to assess the major drivers of long-term changes in benthos. The benthic community of Lake Ontario underwent significant transformations that correspond with three major periods. The first period, termed the pre/ear

SUBMITTER: Burlakova LE 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9454375 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature