Open AccessYellowstone Lake: An Evaluation of Patterns in Productivity
Author(s) -
William H. Romme,
Dennis H. Knight
Publication year - 1983
Publication title -
annual report
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 2693-2407
pISSN - 2693-2385
DOI - 10.13001/uwnpsrc.1983.2397
Subject(s) - detritus , macrophyte , primary productivity , shore , productivity , diatom , ecology , environmental science , oceanography , geography , geology , biology , ecosystem , macroeconomics , economics
There is evidence to suggest that the primary productivity of Yellowstone Lake may have decreased during the last 1500 years, with an accelerated decline in the last 100 years. Shero and Parker (1977) analyzed diatom frustules preserved in lake sediments and described a gradual decrease in both numbers and volume of frustules over the past 1500 years, although species composition has remained relatively constant. Varley (1974, and personal communication) compared chemical analyses of lake water made in 1884 with recent analyses and found lower concentrations of several elements in the recent samples. He also notes that early visitors at the Lake Hotel often complained about the offensive smell of rotting "seeweed" piled 3-4 feet deep on the beach, whereas only scattered macrophyte detritus can be found on the lake shore today.