Meeting Abstract
Freshwater ecosystems are important for species conservation efforts and also for providing insight on a variety of ecosystem functions. Until recently, lakes and rivers have been the main focus for research on freshwater systems, leaving small lakes and ponds virtually overlooked and understudied. Reports have suggested that ponds may be more important than previously thought. This study aims to observe how ecosystem measures, such as ecology, biology, and physics, differ across a gradient of lake sizes. We observed thermal stratification, zooplankton density, DOC (dissolved organic carbon), chlorophyll-a and conductivity between lakes in the Shawangunk Ridge. We studied the following sites: Awosting Lake, Lake Minnewaska, Mohonk Lake and Mud Pond. To observe the thermal stratification of the lakes, temperature sensors were mounted on a chain that reached the deepest part of both largest and smallest lakes (Awosting Lake and Mud Pond). They recorded the temperature every 15 minutes for roughly a month. For the ecological component, we collected water and analyzed samples from both deep and shallow sites in each lake. Our results indicated that DOC, and chlorophyll-a were all higher in the Mud Pond. Whereas, zooplankton density and conductivity where highest in Mohonk Lake. We also observed that Mud pond was much less stratified and experienced more water mixing than Awosting. Our data suggest that in various ways, Mud Pond can differ drastically from larger lakes. Learning from these small water bodies may prove to be vital in our overall understanding of freshwater ecosystems. Ponds and small lakes need to be protected and studied because they have the potential to help us better understand the influences of global climate change, food webs, and even greenhouse gas emissions.
