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Plastic debris is widespread in freshwater ecosystems, but a rigorous assessment of its global distribution has been hindered by a lack of comprehensive and comparable data. We performed the first standardized global survey of lakes to assess the quantity and type of plastics (>250μm). We included 38 lakes located in 23 different countries distributed across five continents, spanning different environmental gradients and varying levels of anthropogenic stress. All samples were collected by horizontal trawling of a plankton net and subsequently treated with hydrogen peroxide. We identified 9425 plastic particles, which were classified based on shape, color, and size. Polymer identification was carried out using Raman micro-spectroscopy. Our results showed that the concentration of plastics spanned four orders of magnitude (10-3-101 particles/m3). Fibers (49%) and fragments (41%) were the most frequently detected particles, suggesting a secondary origin of plastic contamination. The most commonly identified polymers were polyester (30%), polypropylene (20%), and polyethylene (16%), which are widely used in short life-cycle products and account for the majority of global plastic production. Further, we found that urban-related attributes of lakes/watersheds influenced the occurrence and type of plastics in lentic systems and larger and deeper lakes with higher retention times are accumulating plastic debris at higher concentrations. info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion

The majority of microplastic research has focused on seawater, with fewer than 4% of microplasticsrelated studies occurring on freshwaters. The limited available information suggests that the abundance of microplastics in freshwaters is often as high or even higher than marine environments. However, comprehensive investigations on occurrence and fate of microplastics in freshwaters are scarce and highly fragmented, partly because detection and identification of microplastic particles is rather complex. In addition, up to now, harmonized and standardized protocols for the sampling and analysis of microplastics in freshwaters do not exist, and studies with different research aims and hypotheses often report unstandardized results, making comparison among studies difficult. In the present study, we performed the first global standardized sampling and analysis effort to investigate the occurrence and distribution of microplastics in surface water of lakes and reservoirs with different anthropogenic impacts. Participants aim to collect water samples of freshwater systems with different features (e.g., area, depth, thermal behavior, watershed), following a common protocol. This 18 establishes the collection of samples by horizontal trawling of a plankton net and, after treatment with hydrogen peroxide, the polymer identification through micro-Raman spectroscopy. This GLEON project will allow obtaining comparable data about microplastic contamination in different freshwater systems around the globe. With this global dataset, our goals are to determine whether a relationship exists between the abundance of microplastics and the waterbody/watershed attributes and understand which factors are likely to influence the occurrence of microplastics in surface water of lentic systems. info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion

Citizen science projects have a long history in ecological studies. The research usefulness of such projects is dependent on applying simple and standardized methods. Here, we conducted a citizen science project that involved more than 3500 Swedish high school students to examine the temperature difference between surface water and the overlying air (Tw-Ta) as a proxy for sensible heat flux (QH). If QH is directed upward, corresponding to positive Tw-Ta, it can enhance CO2 and CH4 emissions from inland waters, thereby contributing to increased greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere. The students found mostly negative Tw-Ta across small ponds, lakes, streams/rivers and the sea shore (i.e. downward QH), with Tw-Ta becoming increasingly negative with increasing Ta. Further examination of Tw-Ta using high-frequency temperature data from inland waters across the globe confirmed that Tw-Ta is linearly related to Ta. Using the longest available high-frequency temperature time series from Lake Erken, Sweden, we found a rapid increase in the occasions of negative Tw-Ta with increasing annual mean Ta since 1989. From these results, we can expect that ongoing and projected global warming will result in increasingly negative Tw-Ta, thereby reducing CO2 and CH4 transfer velocities from inland waters into the atmosphere.

A Thesis for applying for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Applied Biology. Väitekiri filosoofiadoktori kraadi taotlemiseks rakendusbioloogia erialal. Human activities and climate change have become the most consequential threats to freshwater ecosystems and their inhabitants, especially fish. The response of the fish population to their environment is not always straightforward because of joint effect of multiple parameters. Fish and fisheries in shallow lakes can be directly affected by changes in air temperature, and also changes can occur via other factors in lakes that are under the influence of climate change. Also, response of each fish species to those parameters can vary depending on their tolerance and adaptation. Therefore, examining complex relationships between fish and their environment plays important role at understanding the dynamic of fish population and fisheries. In this study, we aimed to determine general driving factors, including climate change impact, for fish and fishery in Estonian large lakes. Results show that although winter is one of the most affected seasons by climate change in this region, then the selected fish species and eel fishery in Estonian large lakes were more sensitive to other environmental parameters. However, since the changes in winter surface water temperature and ice formation can affect other parameters, the indirect effect should not be ignored. Nutrients, spring-summer temperature and alkalinity were the most important environmental parameters for the selected fish biomass. We found that the high blue-green algae biomass during restocking period is the strongest negative impact for the eel fishery in Lake Võrtsjärv. The impact of factors can occur subsequently in fish communities and may lead to irreversible consequences, whereas the effects of concurrent climate change and nutrient enrichment can mutually reinforce their symptoms. Inimtegevus ja kliimamuutus on saanud suureks ohuks magevee ökosüsteemidele ja nende elanikele, eriti kaladele. Kalade reaktsioon elukeskkonna muutustele pole mitme teguri koosmõju tõttu alati otsene. Kalad ja kalandus suurtes madalates järvedes nagu Peipsi ja Võrtsjärv on otseselt mõjutatud muutustest õhutemperatuuris ning abiootiliste ja biootiliste tegurite vastastikmõjust, mida omakorda mõjutab kliimamuutus. Kalaliikide reaktsioon elupaiga muutustele võib erineda sõltuvalt nende kohanemisvõimest ja taluvuspiiridest.. Seetõttu on oluline uurida kalade ja nende elukeskkonna vahelisi keerulisi seoseid, et aru saada kalapopulatsioonide ja kalanduse muutuste põhjustest. Antud töös püüdsime selgitada peamiste ökoloogiliste tegurite, sealhulgas kliimamuutuse mõju kaladele ja kalandusele Eesti suurjärvedes. Analüüs näitas, et kuigi talv on kliimamuutustest enim mõjutatud aastaaeg, siis valitud kalaliigid (haug, koha, ahven, kiisk, latikas, nurg) ja angerja asurkond meie suurjärvedes olid tundlikumad teiste keskkonnategurite suhtes. Kuna muutused talvises pinnavee temperatuuris ja jäätekkes mõjutavad ka teisi keskkonnaparameetreid, siis nende kaudset mõju ei tohiks siiski ignoreerida. Selgus, et toitainete sisaldus ja aluselisus vees ning kevad-suvine veetemperatuur olid kõige olulisemad keskkonnategurid valitud kalaliikide biomassile. Sinivetikate kõrgel biomassil asustamise perioodil oli tugevaim negatiivne mõju angerjapopulatsioonile Võrtsjärves. Erinevate faktorite mõju kaladele võib ilmneda hiljem ja viia pöördumatute tagajärgedeni ning kliimamuutuste ja eutrofitseerumise koosmõju võib neid probleeme veelgi süvendada. Publication of this thesis is supported by the Estonian University of Life Sciences.

A Thesis for applying for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Hydrobiology. Macrophytes play an important role in aquatic ecosystems. Their temporal and spatial distribution is governed by various natural and anthropogenic pressures and disturbances. The aim of the thesis is to study the effect of pressures and disturbances on species composition and richness in Lake Peipsi. The fluctuating water level has been considered to be a natural disturbance factor while eutrophication and reed removal are important anthropogenic influences. During the rapid eutrophication between 1970 and 1980, the frequency of common hygrophytes, helophytes, and amphibious plants increased, as well as the frequency of filamentous green algae. Eutrophication of Peipsi has had a profound effect on macrophytes because it has induced the expansion of reeds, which in turn decreased suitable eulittoral habitats for small-sized species. The expansion of reeds required holidaymakers and local people to manage the lake shores more actively. In general, management supports increase in species richness but the formation of dry ‘terraced’ (elevated) areas should not be the first choice. Among the different management styles the highest species richness was found in the stretches without ‘terrace’ or with a combination of managed and wild habitats. Further, changes in the water level create new ecological niches and a mosaic of habitats. At low water habitats emerge for otherwise declining species such as Alisma gramineum, Ranunculus reptans, Cyperus fuscus. Thus, the water level fluctuation as an intermediate disturbance supports species richness in Peipsi. Remarkably, also the abundance of submerged macrophytes, charophytes and large filamentous algae increased considerably at the low water level. Therefore, the occurrence of indicator species and its influence on the estimation of ecological quality are in synchrony with the natural disturbance factor. Makrofüütidel ehk suurtaimedel on väga oluline roll nii vee keemiliste omaduste mõjutajana kui ka elu- ja varjepaigana ning toidubaasina paljudele teistele liikidele. Seepärast on oluline jälgida suurtaimestikus toimuvaid muutusi ning tuvastada looduslike ja inimtekkeliste survetegurite osa nende kujunemisel. Töö põhineb Peipsi järve pikaajalistel uuringutel. Inimtekkeliste surveteguritena on käsitletud eutrofeerumist ja pilliroo eemaldamist (ühekordsena käsitletav ka häiringuna) ning loodusliku häiringuna veetaseme kõikumist. Kiire eutrofeerumise perioodil (1970–1980) suurenes oluliselt tavaliste hügrofüütide, helofüütide, amfiibsete liikide ning suurte niitrohevetikate esinemissagedus. Tööst selgus, et antropogeensest eutrofeerumisest tingitud rooalade laienemine on vähendanud eulitoraalis väikesekasvulistele liikidele sobivaid elupaiku. Kaldaalade kinnikasvamine on suurendanud kohalike elanike vajadust rannaalade majandamiseks. Üldiselt võib tihedate pillirookogumike eemaldamist pidada taimestiku liigirikkusele positiivseks, kuid vältida tuleks monotoonsete ja kuivade „terrassistatud“ (kõrgendatud) alade kujundamist. Suurim liigirikkus oli iseloomulik rannalõikudele, kus niidetud ja majandamata elupaigad vaheldusid ning ei olnud terrassistatud ala. Veetaseme kõikumine Peipsis on käsitletav keskmise häiringuna, mis toetab liigirikkuse säilimist elupaikade suurenenud mosaiiksuse ning liikidele uute niššide kujunemise tõttu. Veetaseme langusega paljanduvad elupaigad, mis on sobivad väheneva levikuga liikidele, nagu näiteks väike konnarohi, kaartulikas ja pruun lõikhein. Madalveeperioodil tõusis märgatavalt liigirikkus ning head seisundit näitavate veesiseste taimede ja mändvetikate ohtrus, aga samas ka kesist seisundit peegeldavate suurte niitrohevetikate ohtrus. Kuna uuring näitas liikide esinemise ning ohtruse väga tugevat sõltuvust veetaseme muutustest, siis on ilmne, et veekogu ökoloogilise seisundi hinnang on sellest looduslikust häiringufaktorist märkimisväärselt mõjutatud. Publication of this thesis is supported by the Estonian University of Life Sciences

Hironomiidid ehk surusääsklased (Diptera: Chironomidae) on Võrtsjärve põhjaloomastikus domineeriv rühm ja tähtis kalatoit, kuid nende hulga aastajalisi ja pikaajalisi muutusi on viimastel aastatel vähe uuritud. Töö eesmärk on selgitada surusääsevatsete arvukuse ja biomassi aastaajalisi ja pikaajalisi muutusi, teha kindlaks seoseid teiste makrozoobentoste rühmadega ja analüüsida ilmastikuga seotud faktorite mõju nende ohtrusele Võrtsjärves. Uuring põhineb järve kahest proovipunkist (profundaali mudapõhjalt alates alates 1964. aastast ja litoraalist alates 1970. aastast) kogutud igakuiste makrozoobentose proovide andmetel. Kasutatud aegread on saadud Eesti Maaülikooli limnoloogiakeskuse arhiivist, andmete statistiliseks analüüsiks kasutati statistikaprogrammi R. Analüüs näitas hironomiidivastsete igakuise keskmise arvukuse ja biomassi suvist langust litoraalis (ilmselt seoses vee kiirema soojenemisega ja valmikute väljalennuga) varem (miinimum juunis) kui profundaalis (miinimum augustis). Hironomiidide keskmine arvukus ja biomass oktoobrist aprillini varieerus aastati märkimisväärselt. Litoraalis täheldati hironomiidide keskmise arvukuse (kuid mitte biomassi) statistiliselt olulist pikaajalist tõusutrendi; profundaalis mõlema näitaja olulisi trende ei ilmnenud. Korrelatsioonid hironomiidide ja teiste makrozoobentose rühmade arvukuste ja biomasside vahel olid enamasti positiivsed ja statistiliselt olulised; seejuures korrelatsioon ühe hironomiidiliigi - Chironomus plumosus - ja kogu makrozoobentose biomassi vahel profundaalis oli väga tugev (0,99; p=10-16). Hironomiidide biomassi profundaalis mõjutasid positiivselt kevadine õhutemperatuur ja suvine veetemperatuur. Litoraalis ilmnes hironomiidide arvukuse positiivne seos aprilli, kevadise ja sügisese vee- ja õhutemperatuuriga ning aprilli ja kevadise veetasemega. Surusääsevastsete seoseid keskkonnaga väga on üsna keeruline uurida, kuna neid ühekorraga mõjutavaid tegureid nii veekogus kui ka väljaspool on väga palju. Paremaks hironomiidide arvukuste ja biomasside muutuste selgitamiseks tuleks uurida hironomiidide suviseid noorjärkke, kes on praeguse metoodikaga määramata. Chironomids (Diptera: Chironomidae) are dominant benthic invertebrates in Lake Võrtsjärv and important fish food, but their seasonal and long term changes have been studied little in previous years. Thesis goal is to identify chironomid larvae abundance and biomass seasonal and long term changes, connection to other macrozoobenthos groups and analyse weather related factors. Study is based on two monitoring stations (mud bottomed profundal from 1964. and inshore littoral from 1970.). Used data series was obtained from Estonian University of Life Sciences Centre of Limnology; data was analysed with statistics program R. Analysis showed chironomids larvae monthly average abundance and biomass summer decrease in littoral (probably faster water temperature rise means faster chironomids growth) was 2 months earlier (minimum in June) than in profundal (minimum in August). Chironomids average abundance and biomass October to April averages had great variability between the years. Littoral showed long term increase in abundance (but not biomass), which was statistically significant, but profundaal failed to show any long term changes. Correlations between chironomids and other macrozoobenthos groups abundance and biomass showed mostly positive correlations, which were statistically significant, notably C. plumosus correlation with macrozoobenthos showed very strong correlation (0,99; p=10-16). Chironomids biomass in profundal was positively influenced by autumn air temperature and summer water temperature. Littoral chironomids abundance was positively affected by April, autumn and spring air and water temperatures and April and autumn water level. Studying chironomids controlling environmental factors is very difficult due to large number of factors inside the lake and outside the lake. For better understanding of chironomids abundance summer young chironomids should be studied as current methodology cannot catch them.