Daphnia ephippia as time capsules – using dormant eggs to detect browning-induced shifts in lake biogeochemistry (Hippicap)
The Hippicap project studies browning of lakes and how it affects lake biogeochemistry and biological communities. We are using sediment core studies with state-of-the-art methods to show how browning has changed – and is still changing - the structure and function of small lakes.
Table of contents
Project duration
-
Core fields of research
Basic natural phenomena and mathematical thinking
Research areas
Sustainable use of the natural resources
Department
Department of Biological and Environmental Science
Faculty
Faculty of Mathematics and Science
Funding
Research Council of Finland
Project description
Browning of lakes (i.e. increase in water color) is a global issue. The aim of Hippicap is to establish elementomes (i.e., relative concentration of all biogenic elements in an organism) of the resting eggs of Daphnia water fleas as a new tool in paleolimnology. We will conduct laboratory and field studies to show that lake water concentrations of important elements can be inferred from the elemental composition of ephippia. Then, our team will apply this tool together with other proxies to show how browning has changed – and is still changing - the structure and function of small lakes in the Boreal and Arctic landscapes.
