Lakes in cold ecoregions

– Species affected by Climate Change –

Many freshwater species are directly affected by temperature increase or droughts. Other are affected by stressors, which are influenced by Climate Change, such as eutrophication. Others will benefit from temperature increase and colonise new areas.

Here you find a selection:

• Esox lucius (Northern pike)

  Scientific name	Esox lucius
  Common name	Northern pike
  Retreating / Invasive	Retreating
  Climate Region	Cold and temperate
  Ecosystem type	Lakes and rivers, all sizes
  Stressor type	Temperature

  Response description

  Northern pike actively avoids surface temperatues aboves 25 °C, which is likely to become more common as air temperature increases across much of its distributional range.

  Secondary effects

  Specification of relevant ecosystem type

  Clear, vegetated lakes, slowly flowing creeks, streams and rivers.

  Relevant ecoregion(s)

  Widespread in Northern and Central Europe

  Mitigation measures

  Reference(s)

  Reist, J.D., F.J. Wrona, T.D. Prowse, J.B. Dempson, M. Power, G. Kock, T.J. Carmichael, C.D. Sawatzky, H. Lehtonen & R.F. Tallman (2006): An overview of effects of climate change on selected arctic freshwater and anadromous fishes. Ambio 35(7): 381-387.

  
  

• Salmo trutta lacustris (Lake trout)

  Scientific name	Salmo trutta lacustris
  Common name	Lake trout
  Retreating / Invasive	Retreating
  Climate Region	Cold and temperate
  Ecosystem type	Lakes, deep
  Stressor type	Temperature

  Response description

  Lake trout occur in lakes below the thermocline in southern deep lakes and a variety of cold lake habitats in the north. With an increase in temperature trout will restricted to smaller volumes of lakes and will need to enter these regions earlier in the year. Oxygen content in the deep zones will be affected by prolonged summer stratification, decreasing the habitat quality for lake trouts.

  Secondary effects

  A longer stay in deep areas will change the diet of trout, decreasing the ratio of pelagic versus benthic sources of carbon in the diet, leading to increasing mercury concentrations in the tissue.

  Specification of relevant ecosystem type

  Lakes and fast-flowing rivers

  Relevant ecoregion(s)

  Widespread in Europe

  Mitigation measures

  Reference(s)

  
  

• Salvelinus alpinus (Arctic char)

  Scientific name	Salvelinus alpinus
  Common name	Arctic char
  Retreating / Invasive	Retreating
  Climate Region	Cold and temperate
  Ecosystem type	Lakes, deep, Rivers, large
  Stressor type	Temperature, hydrology

  Response description

  Arctic char is sensitive to water pollution and prefers cold, well oxygenated waters (temperature range 4-16 °C). Non-migratory populations stay in lakes and rivers all year round. With an increase in water temperature the fish can only go to deeper, colder water (if it is not possible to leave the water system they are in) which might not have high enough oxygen concentrations, particularly if eutrophication is enhanced by Climate Change.

  Secondary effects

  Specification of relevant ecosystem type

  Deep runs and pools of medium to large rivers, and lakes

  Relevant ecoregion(s)

  Salvelinus alpinus occurrs in western Norway (Ecoregion 20, Borealic Uplands), with isolated populations in Scandinavia, UK, Finland and the Alps.

  Mitigation measures

  Reference(s)

  
  

• Pisidium hibernicum

  Scientific name	Pisidium hibernicum
  Common name
  Retreating / Invasive	Retreating
  Climate Region	Cold
  Ecosystem type	Lakes, shallow
  Stressor type	Temperature

  Response description

  Restricted to high-mountain areas, mainly small streams and glacial lakes, that will disappear or be altered with temperature increase.

  Secondary effects

  Specification of relevant ecosystem type

  Small streams at high altitude and lakes with glacial origin.

  Relevant ecoregion(s)

  Ecoregion 1 (Iberic-Macaronesian Region)

  Mitigation measures

  Reference(s)

  Araujo, R. (2006): Pisidium hibernicum Westerlund, 1894. In: Verdú & Galante (eds.): Libro Rojo de los Invertebrados de España. Dirección General para la Biodiversidad, Ministerio de Medio Ambiente, Madrid.