Submission Type
Poster
Abstract
Conesus Lake, a mesoeutrophic lake located in the Finger Lakes, has experienced environmental disruptions over the past centuries. Conesus Lake contains six species of ostracods, Cypridopisis vidua, Candona candida, Candona ohioensis, Candona ellipitica, Darwinula stevensoni, and Limocythere verrucosa. These species reflect the lake's environmental conditions, including remediation efforts used to restore it. This study aims to show the effectiveness of remediation using the diversity and abundance of ostracodes found in the lake. Cores were collected from the south basin of Conesus Lake. Samples of sediment were collected at one-centimeter intervals from 3 cm to 154 cm. Subfossils were separated from the sediments, sorted, and identified to the lowest level. 1,363 ostracodes were found from 51 horizons in the core. Cy. vidua and Ca. candida were the most prevalent. Cy. vidua had the most overall abundance throughout the core whereas Ca. candida showed elevated abundance at both the top and base of the core. Ca. ohioensis displayed lower abundances near both core-bottom and core-top with peak abundance mid-core whereas Ca. elliptica displayed moderate abundances near core base with infrequent occurrences near core-top. We propose Ca. candida and Cy. vidua may be indicators of mesotrophic conditions, Ca. ohioensis may indicate eutrophic conditions and Ca. elliptica may be indicative of more oligotrophic conditions. The return of Ca. candida and Cy. vidua near the core-top reveals the positive impact of remediation on the ecosystem and monitoring live ostracodes can be used to indicate the lake’s trophic state.
Recommended Citation
Szczublewski, Emily; Balcarczyk, Jacey; Cole, Zander; Schirrmacher, Kurt; and Wittmer, Jacalyn M., "031 - Measuring the Success of Remediation using Ostracodes in the Western Finger Lakes, NY" (2025). GREAT Day Posters. 9.
https://knightscholar.geneseo.edu/great-day-symposium/great-day-2025/posters-2025/9
031 - Measuring the Success of Remediation using Ostracodes in the Western Finger Lakes, NY
Conesus Lake, a mesoeutrophic lake located in the Finger Lakes, has experienced environmental disruptions over the past centuries. Conesus Lake contains six species of ostracods, Cypridopisis vidua, Candona candida, Candona ohioensis, Candona ellipitica, Darwinula stevensoni, and Limocythere verrucosa. These species reflect the lake's environmental conditions, including remediation efforts used to restore it. This study aims to show the effectiveness of remediation using the diversity and abundance of ostracodes found in the lake. Cores were collected from the south basin of Conesus Lake. Samples of sediment were collected at one-centimeter intervals from 3 cm to 154 cm. Subfossils were separated from the sediments, sorted, and identified to the lowest level. 1,363 ostracodes were found from 51 horizons in the core. Cy. vidua and Ca. candida were the most prevalent. Cy. vidua had the most overall abundance throughout the core whereas Ca. candida showed elevated abundance at both the top and base of the core. Ca. ohioensis displayed lower abundances near both core-bottom and core-top with peak abundance mid-core whereas Ca. elliptica displayed moderate abundances near core base with infrequent occurrences near core-top. We propose Ca. candida and Cy. vidua may be indicators of mesotrophic conditions, Ca. ohioensis may indicate eutrophic conditions and Ca. elliptica may be indicative of more oligotrophic conditions. The return of Ca. candida and Cy. vidua near the core-top reveals the positive impact of remediation on the ecosystem and monitoring live ostracodes can be used to indicate the lake’s trophic state.
Comments
Sponsored by Jacalyn Wittmer Malinowski