Active basins and neotectonics: morphotectonics of the Lake Ohrid Basin (FYROM and Albania)

2011 ◽  
Vol 162 (2) ◽  
pp. 217-234 ◽  
Author(s):  
Klaus Reicherter ◽  
Nadine  Hoffmann ◽  
Katja  Lindhorst ◽  
Sebastian  Krastel ◽  
Tomás  Fernández-Steeger ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Lake Ohrid

scholarly journals Testing the spatial and temporal framework of speciation in an ancient lake species flock: the leech genus <i>Dina</i> (Hirudinea: Erpobdellidae) in Lake Ohrid

2010 ◽  
Vol 7 (11) ◽  
pp. 3387-3402 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Trajanovski ◽  
C. Albrecht ◽  
K. Schreiber ◽  
R. Schultheiß ◽  
T. Stadler ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Molecular Clock ◽  
Abiotic Factors ◽  
Time Frame ◽  
Recent Common Ancestor ◽  
Species Flock ◽  
Ancient Lake ◽  
Lake Ohrid ◽  
Most Recent Common Ancestor ◽  
Extant Species

Abstract. Ancient Lake Ohrid on the Balkan Peninsula is considered to be the oldest ancient lake in Europe with a suggested Plio-/Pleistocene age. Its exact geological age, however, remains unknown. Therefore, molecular clock data of Lake Ohrid biota may serve as an independent constraint of available geological data, and may thus help to refine age estimates. Such evolutionary data may also help unravel potential biotic and abiotic factors that promote speciation events. Here, mitochondrial sequencing data of one of the largest groups of endemic taxa in the Ohrid watershed, the leech genus Dina, is used to test whether it represents an ancient lake species flock, to study the role of potential horizontal and vertical barriers in the watershed for evolutionary events, to estimate the onset of diversification in this group based on molecular clock analyses, and to compare this data with data from other endemic species for providing an approximate time frame for the origin of Lake Ohrid. Based on the criteria speciosity, monophyly and endemicity, it can be concluded that Dina spp. from the Ohrid watershed, indeed, represents an ancient lake species flock. Lineage sorting of its species, however, does not seem to be complete and/or hybridization may occur. Analyses of population structures of Dina spp. in the Ohrid watershed indicate a horizontal zonation of haplotypes from spring and lake populations, corroborating the role of lake-side springs, particularly the southern feeder springs, for evolutionary processes in endemic Ohrid taxa. Vertical differentiation of lake taxa, however, appears to be limited, though differences between populations from the littoral and the profundal are apparent. Molecular clock analyses indicate that the most recent common ancestor of extant species of this flock is approximately 1.99 ± 0.83 million years (Ma) old, whereas the split of the Ohrid Dina flock from a potential sister taxon outside the lake is estimated at 8.30 ± 3.60 Ma. Comparisons with other groups of endemic Ohrid species indicated that in all cases, diversification within the watershed started ≤2 Ma ago. Thus, this estimate may provide information on a minimum age for the origin of Lake Ohrid. Maximum ages are less consistent and generally less reliable. But cautiously, a maximum age of 3 Ma is suggested. Interestingly, this time frame of approximately 2–3 Ma ago for the origin of Lake Ohrid, generated based on genetic data, well fits the time frame most often used in the literature by geologists.

Unlocking the power of lake multiproxy analyses by understanding subsurface biosphere processes

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Camille Thomas ◽  
Hendrik Vogel ◽  
Daniel Ariztegui
Keyword(s):  
Microbial Communities ◽  
Lake Sediments ◽  
Biogeochemical Cycling ◽  
Dead Sea ◽  
Extracellular Dna ◽  
Lake Ohrid ◽  
Subsurface Biosphere ◽  
The Dead ◽  
Lake Towuti ◽  
Paleoenvironmental Reconstructions

&lt;p&gt;Lake sediments bear valuable information allowing multidisciplinary research to address paleoclimatic and paleoenvironmental reconstructions at regional to global scales. Sedimentological, geochemical, paleontological and biological tools are commonly used to tackle these questions, which are generally driven by a set of intricated parameters. Among them, the importance of biogeochemical cycling is largely acknowledged in the lake (paleo-) water columns and has been at the heart of most paleolimnological studies. The way these signals are transferred to lake sediments has largely been studied. However, microbial communities - the principal actors in the biogeochemical cycling framework - keep being active in the sediment, and continue to influence the preservation and retention of organic and inorganic matter while buried. Gathered within the &amp;#8220;early diagenesis&amp;#8221; black box, these processes, once qualified, can help better interpret the proxies they may influence, and even constitute new ones. Within this work, we provide examples showing that the integration of studies of the subsurface biosphere within geo- and paleo-limnology investigations can help unlock or secure the potential of multiproxy analysis for reconstructing the paleoenvironments, paleoclimates and paleo-ecology of lake basins. The use of now well-developed OMICS methods, through the analysis of environmental and/or ancient DNA and lipids in particular has been coupled to mineralogical, isotopic and magnetic information in the Dead Sea (Levant) to demonstrate the differential preservation of mineralogic and sedimentologic signals along the last two glacial-interglacial cycles (Thomas et al., 2015, 2016; Ebert et al., 2018). Similar signals have been unlocked in Lake Towuti (Indonesia) and in Laguna Potrok Aike (Argentina) (Vuillemin et al., 2015, 2017). In Lake Ohrid (North Macedonia/Albania), environmental DNA has provided limited inputs on that perspective (Thomas et al., 2020), but has shown that ancient/fossil DNA could provide valuable information regarding the lake primary productivity and the status of its watershed land-cover. Integrating OMICS methods to tackle the identity and activity of the ancient and modern subsurface biosphere of lakes therefore holds an immense potential not only for microbiology investigations, but also for paleoclimatic and paleoenvironmental reconstructions.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Ebert et al. (2018) Overwriting of sedimentary magnetism by bacterially mediated mineral alteration. Geology &lt;strong&gt;46&lt;/strong&gt;, 2&amp;#8211;5.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Thomas et al. (2016) Microbial sedimentary imprint on the deep Dead Sea sediment. The Depositional Record 1&amp;#8211;21.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Thomas et al. (2020) Weak influence of paleoenvironmental conditions on the subsurface biosphere of lake ohrid over the last 515 ka. Microorganisms &lt;strong&gt;8&lt;/strong&gt;, 1&amp;#8211;20.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Thomas et al. (2015) Impact of paleoclimate on the distribution of microbial communities in the subsurface sediment of the Dead Sea. Geobiology &lt;strong&gt;13&lt;/strong&gt;, 546&amp;#8211;561.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Vuillemin et al. (2015) Recording of climate and diagenesis through fossil pigments and sedimentary DNA at Laguna Potrok Aike, Argentina. Biogeosciences Discussions &lt;strong&gt;12&lt;/strong&gt;, 18345&amp;#8211;18388.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Vuillemin et al. (2017) Preservation and Significance of Extracellular DNA in Ferruginous Sediments from Lake Towuti , Indonesia. Frontiers in Microbiology &lt;strong&gt;8&lt;/strong&gt;, 1&amp;#8211;15.&lt;/p&gt;

scholarly journals Lipid biomarkers in Holocene and glacial sediments from ancient Lake Ohrid (Macedonia, Albania)

2010 ◽  
Vol 7 (11) ◽  
pp. 3473-3489 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Holtvoeth ◽  
H. Vogel ◽  
B. Wagner ◽  
G. A. Wolff
Keyword(s):  
Organic Matter ◽  
Lipid Biomarkers ◽  
Lake Ohrid ◽  
Labile Organic Matter ◽  
Glacial Sediments ◽  
Plant Matter ◽  
Lipid Biomarker ◽  
First Results ◽  
Near Shore

Abstract. Organic matter preserved in Lake Ohrid sediments originates from aquatic and terrestrial sources. Its variable composition reflects climate-controlled changes in the lake basin's hydrology and related organic matter export, i.e. changes in primary productivity, terrestrial plant matter input and soil erosion. Here, we present first results from lipid biomarker investigations of Lake Ohrid sediments from two near-shore settings: site Lz1120 near the southern shore, with low-lying lands nearby and probably influenced by river discharge, and site Co1202 which is close to the steep eastern slopes. Variable proportions of terrestrial n-alkanoic acids and n-alkanols as well as compositional changes of ω-hydroxy acids document differences in soil organic matter supply between the sites and during different climate stages (glacial, Holocene, 8.2 ka cooling event). Changes in the vegetation cover are suggested by changes in the dominant chain length of terrestrial n-alkanols. Effective microbial degradation of labile organic matter and in situ contribution of organic matter derived from the microbes themselves are both evident in the sediments. We found evidence for anoxic conditions within the photic zone by detecting epicholestanol and tetrahymanol from sulphur-oxidising phototrophic bacteria and bacterivorous ciliates and for the influence of a settled human community from the occurrence of coprostanol, a biomarker for human and animal faeces (pigs, sheep, goats), in an early Holocene sample. This study illustrates the potential of lipid biomarkers for future environmental reconstructions using one of Europe's oldest continental climate archives, Lake Ohrid.

А new species of Alona Baird, 1843 (Cladocera: Chydoridae) from the ancient Lake Ohrid

Zootaxa ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 4526 (4) ◽  
pp. 434
Author(s):  
ARTEM Y. SINEV ◽  
CHARO LÓPEZ-BLANCO
Keyword(s):  
New Species ◽  
Ancient Lakes ◽  
Ancient Lake ◽  
Lake Ohrid ◽  
Genus Level ◽  
Palearctic Species ◽  
Level Group ◽  
A New Species

A new species of Cladocera, Alona begoniae sp. nov. (Anomopoda: Chydoridae) was found in ancient Lake Ohrid. Its habitus and outer morphology is similar to one of the most common Palearctic species, Coronatella rectangula (Sars, 1862), and this can be the main reason why it has remained undiscovered. A. begoniae sp. nov. belongs to the elegans-group of Alona s. lato, a relict genus-level group not formally recognised yet as a separate taxonomical unit. Its habitat seem to be sandy and stony substrates (at 2–12 m depth) bare of vegetation. The position of this new species within the Alona-like anomopods is evaluated and similarities with other cladocerans in ancient lakes are discussed. 

Monogenean Trematods of ChubLeuciscus Cephalus AlbusBonaparte, 1838 from the Lake Ohrid (Macedonia)

2010 ◽  
Vol 24 (sup1) ◽  
pp. 623-627 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Stojanovski ◽  
N. Hristovski ◽  
P. Cakic ◽  
M. Hristovski ◽  
L. Velkova-Jordanoska ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Lake Ohrid

scholarly journals Assembly processes of gastropod community change with horizontal and vertical zonation in ancient Lake Ohrid: a metacommunity speciation perspective

2016 ◽  
Vol 13 (10) ◽  
pp. 2901-2911 ◽  
Author(s):  
Torsten Hauffe ◽  
Christian Albrecht ◽  
Thomas Wilke
Keyword(s):  
Community Composition ◽  
Community Assembly ◽  
Environmental Filtering ◽  
Dispersal Limitation ◽  
Species Interaction ◽  
Relative Importance ◽  
Lake Depth ◽  
Ancient Lake ◽  
Lake Ohrid ◽  
Speciation Model

Abstract. The Balkan Lake Ohrid is the oldest and most diverse freshwater lacustrine system in Europe. However, it remains unclear whether species community composition, as well as the diversification of its endemic taxa, is mainly driven by dispersal limitation, environmental filtering, or species interaction. This calls for a holistic perspective involving both evolutionary processes and ecological dynamics, as provided by the unifying framework of the “metacommunity speciation model”.The current study used the species-rich model taxon Gastropoda to assess how extant communities in Lake Ohrid are structured by performing process-based metacommunity analyses. Specifically, the study aimed (1) to identifying the relative importance of the three community assembly processes and (2) to test whether the importance of these individual processes changes gradually with lake depth or discontinuously with eco-zone shifts.Based on automated eco-zone detection and process-specific simulation steps, we demonstrated that dispersal limitation had the strongest influence on gastropod community composition. However, it was not the exclusive assembly process, but acted together with the other two processes – environmental filtering and species interaction. The relative importance of the community assembly processes varied both with lake depth and eco-zones, though the processes were better predicted by the latter.This suggests that environmental characteristics have a pronounced effect on shaping gastropod communities via assembly processes. Moreover, the study corroborated the high importance of dispersal limitation for both maintaining species richness in Lake Ohrid (through its impact on community composition) and generating endemic biodiversity (via its influence on diversification processes). However, according to the metacommunity speciation model, the inferred importance of environmental filtering and biotic interaction also suggests a small but significant influence of ecological speciation. These findings contribute to the main goal of the Scientific Collaboration on Past Speciation Conditions in Lake Ohrid (SCOPSCO) deep drilling initiative – inferring the drivers of biotic evolution – and might provide an integrative perspective on biological and limnological dynamics in ancient Lake Ohrid.

scholarly journals Carbonate sedimentation and effects of eutrophication observed at the Kališta subaquatic springs in Lake Ohrid (Macedonia)

2010 ◽  
Vol 7 (3) ◽  
pp. 4715-4747 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Matter ◽  
F. S. Anselmetti ◽  
B. Jordanoska ◽  
B. Wagner ◽  
M. Wessels ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Sediment Traps ◽  
Authigenic Carbonate ◽  
Sidescan Sonar ◽  
Carbonate Content ◽  
Carbonate Precipitation ◽  
Lake Ohrid ◽  
Radiocarbon Dates ◽  
North West ◽  
The North ◽  
Spring Area

Abstract. To date, little is known about the role of spring waters with respect to authigenic carbonate precipitation in the shallow lacustrine setting. Lake Ohrid, located in Southeastern Europe, is a large lake fed to over 50% by karstic springs of which half enter subaquatically and influence significantly its ecology and species distribution. In order to evaluate how sedimentological processes are influenced by such shallow-water springs, the Kališta subaquatic spring area in the north west of Lake Ohrid was investigated by a sidescan sonar survey and with sediment traps and three transects of gravity short cores. Results indicate that sedimentation in the spring area is dominated by authigenic carbonate precipitation. High sedimentation rates and evidences for bio-induced precipitation processes were observed in the water column and in the sediments. Two distinct stratigraphic units characterize the shallow subsurface, both composed of carbonate silts with high carbonate contents of up to 96%, but differing in color, carbonate content and diatom content. A chronological correlation of the cores by radiocarbon dates and 137Cs activities places the transition between the two stratigraphic units after ~1955 AD. At that time, coastal sedimentation changed drastically to significantly darker sediments with higher contents of organic matter and more abundant diatoms. This change coincides with the recent human impact of littoral eutrophication.

scholarly journals Sediment core fossils in ancient Lake Ohrid: testing for faunal change in molluscs since the Last Interglacial period

2010 ◽  
Vol 7 (3) ◽  
pp. 3969-3999 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. Albrecht ◽  
H. Vogel ◽  
T. Hauffe ◽  
T. Wilke
Keyword(s):  
Sediment Core ◽  
Fossil Record ◽  
Interglacial Period ◽  
Ancient Lake ◽  
Last Interglacial ◽  
Lake Ohrid ◽  
Last Interglacial Period ◽  
History Of ◽  
Extinction Events ◽  
Mollusc Shells

Abstract. Ancient Lake Ohrid is probably of early Pleistocene or Pliocene origin and amongst the few lakes in the world harboring an outstanding degree of endemic biodiversity. Although there is a long history of evolutionary research in Lake Ohrid, particularly on molluscs, a mollusc fossil record has been missing up to date. For the first time, gastropod and bivalve fossils are reported from the basal, calcareous part of a 2.6 m long sediment succession (core Co1200) from the north-eastern part of Lake Ohrid. Electron spin resonance (ESR) dating of mollusc shells from the same stratigraphic level yielded an age of 130±28 ka. Lithofacies III sediments, i.e. a subdivision of the stratigraphic unit comprising the basal succession of core Co1200 between 181.5–263 cm appeared solid, grayish-white, and consisted almost entirely of silt-sized endogenic calcite (CaCO3>70%) and intact and broken mollusc shells. Here we compare the faunal composition of the thanatocoenosis with recent mollusc associations in Lake Ohrid. A total of 13 mollusc species (9 gastropod and 4 bivalve species) could be identified within Lithofacies III sediments. The value of sediment core fossils for reconstructing palaeoenvironmental settings was evaluated. The agreement between sediment and palaeontological proxies was tested. The combined findings of the ecological study and the sediment characteristics suggest deposition in a shallow water environment during the Last Interglacial period. We tested for major faunal changes since the Last Interglacial period and searched for signs of extinction events. The fossil fauna exclusively included species also found in the present fauna, i.e. no extinction events are evident for this site since the Last Interglacial. The thanatocoenosis showed the highest similarity with recent Intermediate Layer (5–25 m) mollusc assemblages. The demonstrated existence of a mollusc fossil record in Lake Ohrid sediment cores also has great significance for future deep drilling projects. It can be hoped that a more far reaching mollusc fossil record will then be obtained, enabling insight into the early evolutionary history of Lake Ohrid.

scholarly journals The active tectonic landscape of Lake Ohrid (FYR of Macedonia/Albania)

2014 ◽  
Vol 56 (6) ◽  
Author(s):  
Nadine Hoffmann
Keyword(s):  
Active Faults ◽  
Fault Scarp ◽  
Mass Wasting ◽  
Lake Ohrid ◽  
Slip Rates ◽  
Active Tectonic ◽  
Western Border ◽  
Wine Glass ◽  
Yugoslavian Republic ◽  
Fault Scarps

<p><span style="font-family: CMR10; font-size: medium;">The study area at the Lake Ohrid Basin is located on 693 m a.s.l. at the south-western border of the Former Yugoslavian Republic of Macedonia with Albania. It is a suitable location for neotectonic studies. It exhibits a large variety of morphological expressions associated with the seismic activity of the region. Linear bedrock fault scarps give the relief on both sides of the lake a staircase-like appearance; other features are wine-glass shaped valleys and triangular facets. These often short living features are used to identify active faults and to parameterise palaeoearthquakes (slip rates, subsidence and erosion). According to the results of fault scarp profiling a halfgraben shape of the basin is proposed with the west coast being dominated by mass wasting processes most likely triggered by seismic events.</span></p>

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