This file was created by the TYPO3 extension publications --- Timezone: CEST Creation date: 2026-04-13 Creation time: 14:02:26 --- Number of references 120 article RN96 2024 10.22498/pages.32.2.118 Past Global Changes Magazine 32 118-119 2 T. H. Donders D. Oliviera M.-F. Sánchez Goñi Laura Sadori article RN96 2024 10.22498/pages.32.2.88 Past Global Changes Magazine 32 88-89 2 Christian Zeeden Huaichun Wu Qiang Fang Simona Pierdominici Mathias Vinnepand M. Sardar Abadi Arne Ulfers article Wagner20231 Studies of the upper 447 m of the DEEP site sediment succession from central Lake Ohrid, Balkan Peninsula, North Macedonia and Albania provided important insights into the regional climate history and evolutionary dynamics since permanent lacustrine conditions established at 1.36 million years ago (Ma). This paper focuses on the entire 584-m-long DEEP sediment succession and a comparison to a 197-m-long sediment succession from the Pestani site ~5 km to the east in the lake, where drilling ended close to the bedrock, to unravel the earliest history of Lake Ohrid and its basin development. 26Al/10Be dating of clasts from the base of the DEEP sediment succession implies that the sedimentation in the modern basin started at c. 2 Ma. Geophysical, sedimentological and micropalaeontological data allow for chronological information to be transposed from the DEEP to the Pestani succession. Fluvial conditions, slack water conditions, peat formation and/or complete desiccation prevailed at the DEEP and Pestani sites until 1.36 and 1.21 Ma, respectively, before a larger lake extended over both sites. Activation of karst aquifers to the east probably by tectonic activity and a potential existence of neighbouring Lake Prespa supported filling of Lake Ohrid. The lake deepened gradually, with a relatively constant vertical displacement rate of ~0.2 mm a−1 between the central and the eastern lateral basin and with greater water depth presumably during interglacial periods. Although the dynamic environment characterized by local processes and the fragmentary chronology of the basal sediment successions from both sites hamper palaeoclimatic significance prior to the existence of a larger lake, the new data provide an unprecedented and detailed picture of the geodynamic evolution of the basin and lake that is Europe’s presumed oldest extant freshwater lake. © 2022 The Authors. Boreas published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of The Boreas Collegium. Article 2023 English 03009483 10.1111/bor.12601 Boreas 52 John Wiley and Sons Inc 1 – 26 1 Balkan; Lake Ohrid; Turkmenistan; clast; displacement; geodynamics; lacustrine deposit; lake evolution; limnology; sedimentation; sedimentology https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85141222203&doi=10.1111%2fbor.12601&partnerID=40&md5=200d6189548dbe39bb8ed48002df5cc4 Cited by: 2; All Open Access, Green Open Access, Hybrid Gold Open Access Bernd Wagner Paul Tauber Alexander Francke Niklas Leicher Steven A. Binnie Aleksandra Cvetkoska Elena Jovanovska Janna Just Jack H. Lacey Zlatko Levkov Katja Lindhorst Katerina Kouli Sebastian Krastel Konstantinos Panagiotopoulos Arne Ulfers Dušica Zaova Timme H. Donders Andon Grazhdani Andreas Koutsodendris Melanie J. Leng Laura Sadori Mirko Scheinert Hendrik Vogel Thomas Wonik Giovanni Zanchetta Thomas Wilke article Ulfers2022 Robust age-depth models are essential for developing sophisticated interpretations of the sedimentological history in lake basins. In most cases, such models are created using an integrated geoscientific approach, including biostratigraphy, magnetostratigraphy and radiometric dating. In this study, we present an approach to construct age-depth models based on integrating downhole logging and seismic survey data when there are no samples available for dating. An example of this method is shown using data from Lake Ohrid (North Macedonia/Albania). First, we interpret seismic data and correlate downhole logging data from three sites - DEEP, Pestani and Cerava - to the LR04 benthic stack. We cross-check the resulting age-depth models using cyclostratigraphic methods, which deliver sedimentation rates that are on the same order of magnitude. The maximum age of the investigated sediments is based on lacustrine seismic marker horizons and is approximately 1 million years at DEEP/Pestani and 0.6 million years at Cerava. In the second step, we construct an artificial lithological log based on cluster analysis using the physical properties of the sediments and integrate it with the age-depth model. This allows an initial interpretation of the sedimentological history at Cerava and Pestani. Our methodological approach cannot substitute classical sediment core investigations, but we suggest that this two-step approach be applied to future projects of the International Continental Scientific Drilling Program. It can rapidly provide preliminary results on age and sediment type and is particularly useful when datable material is not available. © 2021 The Authors Article 2022 English 02773791 10.1016/j.quascirev.2021.107295 Quaternary Science Reviews 276 Elsevier Ltd Albania; Lake Ohrid; Macedonia; Cluster analysis; Lakes; Lithology; Seismic response; Seismic waves; Time series analysis; Albania; Borehole logging; Cyclostratigraphy; Depth models; Downhole methods; Downholes; Lake Ohrid; Macedonia; Sediment properties; Seismic interpretation; borehole logging; cluster analysis; magnetostratigraphy; modeling; sediment core; sedimentation; seismic data; seismic survey; Sediments https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85120755701&doi=10.1016%2fj.quascirev.2021.107295&partnerID=40&md5=a1ac3c11965f4684df2ae039e0827caa Cited by: 7; All Open Access, Hybrid Gold Open Access A. Ulfers C. Zeeden B. Wagner S. Krastel H. Buness T. Wonik article Zaova20221 Article 2022 10.1016/j.quaint.2022.03.002 Quaternary International 622 1 – 9 https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85126326444&doi=10.1016%2fj.quaint.2022.03.002&partnerID=40&md5=e4b52e8f0ed2e1e7c8e6cd88726c0e1a Cited by: 2 Dušica Zaova Aleksandra Cvetkoska Bernd Wagner Alexander Francke Hendrik Vogel Zlatko Levkov Elena Jovanovska article Ulfers2022 Article 2022 10.1016/j.quascirev.2022.107413 Quaternary Science Reviews 280 https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85124627552&doi=10.1016%2fj.quascirev.2022.107413&partnerID=40&md5=4abf0f72771ab12c6dd9d926ea144d89 Cited by: 19; All Open Access, Hybrid Gold Open Access Arne Ulfers Christian Zeeden Silke Voigt Mehrdad Sardar Abadi Thomas Wonik article Cvetkoska2021 Article 2021 10.1016/j.quascirev.2021.107046 Quaternary Science Reviews 265 https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85109072846&doi=10.1016%2fj.quascirev.2021.107046&partnerID=40&md5=249ba53eb1524150d6e27c8661df7583 Cited by: 7; All Open Access, Green Open Access, Hybrid Gold Open Access Aleksandra Cvetkoska Elena Jovanovska Torsten Hauffe Timme H. Donders Zlatko Levkov Dedmer B. Waal Jane M. Reed Alexander Francke Hendrik Vogel Thomas Wilke Bernd Wagner Friederike Wagner-Cremer article Leicher2021 Data paper 2021 10.1038/s41597-021-01013-7 Scientific Data 8 1 https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85114508324&doi=10.1038%2fs41597-021-01013-7&partnerID=40&md5=b9632a4f54653e00b96a636c6bf2d158 Cited by: 20; All Open Access, Gold Open Access, Green Open Access Niklas Leicher Biagio Giaccio Giovanni Zanchetta Roberto Sulpizio Paul G. Albert Emma L. Tomlinson Markus Lagos Alexander Francke Bernd Wagner article Vakhrameeva2021 Direct correlations between terrestrial and marine climate-proxy records are essential in order to determine potential lead/lag relationships in the response of the terrestrial and marine realms to climate forcing. In the Eastern Mediterranean region, such land-sea correlations have not yet been established beyond c. 200 ka. To explore the potential of tephra layers for Late and Middle Pleistocene land-sea correlations in the Eastern Mediterranean region, we have revisited yet unconfirmed tephra layers previously reported from Ocean Drilling Program (ODP) Site 964 (Ionian Basin) for the past c. 800 kyr in order to identify their origin and examine potential terrestrial counterparts. Using major- and trace-element glass analyses, we confirmed the presence of seven visible tephra layers with ages from 623 to 38 ka. These tephra layers represent known tephra isochrons from Italian volcanic centers (Y-5, Y-7, X-6, and V-0) and three yet unknown eruptions from Etna (623 ka), the Campanian Volcanic Zone (CVZ; 238 ka), and Pantelleria (238 ka). Because the majority of the previously reported tephra layers from ODP Site 964 were identified as clastic layers of non-volcanic origin, cryptotephra analyses were carried out for cores spanning Marine Isotope Stages (MIS) 13 to 9 (500–320 ka). This effort yielded 19 cryptotephra layers originating from Santorini volcano, the CVZ, possibly Roccamonfina volcano, and an undefined source in either the Aeolian Islands or the South Aegean Volcanic Arc. Two tephra layers are correlated with potential equivalents from terrestrial archives on the Italian and Balkan Peninsulas, including tephra isochrons SC5/A7/OH-DP-1966 (c. 493 ka; Mercure basin, Acerno basin, and Lake Ohrid) and TP09–65.95 (c. 359 ka; Tenaghi Philippon) that represent an unknown eruption of Roccamonfina and the Cape Therma 1 eruption of Santorini, respectively. Direct linking of the marine record from ODP Site 964 with the terrestrial records from Tenaghi Philippon, Lake Ohrid, and the Acerno basin via tephra tie points allowed us to circumvent shortcomings of the individual age models, and to obtain a comprehensive picture of climate variability in the greater Eastern Mediterranean region for the MIS 13–9 interval. © 2021 Elsevier Ltd Article 2021 English 02773791 10.1016/j.quascirev.2021.106811 Quaternary Science Reviews 255 Elsevier Ltd Balkans; Catania [Sicily]; Central Macedonia; Cyclades; Etna; Greece; Italy; Lake Ohrid; Lipari Islands; Messina [Sicily]; Pantelleria; Santorin; Santorini [Southern Aegean]; Serrai [Central Macedonia]; Sicily; Southern Aegean; Tenaghi Philippon; Trapani; Lakes; Trace elements; Volcanoes; Climate variability; Eastern Mediterranean; Land-sea correlations; Major and trace elements; Marine isotope stages; Middle Pleistocene; Ocean drilling programs; South Aegean volcanic arc; Campanian; marine record; Mediterranean environment; Ocean Drilling Program; proxy climate record; tephra; tephrochronology; volcanic eruption; volcanic glass; volcanic island; Climate models https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85100519027&doi=10.1016%2fj.quascirev.2021.106811&partnerID=40&md5=f61a833ff881cf0cc484a59ef073cae1 Cited by: 6; All Open Access, Green Open Access Polina Vakhrameeva Andreas Koutsodendris Sabine Wulf Maxim Portnyagin Oona Appelt Thomas Ludwig Mario Trieloff Jörg Pross article Sun2021812 Abundant evidence from marine, ice-core and terrestrial records demonstrates that Earth’s climate has experienced co-evolution of orbital- and millennial-scale variability through the Pleistocene. The varying magnitude of millennial climate variability (MCV) was linked to orbitally paced glacial cycles over the past 800 kyr. Before this interval, global glaciations were less pronounced but more frequent, yet scarcity of a long-term integration of high-resolution continental and marine records hampers our understanding of the evolution and dynamics of MCV before the mid-Pleistocene transition. Here we present a synthesis of four centennial-resolved elemental time series, which we interpret as proxies for MCV, from North Atlantic, Iberian margin, Balkan Peninsula (Lake Ohrid) and Chinese Loess Plateau. The proxy records reveal that MCV was pervasive and persistent over the mid-latitude Northern Hemisphere during the past 1.5 Myr. Our results suggest that the magnitude of MCV is not only strongly modulated by glacial boundary conditions on Earth after the mid-Pleistocene transition, but also persistently influenced by variations in precession and obliquity through the Pleistocene. The combination of these four proxies into a new MCV stack offers a credible reference for further assessing the dynamical interactions between orbital and millennial climate variability. © 2021, The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature Limited. Article 2021 English 17520894 10.1038/s41561-021-00794-1 Nature Geoscience 14 Nature Research 812 – 818 11 Atlantic Ocean; Atlantic Ocean (North); Balkans; China; Lake Ohrid; Loess Plateau; boundary condition; climate variation; glaciation; ice core; Northern Hemisphere; obliquity; Pleistocene https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85118391266&doi=10.1038%2fs41561-021-00794-1&partnerID=40&md5=c4c642cd9b2de0bb73861f6380343a09 Cited by: 26 Youbin Sun Jerry F. McManus Steven C. Clemens Xu Zhang Hendrik Vogel David A. Hodell Fei Guo Ting Wang Xingxing Liu ZhiSheng An article cvetkoska2021pdcf In 2013 a coring campaign was carried out as part of the project Scientific Collaboration on Past Speciation Conditions in Lake Ohrid (SCOPSCO) and under the umbrella of the International Continental Scientific Drilling Program (ICDP). A 584 m sediment succession was retrieved from the central part (DEEP site) of ancient Lake Ohrid at a water depth of 243 m. The upper 446.65 mcd that represent the entire lacustrine history back to ca. 1.363 Ma contain a remarkably well-preserved record, especially of planktonic diatoms. We here present the count data of planktonic diatoms from core ICDP5045-1 spanning the period from 1.363 Ma until present. Diatom count data were generated from 350 sediment samples taken at a temporal resolution of 2.0{\textendash}4.0 ka and each slide was analysed across random transects to count 200{\textendash}400 diatom valves. 2021 10.1594/PANGAEA.934402 PANGAEA PANGAEA https://doi.org/10.1594/PANGAEA.934402 Aleksandra Cvetkoska Elena Jovanovska article Zaova20201 Article 2020 10.5852/ejt.2020.670 European Journal of Taxonomy 2020 1 – 14 670 https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85090735086&doi=10.5852%2fejt.2020.670&partnerID=40&md5=1f91d15d362f66d47a199e3524bf5459 Cited by: 2; All Open Access, Gold Open Access, Green Open Access Dušica Zaova Aleksandra Cvetkoska Danijela Mitic-Kopanja Elena Jovanovska Nadja Ognjanova-Rumenova Zlatko Levkov article Panagiotopoulos2020 Article 2020 10.1016/j.quascirev.2019.106044 Quaternary Science Reviews 227 https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85075153203&doi=10.1016%2fj.quascirev.2019.106044&partnerID=40&md5=cc46a83b844d90418e7021868a342c6a Cited by: 26; All Open Access, Green Open Access, Hybrid Gold Open Access Konstantinos Panagiotopoulos Jens Holtvoeth Katerina Kouli Elena Marinova Alexander Francke Aleksandra Cvetkoska Elena Jovanovska Jack H. Lacey Emma T. Lyons Connie Buckel Adele Bertini Timme Donders Janna Just Niklas Leicher Melanie J. Leng Martin Melles Richard D. Pancost Laura Sadori Paul Tauber Hendrik Vogel Bernd Wagner Thomas Wilke article Stelbrink20201156 Ancient Lake Ohrid is the oldest and biologically most diverse freshwater lake in Europe. The recent deep-drilling campaign SCOPSCO provided detailed insights into the lake's limnological history over the past 1.36 my. However, it remains unclear what factors triggered the onset of radiations and whether diversification rates remained constant throughout their evolution. We therefore inferred time-calibrated molecular phylogenies for eight invertebrate groups endemic to Lake Ohrid and performed diversification-rate analyses for the four most species-rich groups. The molecular-clock analyses indicate that few groups possibly originated in springs or rivers in the ‘proto-Balkans’ during the pre-lake phase. The onset of all other radiations, however, can be correlated to one of the three limnological phases in the Ohrid Graben and in Lake Ohrid since 1.9 mya. We therefore assume that the onset of radiations was triggered by an increased ecological opportunity arising from massive environmental changes in the course of the lake deepening. The diversification-rate analyses further indicate that the groups examined diversified with a constant rate. Although the reconstruction of the early evolutionary history of these groups remains challenging, our data suggest that the relatively stable conditions in Lake Ohrid together with its high buffer capacity likely prevented significant changes in diversification rates over time. © 2020 International Association for Great Lakes Research Article 2020 English 03801330 10.1016/j.jglr.2020.06.012 Journal of Great Lakes Research 46 International Association of Great Lakes Research 1156 – 1161 5 Balkans; Lake Ohrid; Invertebrata; Mya; Ecology; Ancient lakes; Buffer capacity; Deep drilling; Environmental change; Evolutionary history; Fresh water lakes; Molecular clock; Molecular phylogeny; adaptive radiation; evolution; invertebrate; lacustrine environment; phylogenetics; phylogeny; Lakes https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85087507121&doi=10.1016%2fj.jglr.2020.06.012&partnerID=40&md5=c360769036156750b469d534e045941f Cited by: 6 Björn Stelbrink Thomas Wilke Christian Albrecht article Wilke2020 The scarcity of high-resolution empirical data directly tracking diversity over time limits our understanding of speciation and extinction dynamics and the drivers of rate changes. Here, we analyze a continuous species-level fossil record of endemic diatoms from ancient Lake Ohrid, along with environmental and climate indicator time series since lake formation 1.36 million years (Ma) ago. We show that speciation and extinction rates nearly simultaneously decreased in the environmentally dynamic phase after ecosystem formation and stabilized after deep-water conditions established in Lake Ohrid. As the lake deepens, we also see a switch in the macroevolutionary trade-off, resulting in a transition from a volatile assemblage of short-lived endemic species to a stable community of long-lived species. Our results emphasize the importance of the interplay between environmental/climate change, ecosystem stability, and environmental limits to diversity for diversification processes. The study also provides a new understanding of evolutionary dynamics in long-lived ecosystems. © 2020 The Authors, some rights reserved; exclusive licensee American Association for the Advancement of Science. No claim to original U.S. Government Works. Distributed under a Creative Commons Attribution NonCommercial License 4.0 (CC BY-NC). Article 2020 English 23752548 10.1126/sciadv.abb2943 Science Advances 6 American Association for the Advancement of Science 40 Biodiversity; Biological Evolution; Climate Change; Ecosystem; Fossils; Lakes; Dynamics; Economic and social effects; Lakes; Climate indicators; Ecosystem stability; Empirical data; Endemic species; Evolutionary dynamics; Extinction rates; High resolution; Lake formation; biodiversity; climate change; ecosystem; evolution; fossil; lake; Ecosystems https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85092477633&doi=10.1126%2fsciadv.abb2943&partnerID=40&md5=5d50ed0b0f58a70615f54f6c765b3240 Cited by: 18; All Open Access, Gold Open Access, Green Open Access Thomas Wilke Torsten Hauffe Elena Jovanovska Aleksandra Cvetkoska Timme Donders Klemens Ekschmitt Alexander Francke Jack H. Lacey Zlatko Levkov Charles R. Marshall Thomas A. Neubauer Daniele Silvestro Björn Stelbrink Hendrik Vogel Christian Albrecht Jens Holtvoeth Sebastian Krastel Niklas Leicher Melanie J. Leng Katja Lindhorst Alessia Masi Nadja Ognjanova-Rumenova Konstantinos Panagiotopoulos Jane M. Reed Laura Sadori Slavica Tofilovska Bert Van Bocxlaer Friederike Wagner-Cremer Frank P. Wesselingh Volkmar Wolters Giovanni Zanchetta Xiaosen Zhang Bernd Wagner article Francke2020 Article 2020 10.1016/j.chemgeo.2020.119698 Chemical Geology 550 https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85086371127&doi=10.1016%2fj.chemgeo.2020.119698&partnerID=40&md5=621d4199eec4c7c8d6553b0da15a6fd1 Cited by: 14 Alexander Francke Anthony Dosseto Janna Just Bernd Wagner Brian G. Jones article Leicher2019 Article 2019 10.1016/j.quascirev.2019.106021 Quaternary Science Reviews 226 https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85074263615&doi=10.1016%2fj.quascirev.2019.106021&partnerID=40&md5=06d43a5dc41c0acd23c1d271620bff2a Cited by: 30 Niklas Leicher Biagio Giaccio Giovanni Zanchetta Bernd Wagner Alexander Francke Danilo M. Palladino Roberto Sulpizio Paul G. Albert Emma L. Tomlinson article Wagner2019256 Article 2019 10.1038/s41586-019-1529-0 Nature 573 256 – 260 7773 https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85072099808&doi=10.1038%2fs41586-019-1529-0&partnerID=40&md5=ac9177f2941e1ddae1ad8fae224211d8 Cited by: 142; All Open Access, Green Open Access Bernd Wagner Hendrik Vogel Alexander Francke Tobias Friedrich Timme Donders Jack H. Lacey Melanie J. Leng Eleonora Regattieri Laura Sadori Thomas Wilke Giovanni Zanchetta Christian Albrecht Adele Bertini Nathalie Combourieu-Nebout Aleksandra Cvetkoska Biagio Giaccio Andon Grazhdani Torsten Hauffe Jens Holtvoeth Sebastien Joannin Elena Jovanovska Janna Just Katerina Kouli Ilias Kousis Andreas Koutsodendris Sebastian Krastel Markus Lagos Niklas Leicher Zlatko Levkov Katja Lindhorst Alessia Masi Martin Melles Anna M. Mercuri Sébastien Nomade Norbert Nowaczyk Konstantinos Panagiotopoulos Odile Peyron Jane M. Reed Leonardo Sagnotti Gaia Sinopoli Björn Stelbrink Roberto Sulpizio Axel Timmermann Slavica Tofilovska Paola Torri Friederike Wagner-Cremer Thomas Wonik Xiaosen Zhang article Sinopoli201953 Our study aims to reconstruct climate changes that occurred at Lake Ohrid (south-western Balkan Peninsula), the oldest extant lake in Europe, between 160 and 70&thinsp;ka (covering part of marine isotope stage 6, MIS 6; all of MIS 5; and the beginning of MIS 4). A multi-method approach, including the "Modern Analog Technique" and the "Weighted Averaging Partial Least-Squares Regression", is applied to the high-resolution pollen sequence of the DEEP site, collected from the central part of Lake Ohrid, to provide quantitative estimates of climate and bioclimate parameters. This allows us to document climatic change during the key periods of MIS 6 and MIS 5 in southern Europe, a region where accurate climate reconstructions are still lacking for this time interval.</p> Our results for the penultimate glacial show cold and dry conditions, while the onset of the "last interglacial" is characterized by wet and warm conditions, with temperatures higher than today (by ca. 2&thinsp;<span classCombining double low line"inline-formula">ĝ</span>C). The Eemian also shows the well-known climatic tri-partition in the Balkans, with an initial pre-temperate phase of abrupt warming (128-121&thinsp;ka), a central temperate phase with decreasing temperatures associated with wet conditions (121-118&thinsp;ka), followed by a post-temperate phase of progressive change towards cold and dry conditions (118-112&thinsp;ka).</p> After the Eemian, an alternation of four warm/wet periods with cold/dry ones, likely related to the succession of Greenland stadials and cold events known from the North Atlantic, occurred. The observed pattern is also consistent with hydrological and isotopic data from the central Mediterranean.</p> The Lake Ohrid climate reconstruction shows greater similarity with climate patterns inferred from northern European pollen records than with southern European ones, which is probably due to its intermediate position and the mountainous setting. However, this hypothesis needs further testing as very few climate reconstructions are available for southern Europe for this key time period.</p>. © Author(s) 2019. 2019 English 18149324 10.5194/cp-15-53-2019 Climate of the Past 15 Copernicus GmbH 53-71 Dipartimento di Biologia Ambientale, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy; Dipartimento di Scienze della Terra, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy; Institut des Sciences de l'Evolution de Montpellier, University of Montpellier, CNRS, IRD, EPHE, Montpellier, France; Organic Geochemistry Unit, School of Chemistry, University of Bristol, Bristol, United Kingdom; Institute of Geology and Mineralogy, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany; Wollongong Isotope Geochronology Laboratory, School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, Australia 1 climate variation; Eemian; marine isotope stage; paleoclimate; pollen; precipitation (climatology); temperature, Atlantic Ocean; Atlantic Ocean (North); Balkans; Lake Ohrid; Southern Europe https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85059940971&doi=10.5194%2fcp-15-53-2019&partnerID=40&md5=d73e79bb1ecaf7123dfdf12c08dac059 cited By 12 G. Sinopoli O. Peyron A. Masi J. Holtvoeth A. Francke B. Wagner L. Sadori article just2019rimo 2019 10.1594/PANGAEA.908116 PANGAEA PANGAEA https://doi.org/10.1594/PANGAEA.908116 Janna Just Leonardo Sagnotti Norbert R Nowaczyk Alexander Francke Bernd Wagner article Just201912445 Article 2019 10.1029/2019JB018297 Journal of Geophysical Research: Solid Earth 124 12445 – 12464 12 https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85075158049&doi=10.1029%2f2019JB018297&partnerID=40&md5=e76e3efea70357c966b04a80c3d95f63 Cited by: 17; All Open Access, Green Open Access, Hybrid Gold Open Access J. Just L. Sagnotti N.R. Nowaczyk A. Francke B. Wagner article Francke2019186 Understanding the evolution of soil systems on geological time scales has become fundamentally important to predict future landscape development in light of rapid global warming and intensifying anthropogenic impact. Here, we use an innovative uranium isotope-based technique combined with organic carbon isotopes and elemental ratios of sediments from Lake Ohrid (North Macedonia/Albania) to reconstruct soil system evolution in the lake's catchment during the last ~16,000 cal yr BP. Uranium isotopes are used to estimated the paleo-sediment residence time, defined as the time elapsed between formation of silt and clay sized detrital matter and final deposition. The chronology is based on new cryptotephra layers identified in the sediment sequence. The isotope and elemental data are compared to sedimentary properties and pollen from the same sample material to provide a better understanding of past catchment erosion and landscape evolution in the light of climate forcing, vegetation development, and anthropogenic land use. During the Late Glacial and the Early Holocene, when wide parts of the catchment were covered by open vegetation, wetter climates promoted the mobilisation of detrital matter with a short paleo-sediment residence time. This is explained by erosion of deeper parts of the weathering horizon from thin soils. Detrital matter with a longer paleo-sediment residence time, illustrating shallow erosion of thicker soils is deposited in drier climates. The coupling between climatic variations and soil erosion terminates at the Early to Mid-Holocene transition as evidenced by a pronounced shift in uranium isotope ratios indicating that catchment erosion is dominated by shallow erosion of thick soils only. This shift suggests a threshold is crossed in hillslope erosion, possibly as a result of a major change in vegetation cover preventing deep erosion of thin soils at higher elevation. The threshold in catchment erosion is not mirrored by soil development over time, which gradually increases in response to Late Glacial to Holocene warming until human land use during the Late Holocene promotes reduced soil development and soil degradation. Overall, we observe that soil system evolution is progressively controlled by climatic, vegetation, and eventually by human land use over the last ~16,000 years. © 2019 Elsevier B.V. 2019 English 09218181 10.1016/j.gloplacha.2019.04.005 Global and Planetary Change 177 Elsevier B.V. 186-200 Wollongong Isotope Geochronology Laboratory, School of Earth, Atmospheric and Life Sciences, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW 2522, Australia; GeoQuEST Research Centre, School of Earth, Atmospheric and Life Sciences, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW 2522, Australia; Institute of Geology and Mineralogy, University of Cologne, Cologne, 50674, Germany; NERC Stable Isotope Facility, British Geological Survey, Nottingham, NG12 5GG, United Kingdom; Department of Geology and Geoenvironment, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, 15784, Greece; Deparment of Earth Sciences, University of Pisa, Pisa, 56126, Italy; Centre for Environmental Geochemistry, School of Biosciences, University of Nottingham, Sutton Bonington Campus, Loughborough, LE12 5RD, United Kingdom Catchments; Erosion; Geomorphology; Glacial geology; Global warming; Isotopes; Lakes; Land use; Nuclear fuels; Organic carbon; Runoff; Sediments; Uranium; Vegetation, Balkan peninsulas; Human impact; Lake Ohrid; Landscape evolutions; Paleoclimates; Residence time; Soil systems; Tephrochronology; Uranium isotopes, Soils, catchment; detrital deposit; geomorphology; global warming; Holocene; landscape evolution; organic carbon; residence time; sediment analysis; soil erosion; tephrochronology; uranium isotope; vegetation cover; weathering rate, Albania; Balkans; Greece; Lake Ohrid; Macedonia [Greece] https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85064183230&doi=10.1016%2fj.gloplacha.2019.04.005&partnerID=40&md5=c136e8f3b26f68f271e28816860b4ba3 cited By 21 A. Francke A. Dosseto K. Panagiotopoulos N. Leicher J.H. Lacey S. Kyrikou B. Wagner G. Zanchetta K. Kouli M.J. Leng article francke2019tgfl Geochemical finger print data (in wt. {%}) of individual glass shards from 3 three previously described cryptotephra layer in the Late Glacial to Holocene sediments of the DEEP site sequence. FeO? is reported for both Fe${^2}$? and Fe${^3}$? (University of Cologne, Germany , University of Pisa, Italy). 2019 10.1594/PANGAEA.899325 PANGAEA PANGAEA https://doi.org/10.1594/PANGAEA.899325 In supplement to: Francke, A et al. (2019): Sediment residence time reveals Holocene shift from climatic to vegetation control on catchment erosion in the Balkans. Global and Planetary Change, 177, 186-200, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gloplacha.2019.04.005 Alexander Francke Anthony Dosseto Konstantinos Panagiotopoulos Niklas Leicher Jack H Lacey Styliani Kyrikou Bernd Wagner Giovanni Zanchetta Katerina Kouli Melanie J Leng article Koutsodendris2019 Characterised by a maximum expansion of continental ice sheets in the Northern Hemisphere, Marine Isotope Stage (MIS) 12 (∼478–424 ka before present) was one of the strongest glacials of the Quaternary. Because the information currently available on MIS 12 is predominantly derived from marine records, the imprint of this extreme glaciation on the terrestrial realm – and notably on terrestrial ecosystems – has remained poorly constrained. Here we present a new, centennial-scale-resolution pollen record from Lake Ohrid (Balkan Peninsula, SE Europe) augmented by pollen-based quantitative temperature and precipitation estimates. Our dataset, which spans the period from 488 to 420 ka, shows that the forest cover around Lake Ohrid decreased substantially over the course of MIS 12; this decrease was associated with a gradual lowering of winter and mean annual temperatures (and to a lesser extent of summer temperatures) as well as mean annual precipitation. Superimposed on this long-term development, abrupt changes in regional forest cover indicate a pronounced millennial-scale climate variability that bears strong resemblance to the interstadial and stadial events of the Last Glacial. This variability is expressed by repeated high-amplitude forest expansions and contractions around Lake Ohrid during MIS 12c and the oldest part of 12b substage (i.e., from ∼477 to 448 ka). The forest oscillations can be correlated to previously documented episodes of surface-water variability and ice-rafted debris deposition in the North Atlantic. This pattern suggests a coupling between the climatically forced tree-population changes in SE Europe and the variability of the Atlantic Meridional Ocean Circulation during MIS 12c and partially 12b on millennial timescales. In contrast, the youngest part of MIS 12b and MIS 12a (i.e., from ∼448 to 424 ka) lack high-amplitude forest expansions and contractions around Lake Ohrid. Comparison with sea-level reconstructions for MIS 12 suggests that millennial-scale vegetation variability in Lake Ohrid was strongest when sea level was between 30 and 100 m lower than today, whereas it was absent when sea level was lower than 100 m relative to the present. © 2019 Elsevier Ltd Article 2019 English 02773791 10.1016/j.quascirev.2019.105873 Quaternary Science Reviews 221 Elsevier Ltd Balkans; Lake Ohrid; Mediterranean Sea; Mediterranean Sea (East); Expansion; Forestry; Glacial geology; Isotopes; Lakes; Sea level; Vegetation; Climate variability; Eastern Mediterranean; Lake Ohrid; Middle Pleistocene; Quantitative climate estimates; Vegetation dynamics; climate change; climate variation; forest cover; glaciation; ice sheet; ice-rafted debris; interstadial; Last Glacial; marine isotope stage; meridional circulation; Pleistocene; sea level; terrestrial ecosystem; vegetation dynamics; Climate change https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85071264309&doi=10.1016%2fj.quascirev.2019.105873&partnerID=40&md5=092e2c0f283fe2305bf40d93c4b81d4d Cited by: 14 Andreas Koutsodendris Ilias Kousis Odile Peyron Bernd Wagner Jörg Pross article Sinopoli2018177 In this article, we present new, high-resolution, pollen results obtained from the DEEP site sequence recovered from Lake Ohrid (Albania/FYROM) for the Last Interglacial Complex (LIC), corresponding to Marine Isotope Stage 5 (MIS 5) of the marine isotope stratigraphy. LIC covers the period between 130 and 70 ka and includes the Eemian (Last Interglacial, LI) and the succession of stadial and interstadial phases of the Early Last Glacial. During the LIC, the pollen record shows an alternation of periods characterized by forest and open vegetation, clearly resembling the well-known vegetational succession of other European records. Our results reveal three key phases for the LI: a first period (128-125 ka) with a rapid increase in temperature and precipitation, a central phase (125–118.5 ka) characterized by a slight cooling, and a late phase (118.5–112 ka), with a decline both in temperatures and precipitation. Besides the LI, we identify four more forested periods dominated by mesophilous trees and intercalated by colder and drier steppe phases, during which, however, most arboreal taxa never disappear. During the Early Last Glacial we also identify several abrupt events that can be correlated to the succession of cold events recorded in the Greenland ice core records, associated to a weakening of the North Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation. The new high-resolution record indicates that Lake Ohrid is an important site to understand the response of vegetation to fluctuations in regional moisture availability and temperature changes, and thus provides new evidence for the connection between the Mediterranean Region and Northern Hemisphere climate oscillations. © 2017 Elsevier Ltd 2018 English 02773791 10.1016/j.quascirev.2017.11.013 Quaternary Science Reviews 180 Elsevier Ltd 177-192 Department of Earth Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome, Piazzale Aldo Moro 5, Roma, 00185, Italy; Department of Environmental Biology, Sapienza University of Rome, Piazzale Aldo Moro 5, Roma, 00185, Italy; ISEM, University of Montpellier, CNRS, IRD, EPHE, 163 Rue Auguste Broussonnet, Montpellier, 34090, France; Department of Earth Sciences, University of Pisa, Via S. Maria 53, Pisa, 56126, Italy; Institute of Earth Sciences and Earth Resources, National Research Council, IGG-CNR, Via Moruzzi 1, Pisa, 56126, Italy; Institute of Geology and Mineralogy, University of Cologne, Zülpicher Str. 49a, Cologne, 50674, Germany; Wollongong Isotope Geochronology Laboratory, School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW 2522, Australia Climatology; Convolution; Forestry; Glacial geology; Isotopes; Stratigraphy; Vegetation, Albania; Lake Ohrid; Last interglacial; Palaeoclimatology; Palynology; Vegetation change, Lakes, cooling; Eemian; forest-steppe; ice core; interstadial; Last Glacial; Last Interglacial; marine isotope stage; meridional circulation; Northern Hemisphere; paleoclimate; paleoenvironment; paleotemperature; palynology; pollen; precipitation (climatology); vegetation dynamics, Albania; Arctic; Atlantic Ocean; Atlantic Ocean (North); Greenland; Greenland Ice Sheet; Lake Ohrid; Mediterranean Region https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85036456621&doi=10.1016%2fj.quascirev.2017.11.013&partnerID=40&md5=d43728001bc8a47dd0ec29ed7e4c5238 cited By 32 G. Sinopoli A. Masi E. Regattieri B. Wagner A. Francke O. Peyron L. Sadori article Cvetkoska2018197 The extraordinary diversity in long-lived lakes is largely driven by distinct eco-evolutionary processes. With their unique biota and numerous endemic taxa, these lakes are key settings for fundamental studies related to ecology, diversity, and evolution. Here, we test how the environment shapes diatom diversity and community patterns over space in ancient Lake Ohrid. By applying Bray–Curtis similarity analyses of diatom community data, including widespread and endemic taxa, we identified two major zones: littoral and sublittoral. The latter one is being characterized with higher endemic diversity. The α and β diatom diversity and community distribution in the northern and eastern part of the lake are influenced by the presence of vertical (bathymetrical) and horizontal barriers. The zonation of the diatom communities appears driven by two large-scale factors: (i) water depth, and (ii) water chemistry, primarily, the concentration of total phosphorus, nitrogen ammonia, and conductivity. Both drivers appear to equally influence diatom diversity and community patterns. We present initial data on diatom–environment relations, where the results support earlier ecological studies emphasizing the relevance of ongoing human-induced eutrophication in the northern lake area. This study provides background information on the role of the environment in structuring contemporary diatom diversity. However, future research needs to focus on the biotic component including species competition in order to reveal the mechanisms driving spatial community dynamics in Lake Ohrid. © 2018, The Author(s). Article 2018 English 00188158 10.1007/s10750-018-3637-5 Hydrobiologia 819 Springer International Publishing 197 – 215 1 Bacillariophyta https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85048259178&doi=10.1007%2fs10750-018-3637-5&partnerID=40&md5=6b8497418ad874bb072bf9ba2b4e43a2 Cited by: 16; All Open Access, Green Open Access, Hybrid Gold Open Access Aleksandra Cvetkoska Aleksandar Pavlov Elena Jovanovska Slavica Tofilovska Saul Blanco Luc Ector Friederike Wagner-Cremer Zlatko Levkov article Lacey2018109 We investigate the modern hydrology of Lake Ohrid (Macedonia/Albania) using a combined hydrological and isotope-based modelling approach and present a new evaluation of contemporary water balance and palaeoclimate estimates. The combined model is able to estimate hydrological components that cannot be directly measured, and indicates that sublacustrine spring inflow is in the order of 50% higher than previous estimates and groundwater outflow comprises approximately a third of overall water outflow. In combination with sediment core oxygen isotope data, we used the combined model to quantitatively reconstruct past climate, in particular precipitation, during the early Holocene and last glacial period. Calculated precipitation in the early Holocene was higher than the value for present day and was approximately 44% lower than present during the last glacial, assuming the majority of precipitation fell as snow. The estimated amount of precipitation in the last glacial would have been high enough to provide refugial conditions at Lake Ohrid and to support the continuous existence of arboreal vegetation in the catchment. The improved understanding of the modern isotope hydrology of Lake Ohrid is fundamental for explaining the systematics of past isotope variation and providing context for extended sediment records from the lake, which will provide longer-term palaeoclimate reconstructions covering multiple glacial-interglacial cycles. © 2018 Elsevier Ltd 2018 English 02773791 10.1016/j.quascirev.2018.09.007 Quaternary Science Reviews 202 Elsevier Ltd 109-121 NERC Isotope Geosciences Facilities, British Geological Survey, Keyworth, Nottingham, United Kingdom; School of Geography, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, United Kingdom Catchments; Glacial geology; Groundwater; Isotopes; Lakes; Models; Precipitation (chemical); Salinity measurement, Balkan peninsulas; Glacial-interglacial cycles; Isotope variation; Lake Ohrid; Last glacial period; Palaeoclimate reconstruction; Stable isotopes; Water balance, Climate models, chemical mass balance; glacial-interglacial cycle; Holocene; hydrological modeling; hydrology; inflow; isotopic analysis; Last Glacial; outflow; oxygen isotope; paleoclimate; precipitation (climatology); quantitative analysis; reconstruction; sediment core; stable isotope; water budget, Albania; Balkans; Lake Ohrid; Macedonia [Southern Europe] https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85053726791&doi=10.1016%2fj.quascirev.2018.09.007&partnerID=40&md5=f87f1e23ac257dd01c9738094e3fff90 cited By 10 J.H. Lacey M.D. Jones article sadori2018pdot data set 2018 10.1594/PANGAEA.892362 PANGAEA PANGAEA https://doi.org/10.1594/PANGAEA.892362 Laura Sadori Andreas Koutsodendris Konstantinos Panagiotopoulos Alessia Masi Adele Bertini Nathalie Combourieu-Nebout Alexander Francke Katerina Kouli Ilias Kousis S\'{e}bastien Joannin Anna Maria Mercuri Odile Peyron Paola Torri Bernd Wagner Giovanni Zanchetta Gaia Sinopoli Timme H Donders article Zanchetta2018154 In the DEEP core from the Lake Ohrid ICDP drilling project, the carbon isotope composition of bulk organic matter (δ13CTOC) over the last 516 ka shows a negative correlation with total organic carbon (TOC) and total inorganic carbon (TIC). This relationship is marked by periods of lower δ13CTOC values corresponding to higher TIC and TOC. Along with TOC/TN, the correlation between δ13CTOC and δ13CTIC suggests that most of the organic matter in the core is from aquatic primary production within the lake. The combination of TOC, TIC, and δ13CTOC is able to disentangle long-term glacial/interglacial cycles and, to a lesser extent, millennial scale climate variability. Over the longer term, δ13CTOC shows modest variability, indicating that the δ13C of the dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC) pool is stabilised by the supply of karst spring water characterised by δ13CDIC influenced by the bedrock δ13C value, and the long residence time of the lake water and well mixed upper water column promoting equilibration with atmospheric CO2. However, comparison between arboreal pollen (AP%), TIC and TOC data indicates that the δ13CTOC signal is modulated by the leaching of soil CO2 through runoff and spring discharge, changes in primary productivity, and recycling of organic matter within the lake, all affecting δ13CDIC. Exceptionally low δ13CTOC during some interglacial periods (e.g. MIS7 and MIS9) possibly indicate rapid intensification of organic matter recycling and/or increasing stratification and enhanced methanogenesis, even if the latter process is not supported by the sedimentological data. © 2018 Elsevier Ltd Article 2018 English 02773791 10.1016/j.quascirev.2018.10.022 Quaternary Science Reviews 202 Elsevier Ltd 154 – 165 Dipartimento di Scienze della Terra, University of Pisa, Pisa, 56126, Italy; Istituo Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, Roma, Italy; Istituto di Geoscienze e Georisorse-CNR (IGG-CNR), Pisa, 56100, Italy; School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW 2522, Australia; Institute of Geology and Mineralogy, University of Cologne, Köln, Germany; NERC Isotope Geosciences Facilities, British Geological Survey, Keyworth, Nottingham, NG7 2RD, United Kingdom; Centre for Environmental Geochemistry, School of Biosciences, Sutton Bonington Campus, University of Nottingham, Loughborough, LE12 5RD, United Kingdom; Institute of Geological Sciences & Oeschger Centre for Climate Change Research, University of Bern, Bern, 3012, Switzerland; Università di Roma La Sapienza, Dipartimento di Biologia Ambientale, piazzale A. Moro 5, Roma, Italy Balkans; Lake Ohrid; Biogeochemistry; Biological materials; Carbon dioxide; Groundwater; Isotopes; Lakes; Paleolimnology; Recycling; Springs (components); Springs (water); Carbon isotope composition; Dissolved inorganic carbon; Europe; Lake Ohrid; Organic matter recycling; Pleistocene; Stable isotopes; Total inorganic carbon; carbon cycle; carbon isotope; freshwater environment; glacial-interglacial cycle; isotopic composition; karst; lacustrine environment; lake water; methanogenesis; paleolimnology; Pleistocene; primary production; spring water; stratification; Organic carbon https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85055115207&doi=10.1016%2fj.quascirev.2018.10.022&partnerID=40&md5=111dd5ab3ec5b8a2f9ebca22e2e1f69a Cited by: 13; All Open Access, Green Open Access Giovanni Zanchetta Ilaria Baneschi Alexander Francke Chiara Boschi Eleonora Regattieri Bernd Wagner Jack H. Lacey Melanie J. Leng Hendrik Vogel Laura Sadori article Capitani2018 Article 2018 10.1007/s12665-018-7692-z Environmental Earth Sciences 77 13 https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85049590889&doi=10.1007%2fs12665-018-7692-z&partnerID=40&md5=b371fafc6fd6ac385d91e187b15ba7a7 Cited by: 6 Giancarlo Capitani Nobuyoshi Miyajima Roberto Sulpizio Maria D’Addabbo Lucia Galimberti Massimo Guidi Giovanni B. Andreozzi article Stelbrink20181969 Due to the ubiquity and high dispersal capacity of unicellular eukaryotes, their often extraordinary diversity found in isolated and long-lived ecosystems such as ancient lakes is typically attributed to multiple colonization events rather than to in situ speciation. However, respective evolutionary studies are very scarce and the often high number of species flocks in ancient lakes across multicellular taxa raises the question whether unicellular species, such as diatoms, may radiate as well. Here, we use an integrative approach that includes molecular data from benthic diatom species of the genus Aneumastus endemic to ancient Lake Ohrid, fossil data obtained from the sediment record of a recent deep-drilling project and biogeographical information to test if this group, indeed, constitutes a species flock. Molecular-clock and phylogenetic analyses indicate a young monophyletic group of several endemic species. Molecular, fossil and biogeographical data strongly suggest a rapid intralacustrine diversification, which was possibly triggered by the emergence of novel habitats. This finding is the first evidence for a species flock in diatoms and suggests that in situ speciation is also a relevant evolutionary process for unicellular eukaryotes in isolated ecosystems. © 2018 European Society For Evolutionary Biology. Journal of Evolutionary Biology © 2018 European Society For Evolutionary Biology Article 2018 English 1010061X 10.1111/jeb.13368 Journal of Evolutionary Biology 31 Blackwell Publishing Ltd 1969 – 1975 12 Diatoms; Evolution, Molecular; Fossils; Fresh Water; Genetic Variation; Phylogeny; Time Factors; Lake Ohrid; Aneumastus; Bacillariophyta; Protista; fresh water; biogeography; colonization; diatom; endemic species; eukaryote; evolutionary biology; fossil record; freshwater environment; habitat type; molecular analysis; phylogenetics; sediment analysis; species flock; diatom; fossil; genetic variation; genetics; molecular evolution; phylogeny; physiology; time factor https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85052797074&doi=10.1111%2fjeb.13368&partnerID=40&md5=515268d12f4e361ebe3d67605326d89a Cited by: 15; All Open Access, Bronze Open Access Björn Stelbrink Elena Jovanovska Zlatko Levkov Nadja Ognjanova-Rumenova Thomas Wilke Christian Albrecht article Kousis201820 To better understand climate variability during Marine Isotope Stage (MIS) 11, we here present a new, centennial-scale-resolution pollen record from Lake Ohrid (Balkan Peninsula) derived from sediment cores retrieved during an International Continental Scientific Drilling Program (ICDP) campaign. Our palynological data, augmented by quantitative pollen-based climate reconstructions, provide insight into the vegetation dynamics and thus also climate variability in SE Europe during one of the best orbital analogues for the Holocene. Comparison of our palynological results with other proxy data from Lake Ohrid as well as with regional and global climate records shows that the vegetation in SE Europe responded sensitively both to long- and short-term climate change during MIS 11. The chronology of our palynological record is based on orbital tuning, and is further supported by the detection of a new tephra from the Vico volcano, central Italy, dated to 410 ± 2 ka. Our study indicates that MIS 11c (∼424–398 ka) was the warmest interval of MIS 11. The younger part of the interglacial (i.e., MIS 11b–11a; ∼398–367 ka) exhibits a gradual cooling trend passing over into MIS 10. It is characterized by considerable millennial-scale variability as inferred by six abrupt forest-contraction events. Interestingly, the first forest contraction occurred during full interglacial conditions of MIS 11c; this event lasted for ∼1.7 kyrs (406.2–404.5 ka) and was characterized by substantial reductions in winter temperature and annual precipitation. Most notably, it occurred ∼7 ka before the end of MIS 11c and ∼15 ka before the first strong ice-rafted debris event in the North Atlantic. Our findings suggest that millennial-scale climate variability during MIS 11 was established in Southern Europe already during MIS 11c, which is earlier than in the North Atlantic where it is registered only from MIS 11b onwards. © 2018 Elsevier Ltd Article 2018 English 02773791 10.1016/j.quascirev.2018.04.014 Quaternary Science Reviews 190 Elsevier Ltd 20 – 38 Paleoenvironmental Dynamics Group, Institute of Earth Sciences, Heidelberg University, Im Neuenheimer Feld 234, Heidelberg, 69120, Germany; ISEM, Université de Montpellier, CNRS, IRD, EPHE, Montpellier, France; Institute of Geology and Mineralogy, University of Cologne, Zülpicher Str. 49a, Cologne, 50674, Germany; Wollongong Isotope Geochronology Laboratory, School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW 2522, Australia; Istituto di Geologia Ambientale e Geoingegneria, CNR, Via Salaria km 29.300, Monterotondo, Rome 00115, Italy; Institute of Botany, University of Hohenheim, Garbenstr. 30, Stuttgart, 70599, Germany Atlantic Ocean; Atlantic Ocean (North); Balkans; Europe; Italy; Lake Ohrid; Lazio; Mediterranean Sea; Mediterranean Sea (East); Vico; Forestry; Glacial geology; Isotopes; Lakes; Repair; Vegetation; Abrupt climate change; Balkan peninsulas; Climate reconstruction; Eastern Mediterranean; Lake Ohrid; Marine isotope stages; Southern Europe; Tephrostratigraphy; Terrestrial ecosystems; Vico tephra; chronology; climate change; climate variation; global climate; ice-rafted debris; interglacial; marine isotope stage; paleoclimate; palynology; pollen; precipitation (climatology); reconstruction; sediment core; tephra; vegetation dynamics; Climate change https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85046695082&doi=10.1016%2fj.quascirev.2018.04.014&partnerID=40&md5=2a8dbba5b3964f7538e927c2b5a27bcb Cited by: 28 Ilias Kousis Andreas Koutsodendris Odile Peyron Niklas Leicher Alexander Francke Bernd Wagner Biagio Giaccio Maria Knipping Jörg Pross article Regattieri201839 Article 2018 10.1016/j.gloplacha.2018.01.003 Global and Planetary Change 162 39 – 52 https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85040327384&doi=10.1016%2fj.gloplacha.2018.01.003&partnerID=40&md5=98e221fc3550388fbc6527c0e44b0714 Cited by: 30; All Open Access, Green Open Access Eleonora Regattieri Giovanni Zanchetta Ilaria Isola Petra Bajo Natale Perchiazzi Russell N. Drysdale Chiara Boschi John C. Hellstrom Alexander Francke Bernd Wagner article Holtvoeth2017 The impact of past global climate change on local terrestrial ecosystems and their vegetation and soil organic matter (OM) pools is often non-linear and poorly constrained. To address this, we investigated the response of a temperate habitat influenced by global climate change in a key glacial refuge, Lake Ohrid (Albania, Macedonia). We applied independent geochemical and palynological proxies to a sedimentary archive from the lake over the penultimate glacial-interglacial transition (MIS 6-5) and the following interglacial (MIS 5e-c), targeting lake surface temperature as an indicator of regional climatic development and the supply of pollen and biomarkers from the vegetation and soil OM pools to determine local habitat response. Climate fluctuations strongly influenced the ecosystem, however, lake level controls the extent of terrace surfaces between the shoreline and mountain slopes and hence local vegetation, soil development and OM export to the lake sediments. There were two phases of transgressional soil erosion from terrace surfaces during lake-level rise in the MIS 6-5 transition that led to habitat loss for the locally dominant pine vegetation as the terraces drowned. Our observations confirm that catchment morphology plays a key role in providing refuges with low groundwater depth and stable soils during variable climate. © 2017 The Author(s). Article 2017 English 20452322 10.1038/s41598-017-08101-y Scientific Reports 7 Nature Publishing Group 1 https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85027450543&doi=10.1038%2fs41598-017-08101-y&partnerID=40&md5=25e07dcc5d43b3b85b497a35041b90c7 Cited by: 14; All Open Access, Gold Open Access, Green Open Access Jens Holtvoeth Hendrik Vogel Verushka Valsecchi Katja Lindhorst Stefan Schouten Bernd Wagner George A. Wolff article Wagner20172033 This study reviews and synthesises existing information generated within the SCOPSCO (Scientific Collaboration on Past Speciation Conditions in Lake Ohrid) deep drilling project. The four main aims of the project are to infer (i) the age and origin of Lake Ohrid (Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia/Republic of Albania), (ii) its regional seismotectonic history, (iii) volcanic activity and climate change in the central northern Mediterranean region, and (iv) the influence of major geological events on the evolution of its endemic species. The Ohrid basin formed by transtension during the Miocene, opened during the Pliocene and Pleistocene, and the lake established de novo in the still relatively narrow valley between 1.9 and 1.3 Ma. The lake history is recorded in a 584 m long sediment sequence, which was recovered within the framework of the International Continental Scientific Drilling Program (ICDP) from the central part (DEEP site) of the lake in spring 2013. To date, 54 tephra and cryptotephra horizons have been found in the upper 460 m of this sequence. Tephrochronology and tuning biogeochemical proxy data to orbital parameters revealed that the upper 247.8 m represent the last 637 kyr. The multi-proxy data set covering these 637 kyr indicates long-term variability. Some proxies show a change from generally cooler and wetter to drier and warmer glacial and interglacial periods around 300 ka. Short-term environmental change caused, for example, by tephra deposition or the climatic impact of millennial-scale Dansgaard-Oeschger and Heinrich events are superimposed on the long-term trends. Evolutionary studies on the extant fauna indicate that Lake Ohrid was not a refugial area for regional freshwater animals. This differs from the surrounding catchment, where the mountainous setting with relatively high water availability provided a refuge for temperate and montane trees during the relatively cold and dry glacial periods. Although Lake Ohrid experienced significant environmental change over the last 637 kyr, preliminary molecular data from extant microgastropod species do not indicate significant changes in diversification rate during this period. The reasons for this constant rate remain largely unknown, but a possible lack of environmentally induced extinction events in Lake Ohrid and/or the high resilience of the ecosystems may have played a role. © Author(s) 2017. Review 2017 English 17264170 10.5194/bg-14-2033-2017 Biogeosciences 14 Copernicus GmbH 2033 – 2054 8 Albania; Lake Ohrid; Macedonia [Southern Europe]; Mediterranean Region; Animalia; catchment; climate variation; data set; deep drilling; environmental change; environmental history; extinction; gastropod; glacial-interglacial cycle; Heinrich event; historical record; lake; Miocene; paleoclimate; Pleistocene; Pliocene; project assessment; proxy climate record; seismotectonics; tephra https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85018509513&doi=10.5194%2fbg-14-2033-2017&partnerID=40&md5=186cf4992bac12d77115112fa7ccfd0c Cited by: 46; All Open Access, Gold Open Access, Green Open Access Bernd Wagner Thomas Wilke Alexander Francke Christian Albrecht Henrike Baumgarten Adele Bertini Nathalie Combourieu-Nebout Aleksandra Cvetkoska Michele D'Addabbo Timme H. Donders Kirstin Föller Biagio Giaccio Andon Grazhdani Torsten Hauffe Jens Holtvoeth Sebastien Joannin Elena Jovanovska Janna Just Katerina Kouli Andreas Koutsodendris Sebastian Krastel Jack H. Lacey Niklas Leicher Melanie J. Leng Zlatko Levkov Katja Lindhorst Alessia Masi Anna M. Mercuri Sébastien Nomade Norbert Nowaczyk Konstantinos Panagiotopoulos Odile Peyron Jane M. Reed Eleonora Regattieri Laura Sadori Leonardo Sagnotti Bjöern Stelbrink Roberto Sulpizio Slavica Tofilovska Paola Torri Hendrik Vogel Thomas Wagner Friederike Wagner-Cremer George A. Wolff Thomas Wonik Giovanni Zanchetta Xiaosen S. Zhang article Holtvoeth2016795 We present elemental, lipid biomarker and, in the supplement, compound-specific isotope (δ13C, δ2H) data for soils and leaf litter collected in the catchment of Lake Ohrid (Albania, Macedonia), as well as macrophytes, particulate organic matter and sediments from the lake itself. Lake Ohrid provides an outstanding archive of continental environmental change of at least 1.2 million years and the purpose of our study is to ground truth organic geochemical proxies that we developed in order to study past changes in the terrestrial biome. We show that soils dominate the lipid signal of the lake sediments rather than the vegetation or aquatic biomass. There is a strong imprint of suberin monomers on the composition of total lipid extracts and chain-length distributions of n-alkanoic acids, n-alcohols, ω-hydroxy acids and α, ω-dicarboxylic acids. Our end-member survey identifies that ratios of mid-chain length suberin-derived to long-chain length cuticular-derived alkyl compounds as well as their average chain length distributions can be used as new molecular proxies of organic matter sources to the lake. We tested these for the 8.2 ka event, a pronounced and widespread Holocene climate fluctuation. In SE Europe climate became drier and cooler in response to the event, as is clearly recognisable in the carbonate and organic carbon records of Lake Ohrid sediments. Our new proxies indicate biome modification in response to hydrological changes, identifying two phases of increased soil organic matter (OM) supply, first from soils with moderately degraded OM and then from more degraded soils. Our study demonstrates that geochemical fingerprinting of terrestrial OM should focus on the main lipid sources, rather than the living biomass. Both can exhibit climate-controlled variability, but are generally not identical. © Author(s) 2016. Article 2016 English 17264170 10.5194/bg-13-795-2016 Biogeosciences 13 Copernicus GmbH 795 – 816 3 Albania; Lake Ohrid; Macedonia [Southern Europe]; biomarker; biome; catchment; climate effect; environmental change; geochemistry; Holocene; inorganic carbon; leaf litter; paleoenvironment; sediment analysis; soil organic matter; vegetation history https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-84958999351&doi=10.5194%2fbg-13-795-2016&partnerID=40&md5=5f1d86c87feee5267562c92833ee84de Cited by: 26; All Open Access, Gold Open Access, Green Open Access J. Holtvoeth D. Rushworth H. Copsey A. Imeri M. Cara H. Vogel T. Wagner G.A. Wolff article Tofilovska2016218 Lake Ohrid is the oldest existing lake in Europe and it is known for its high diversity with around 200 endemic or relict diatom species recognized. In order to understand this phenomenon, a large project on deep drilling was performed and a core with maximum sediment depth of 569 m which spans > 1.2 million years was recovered. Two new species of Cyclotella were discovered in the core samples, which are described here as Cyclotella cavitata sp. nov. and Cyclotella sollevata sp. nov. The species have been studied with light and scanning electron microscopes, their morphological features and their relevance to other members of the genus Cyclotella are discussed. Cyclotella cavitata sp. nov. is characterized by round to elliptical shape; elliptic and tangentially undulate central area with one to three papillae on the elevated side. Central fultoportulae are absent while marginal fultoportulae internally are located on slightly depressed costae, with short tube openings with two satellite pores surrounded by cowlings. Satellite pores are situated circumferentially. Internally the rimoportula is situated in the marginal area with a sessile labium. Cyclotella sollevata sp. nov. is characterized by round valves with convex or concave central area which is uneven, colliculate, with papillae and granules. Central fultoportulae are present with variable number (9-21), internally with short tube openings with two satellite pores, which are surrounded by cowlings; Internally marginal fultoportulae are located on depressed costae and have short tube openings with two satellite pores situated circumferentially, surrounded by cowlings. The rimoportulae are located in the marginal area with a sessile labium variably orientated. Cyclotella sollevata and Cyclotella cavitata have been observed only in the fossil sediments of Lake Ohrid. Comments on the position of rimoportula, used as synapomorphic character to separate Lindavia from Cyclotella sensu lato are provided. © Czech Phycological Society (2016). Article 2016 English 18025439 10.5507/fot.2016.003 Fottea 16 Czech phycological Society 218 – 233 2 https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-84991581714&doi=10.5507%2ffot.2016.003&partnerID=40&md5=bbab30568ce2fbc9ac4285e25ea65748 Cited by: 4; All Open Access, Bronze Open Access Slavica Tofilovska Aleksandra Cvetkoska Elena Jovanovska Nadja Ognjanova-Rumenova Zlatko Levkov article Francke20161179 Lake Ohrid (Macedonia, Albania) is thought to be more than 1.2 million years old and host more than 300 endemic species. As a target of the International Continental scientific Drilling Program (ICDP), a successful deep drilling campaign was carried out within the scope of the Scientific Collaboration on Past Speciation Conditions in Lake Ohrid (SCOPSCO) project in 2013. Here, we present lithological, sedimentological, and (bio-)geochemical data from the upper 247.8 m composite depth of the overall 569 m long DEEP site sediment succession from the central part of the lake. According to an age model, which is based on 11 tephra layers (first-order tie points) and on tuning of bio-geochemical proxy data to orbital parameters (second-order tie points), the analyzed sediment sequence covers the last 637 kyr. The DEEP site sediment succession consists of hemipelagic sediments, which are interspersed by several tephra layers and infrequent, thin (< 5 cm) mass wasting deposits. The hemipelagic sediments can be classified into three different lithotypes. Lithotype 1 and 2 deposits comprise calcareous and slightly calcareous silty clay and are predominantly attributed to interglacial periods with high primary productivity in the lake during summer and reduced mixing during winter. The data suggest that high ion and nutrient concentrations in the lake water promoted calcite precipitation and diatom growth in the epilimnion during MIS15, 13, and 5. Following a strong primary productivity, highest interglacial temperatures can be reported for marine isotope stages (MIS) 11 and 5, whereas MIS15, 13, 9, and 7 were comparably cooler. Lithotype 3 deposits consist of clastic, silty clayey material and predominantly represent glacial periods with low primary productivity during summer and longer and intensified mixing during winter. The data imply that the most severe glacial conditions at Lake Ohrid persisted during MIS16, 12, 10, and 6, whereas somewhat warmer temperatures can be inferred for MIS14, 8, 4, and 2. Interglacial-like conditions occurred during parts of MIS14 and 8. © Author(s) 2016. Article 2016 English 17264170 10.5194/bg-13-1179-2016 Biogeosciences 13 Copernicus GmbH 1179 – 1196 Institute of Geology and Mineralogy, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany; Leibniz Institute for Applied Geophysics (LIAG), Hannover, Germany; Institute of Geological Sciences, Oeschger Centre for Climate Change Research, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland; Centre for Environmental Geochemistry, School of Geography, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, United Kingdom; NERC Isotope Geosciences Facilities, British Geological Survey, Keyworth, Nottingham, United Kingdom; Dipartimento di Biologia Ambientale, Università di Roma La Sapienza, Rome, Italy; Dipartimento di Scienze della Terra, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy; Dipartimento di Scienze della Terra e Geoambientali, University of Bari, Bari, Italy; Istituto per la Dinamica dei Processi Ambientali (IDPA) CNR, Milan, Italy; Istituto di Geologia Ambientale e Geoingegneria - CNR, Rome, Italy 4 Albania; Greece; Lake Ohrid; Macedonia [Greece]; Bacillariophyta; calcite; deep drilling; diatom; endemic species; epilimnion; geochemistry; lacustrine environment; lithotype; marine isotope stage; pelagic deposit; precipitation (chemistry); primary production; seasonal variation; silty clay; tephra https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-84959333193&doi=10.5194%2fbg-13-1179-2016&partnerID=40&md5=5665be7f73c59b1c89582f78c0e9abf1 Cited by: 86; All Open Access, Gold Open Access, Green Open Access Alexander Francke Bernd Wagner Janna Just Niklas Leicher Raphael Gromig Henrike Baumgarten Hendrik Vogel Jack H. Lacey Laura Sadori Thomas Wonik Melanie J. Leng Giovanni Zanchetta Roberto Sulpizio Biagio Giaccio article Wilke2016118 Sedimentary sequences in ancient or long-lived lakes can reach several thousands of meters in thickness and often provide an unrivalled perspective of the lake's regional climatic, environmental, and biological history. Over the last few years, deep-drilling projects in ancient lakes became increasingly multi- and interdisciplinary, as, among others, seismological, sedimentological, biogeochemical, climatic, environmental, paleontological, and evolutionary information can be obtained from sediment cores. However, these multi- and interdisciplinary projects pose several challenges. The scientists involved typically approach problems from different scientific perspectives and backgrounds, and setting up the program requires clear communication and the alignment of interests. One of the most challenging tasks, besides the actual drilling operation, is to link diverse datasets with varying resolution, data quality, and age uncertainties to answer interdisciplinary questions synthetically and coherently. These problems are especially relevant when secondary data, i.e., datasets obtained independently of the drilling operation, are incorporated in analyses. Nonetheless, the inclusion of secondary information, such as isotopic data from fossils found in outcrops or genetic data from extant species, may help to achieve synthetic answers. Recent technological and methodological advances in paleolimnology are likely to increase the possibilities of integrating secondary information. Some of the new approaches have started to revolutionize scientific drilling in ancient lakes, but at the same time, they also add a new layer of complexity to the generation and analysis of sediment-core data. The enhanced opportunities presented by new scientific approaches to study the paleolimnological history of these lakes, therefore, come at the expense of higher logistic, communication, and analytical efforts. Here we review types of data that can be obtained in ancient lake drilling projects and the analytical approaches that can be applied to empirically and statistically link diverse datasets to create an integrative perspective on geological and biological data. In doing so, we highlight strengths and potential weaknesses of new methods and analyses, and provide recommendations for future interdisciplinary deep-drilling projects. © 2016 Elsevier B.V. 2016 English 09218181 10.1016/j.gloplacha.2016.05.005 Global and Planetary Change 143 Elsevier B.V. 118-151 Department of Animal Ecology and Systematics, Justus Liebig University Giessen, Giessen, Germany; Institute of Geology and Mineralogy, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany; Collaborative Research Center 806 - Our Way to Europe, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany; Limnology Research Unit, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium; Museum für Naturkunde - Leibniz Institute for Evolution and Biodiversity Science, Berlin, Germany; Department of Earth Sciences, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland; Geological-Paleontological Department, Natural History Museum Vienna, Vienna, Austria; School of Chemistry, University of Bristol, Bristol, United Kingdom; Centre for Environmental Geochemistry, School of Geography, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, United Kingdom; NERC Isotope Geosciences Facilities, British Geological Survey, Keyworth, Nottingham, United Kingdom; Institute of Biology, University Ss Cyril and Methodius, Skopje, North Macedonia; Department of Chemistry, University of York, York, United Kingdom; Dipartimento di Biologia Ambientale, Università di Roma La Sapienza, Rome, Italy; ACS Core Services, Edinburgh, United Kingdom; Institute of Geological Sciences and Oeschger Centre for Climate Change Research, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland; Naturalis Biodiversity Center, Leiden, Netherlands; Leibniz Institute for Applied Geophysics, Hannover, Germany Biology; Geology; Paleolimnology, Analytical approach; Ancient lakes; Deep drilling; Evolutionary biology; Evolutionary information; Interdisciplinary project; Methodology; Sedimentary sequence, Lakes, biological survey; core analysis; data quality; deep drilling; evolutionary biology; fossil record; geological theory; integrated approach; lacustrine environment; outcrop; paleolimnology; technological change https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-84975523752&doi=10.1016%2fj.gloplacha.2016.05.005&partnerID=40&md5=65b5fcf6cccc099d292cd51ee6749ff8 cited By 24 T. Wilke B. Wagner B. Van Bocxlaer C. Albrecht D. Ariztegui D. Delicado A. Francke M. Harzhauser T. Hauffe J. Holtvoeth J. Just M.J. Leng Z. Levkov K. Penkman L. Sadori A. Skinner B. Stelbrink H. Vogel F. Wesselingh T. Wonik article Sadori20161423 Lake Ohrid is located at the border between FYROM (Former Yugoslavian Republic of Macedonia) and Albania and formed during the latest phases of Alpine orogenesis. It is the deepest, the largest and the oldest tectonic lake in Europe. To better understand the paleoclimatic and paleoenvironmental evolution of Lake Ohrid, deep drilling was carried out in 2013 within the framework of the Scientific Collaboration on Past Speciation Conditions (SCOPSCO) project that was funded by the International Continental Scientific Drilling Program (ICDP). Preliminary results indicate that lacustrine sedimentation of Lake Ohrid started between 1.2 and 1.9 Ma ago. Here we present new pollen data (selected percentage and concentration taxa/groups) of the uppermost ∼ 200 m of the 569 m long DEEP core drilled in the depocentre of Lake Ohrid. The study is the fruit of a cooperative work carried out in several European palynological laboratories. The age model of this part of the core is based on 10 tephra layers and on tuning of biogeochemical proxy data to orbital parameters. According to the age model, the studied sequence covers the last ∼ 500 000 years at a millennial-scale resolution ( ∼ 1.6 ka) and records the major vegetation and climate changes that occurred during the last 12 (13 only pro parte) marine isotope stages (MIS). Our results indicate that there is a general good correspondence between forested/non-forested periods and glacial-interglacial cycles of the marine isotope stratigraphy. The record shows a progressive change from cooler and wetter to warmer and drier interglacial conditions. This shift in temperature and moisture availability is visible also in vegetation during glacial periods. The period corresponding to MIS11 (pollen assemblage zone OD-10, 428-368 ka BP) is dominated by montane trees such as conifers. Mesophilous elements such as deciduous and semi-deciduous oaks dominate forest periods of MIS5 (PASZ OD-3, 129-70 ka BP) and MIS1 (PASZ OD-1, 14 ka BP to present). Moreover, MIS7 (PASZ OD-6, 245-190 ka) shows a very high interglacial variability, with alternating expansions of montane and mesophilous arboreal taxa. Grasslands (open vegetation formations requiring relatively humid conditions) characterize the earlier glacial phases of MIS12 (PASZ OD-12, 488-459 ka), MIS10 (corresponding to the central part of PASZ OD-10, 428-366 ka) and MIS8 (PASZ OD-7, 288-245 ka). Steppes (open vegetation formations typical of dry environments) prevail during MIS6 (OD-5 and OD-4, 190-129 ka) and during MIS4-2 (PASZ OD-2, 70-14 ka). Our palynological results support the notion that Lake Ohrid has been a refugium area for both temperate and montane trees during glacials. Closer comparisons with other long southern European and Near Eastern pollen records will be achieved through ongoing high-resolution studies. © 2016 Author(s). Article 2016 English 17264170 10.5194/bg-13-1423-2016 Biogeosciences 13 Copernicus GmbH 1423 – 1437 Dipartimento di Biologia Ambientale, Università di Roma 'La Sapienza', Rome, Italy; Paleoenvironmental Dynamics Group, Institute of Earth Sciences, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany; Institute of Geography and Education, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany; Dipartimento di Scienze della Terra, Università di Firenze, Florence, Italy; HNHP - Histoire Naturelle de l'Homme Préhistorique, UMR 7194 CNRS, Département de Préhistoire, Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle, Institut de Paléontologie Humaine, Paris, France; Institute for Geology and Mineralogy, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany; Faculty of Geology and Geoenvironment, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece; CNRS UMR 5554, Institut des Sciences de l'Evolution de Montpellier, Université de Montpellier, Montpellier, France; Dipartimento di Scienze della Vita, Laboratorio di Palinologia e Paleobotanica, Università di Modena e Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy; Dipartimento di Scienze della Terra, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy; Palaeoecology, Department of Physical Geography, Utrecht University, Utrecht, Netherlands 5 Albania; Lake Ohrid; Macedonia [Southern Europe]; Coniferophyta; Quercus; Alpine orogeny; biogeochemical cycle; biostratigraphy; climate variation; core analysis; deep drilling; interglacial; marine isotope stage; montane forest; paleobotany; paleoclimate; paleoenvironment; palynology; proxy climate record; refugium; tephra; vegetation dynamics https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-84960332255&doi=10.5194%2fbg-13-1423-2016&partnerID=40&md5=863f1a44918d84c93d1c7d84c878415f Cited by: 116; All Open Access, Gold Open Access, Green Open Access Laura Sadori Andreas Koutsodendris Konstantinos Panagiotopoulos Alessia Masi Adele Bertini Nathalie Combourieu-Nebout Alexander Francke Katerina Kouli Sebastien Joannin Anna Maria Mercuri Odile Peyron Paola Torri Bernd Wagner Giovanni Zanchetta Gaia Sinopoli Timme H. Donders article Stelbrink20161 Background: Ancient Lake Ohrid, located on the Albania-Macedonia border, is the most biodiverse freshwater lake in Europe. However, the processes that gave rise to its extraordinary endemic biodiversity, particularly in the species-rich gastropods, are still poorly understood. A suitable model taxon to study speciation processes in Lake Ohrid is the pulmonate snail genus Acroloxus, which comprises two morphologically distinct and ecologically (vertically) separated endemic species. Using a multilocus phylogenetic framework of Acroloxus limpets from the Euro-Mediterranean subregion, together with molecular-clock and phylogeographic analyses of Ohrid taxa, we aimed to infer their geographic origin and the timing of colonization as well as the role of geography and ecology in intra-lacustrine diversification. Results: In contrast to most other endemic invertebrate groups in Lake Ohrid, the phylogenetic relationships of the endemic Ohrid Acroloxus species indicate that the Balkan region probably did not serve as their ancestral area. The inferred monophyly and estimated divergence times further suggest that these freshwater limpets colonized the lake only once and that the onset of intra-lacustrine diversification coincides with the time when the lake reached deep-water conditions ca 1.3 Mya. However, the difference in vertical distribution of these two ecologically distinct species is not reflected in the phylogeographic pattern observed. Instead, western and eastern populations are genetically more distinct, suggesting a horizontal structure. Conclusions: We conclude that both geography and ecology have played a role in the intra-lacustrine speciation process. Given the distinct morphology (sculptured vs. smooth shell) and ecology (littoral vs. sublittoral), and the timing of intra-lacustrine diversification inferred, we propose that the onset of deep-water conditions initially triggered ecological speciation. Subsequent geographic processes then gave rise to the phylogeographic patterns observed today. However, the generally weak genetic differentiation observed suggests incipient speciation, which might be explained by the comparatively young age of the lake system and thus the relatively recent onset of intra-lacustrine diversification. © 2016 The Author(s). Article 2016 English 14712148 10.1186/s12862-016-0826-6 BMC Evolutionary Biology 16 BioMed Central 1 – 13 1 Animals; Biodiversity; DNA, Mitochondrial; Ecosystem; Europe; Genetic Speciation; Lakes; Models, Biological; Phylogeny; Phylogeography; Sequence Analysis, DNA; Snails; Albania; Balkan; Lake Ohrid; Macedonia [Southern Europe]; Turkmenistan; Acroloxidae; Acroloxus; Gastropoda; Invertebrata; Mya; Patellidae; mitochondrial DNA; biodiversity; divergence; endemic species; genetic differentiation; lacustrine environment; molecular ecology; morphology; origin of life; phylogenetics; phylogeny; phylogeography; snail; speciation (biology); vertical distribution; animal; biodiversity; biological model; DNA sequence; ecosystem; Europe; genetics; lake; phylogeny; phylogeography; snail; species differentiation https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85005939711&doi=10.1186%2fs12862-016-0826-6&partnerID=40&md5=71379cbf05f48ce403cf11524453ea2c Cited by: 17; All Open Access, Gold Open Access, Green Open Access Björn Stelbrink Alena A. Shirokaya Kirstin Föller Thomas Wilke Christian Albrecht article Lacey20161801 Lake Ohrid (Macedonia/Albania) is an ancient lake with unique biodiversity and a site of global significance for investigating the influence of climate, geological, and tectonic events on the generation of endemic populations. Here, we present oxygen (δ18O) and carbon (δ13C) isotope data from carbonate over the upper 243 m of a composite core profile recovered as part of the Scientific Collaboration on Past Speciation Conditions in Lake Ohrid (SCOPSCO) project. The investigated sediment succession covers the past ca. 637 ka. Previous studies on short cores from the lake (up to 15 m, &lt; 140 ka) have indicated the total inorganic carbon (TIC) content of sediments to be highly sensitive to climate change over the last glacial-interglacial cycle. Sediments corresponding to warmer periods contain abundant endogenic calcite; however, an overall low TIC content in glacial sediments is punctuated by discrete bands of early diagenetic authigenic siderite. Isotope measurements on endogenic calcite (δ18Oc and δ13Cc) reveal variations both between and within interglacials that suggest the lake has been subject to palaeoenvironmental change on orbital and millennial timescales. We also measured isotope ratios from authigenic siderite (δ18Os and δ13Cs) and, with the oxygen isotope composition of calcite and siderite, reconstruct δ18O of lake water (δ18Olw) over the last 637 ka. Interglacials have higher δ18Olw values when compared to glacial periods most likely due to changes in evaporation, summer temperature, the proportion of winter precipitation (snowfall), and inflow from adjacent Lake Prespa. The isotope stratigraphy suggests Lake Ohrid experienced a period of general stability from marine isotope stage (MIS) 15 to MIS 13, highlighting MIS 14 as a particularly warm glacial. Climate conditions became progressively wetter during MIS 11 and MIS 9. Interglacial periods after MIS 9 are characterised by increasingly evaporated and drier conditions through MIS 7, MIS 5, and the Holocene. Our results provide new evidence for long-term climate change in the northern Mediterranean region, which will form the basis to better understand the influence of major environmental events on biological evolution within Lake Ohrid. © Author(s) 2016. 2016 English 17264170 10.5194/bg-13-1801-2016 Biogeosciences 13 Copernicus GmbH 1801-1820 Centre for Environmental Geochemistry, School of Geography, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, NG7 2RD, United Kingdom; NERC Isotope Geosciences Facilities, British Geological Survey, Keyworth, Nottingham, NG12 5GG, United Kingdom; Institute of Geology and Mineralogy, University of Cologne, Cologne, 50674, Germany; British Geological Survey, Keyworth, Nottingham, NG12 5GG, United Kingdom; Institute of Geological Sciences, Oeschger Centre for Climate Change Research, University of Bern, Bern, 3012, Switzerland; Leibniz Institute for Applied Geophysics, Hannover, 30655, Germany; Dipartimento di Scienze della Terra, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy 6 calcite; carbon isotope; climate variation; core analysis; glacial-interglacial cycle; long-term change; marine isotope stage; Mediterranean environment; oxygen isotope; paleoenvironment; reconstruction; siderite; stable isotope, Lake Mikri Prespa; Lake Ohrid https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-84963995224&doi=10.5194%2fbg-13-1801-2016&partnerID=40&md5=3d455c62e05f8a34b29243460371def6 cited By 31 J.H. Lacey M.J. Leng A. Francke J.H. Sloane A. Milodowski H. Vogel H. Baumgarten G. Zanchetta B. Wagner article Lindhorst2016291 Lake Ohrid (LO), a transboundary lake shared by Macedonia and Albania on the Balkan Peninsula, is not only considered to be the oldest lake in Europe (~2 Ma) but has a long and continuous sedimentary history. An advantage at LO is the availability of hydroacoustic data sets of good quality covering the entire lake basin. The tectonically formed basin is filled with thick undisturbed sediments. However, the overall internal structure of LO is characterized by numerous faults, clinoform structures, and several Mass Transport Deposits (MTDs). By using a seismic chronology model (SCM) correlating seismic reflector packages with Marine Isotope Stages (MIS) we estimate the occurrence of the deepest MTD detected in the southern basin at the transition of MIS9 to MIS8 (~300 ka) defining the onset of the sliding history in LO that is still ongoing today. In general, MTDs are widespread within the basin but they do cluster at active faults. Two large MTDs occurred in the early MIS7 (~230 ka, ~220 ka) and after a quiesence period of about ~70 ka two additional large MTDs have been detected in the late penultimate glacial period MIS6 (~150 ka, 130 ka). MIS5 seemed to be another quiet period with respect to mass wasting. In the younger sedimentary history mass movement is a common process with several large and mid-sized deposits mapped at all stratigraphic levels. The youngest slide deposits are estimated to occur within the last 2,000 years. The main outcome of this paper is a model for the spatial and temporal distribution of mass wasting for Lake Ohrid. © Springer International Publishing Switzerland 2016. 2016 English 18789897 10.1007/978-3-319-20979-1_29 Advances in Natural and Technological Hazards Research 41 Springer Netherlands 291-300 Institute of Geosciences, Christian-Albrechts-University at Kiel, Kiel, Germany; Leibniz- Institute for Applied Geophysics (LIAG), Stilleweg 2, Hannover, 30655, Germany https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85013993530&doi=10.1007%2f978-3-319-20979-1_29&partnerID=40&md5=fb03dcaa38b908c9bb32bc55db6e7c95 cited By 2 H. Baumgarten article Just20162093 The bulk magnetic mineral record from Lake Ohrid, spanning the past 637 kyr, reflects large-scale shifts in hydrological conditions, and, superimposed, a strong signal of environmental conditions on glacial-interglacial and millennial timescales. A shift in the formation of early di-agenetic ferrimagnetic iron sulfides to siderites is observed around 320 ka. This change is probably associated with variable availability of sulfide in the pore water. We propose that sulfate concentrations were significantly higher before ∼ 320 ka, due to either a higher sulfate flux or lower dilution of lake sulfate due to a smaller water volume. Diagenetic iron minerals appear more abundant during glacials, which are generally characterized by higher Fe/Ca ratios in the sediments. While in the lower part of the core the ferrimagnetic sulfide signal overprints the primary detrital magnetic signal, the upper part of the core is dominated by variable proportions of high- to low-coercivity iron oxides. Glacial sediments are characterized by high concentration of high-coercivity magnetic minerals (hematite, goethite), which relate to enhanced erosion of soils that had formed during preceding interglacials. Superimposed on the glacial-interglacial behavior are millennial-scale oscillations in the magnetic mineral composition that parallel variations in summer insolation. Like the processes on glacial-interglacial timescales, low summer insolation and a retreat in vegetation resulted in enhanced erosion of soil material. Our study highlights that rock-magnetic studies, in concert with geochemical and sedimentological investigations, provide a multi-level contribution to environmental reconstructions, since the magnetic properties can mirror both environmental conditions on land and intra-lake processes. © Author(s) 2016. 2016 English 17264170 10.5194/bg-13-2093-2016 Biogeosciences 13 Copernicus GmbH 2093-2109 Institute of Geology and Mineralogy, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany; Collaborative Research Centre, University of Cologne, 806 - Our Way to Europe, Cologne, Germany; Helmholtz Centre Potsdam, GFZ German Research Centre for Geosciences, Potsdam, Germany; Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, Rome, Italy; Institute of Geological Sciences, Oeschger Centre for Climate Change Research, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland; NERC Isotope Geosciences Facilities, British Geological Survey, Nottingham, United Kingdom 7 concentration (composition); dilution; environmental conditions; glacial deposit; iron oxide; iron sulfide; magnetic mineral; sediment chemistry; siderite; sulfate; timescale, Balkans; Lake Ohrid https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-84964403161&doi=10.5194%2fbg-13-2093-2016&partnerID=40&md5=d6c6e42be918b3ef130c4d400422df17 cited By 18 J. Just N.R. Nowaczyk L. Sagnotti A. Francke H. Vogel J.H. Lacey B. Wagner article Leicher20162151 A tephrostratigraphic record covering the Marine Isotope Stages (MIS) 1-15 was established for the DEEP site record of Lake Ohrid (Macedonia and Albania). Major element analyses (energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) and wavelength-dispersive spectroscopy (WDS)) were carried out on juvenile fragments extracted from 12 tephra layers (OH-DP-0115 to OH-DP-2060). The geochemical analyses of the glass shards of all of these layers suggest an origin in the Italian volcanic provinces. They include the Y-3 (OH-DP-0115, 26.68-29.42 ka cal BP), the Campanian Ignimbrite-Y-5 (OH-DP-0169, 39.6±0.1 ka), and the X- 6 (OH-DP-0404, 109±2 ka) from the Campanian volcanoes, the P-11 of Pantelleria (OH-DP-0499, 133.5±2 ka), the Vico B (OH-DP-0617, 162±6 ka) from the Vico volcano, the Pozzolane Rosse (OH-DP-1817, 457±2 ka) and the Tufo di Bagni Albule (OH-DP-2060, 527±2 ka) from the Colli Albani volcanic district, and the Fall A (OH-DP- 2010, 496±3 ka) from the Sabatini volcanic field. Furthermore, a comparison of the Ohrid record with tephrostratigraphic records of mid-distal archives related to the Mediterranean area allowed the recognition of the equivalents of other less known tephra layers, such as the TM24a-POP2 (OH-DP-0404, 102±2 ka) recognized in the Lago Grande di Monticchio and the Sulmona Basin, the CF-V5-PRAD3225 (OH-DP-0624, ca. 163±22 ka) identified in the Campo Felice Basin and the Adriatic Sea, the SC5 (OH-DP-1955, 493.1±10.9 ka) recognized in the Mercure Basin, and the A11/12 (OH-DP-2017, 511±6 ka) sampled at the Acerno Basin, whose specific volcanic sources are still poorly constrained. Additionally, one cryptotephra (OH-DP-0027) was identified by correlation of the potassium X-ray flourescence (XRF) intensities from the DEEP site with those from a short core of a previous study from Lake Ohrid. In these cores, a maximum in potassium is caused by glass shards, which were correlated with the Mercato tephra (8.43-8.63 ka cal BP) from Somma-Vesuvius. The tephrostratigraphic work presented here allows, for the first time, the extension of a consistent part of the Middle Pleistocene tephrostratigraphy of Italian volcanoes as far as the Balkans. The establishment of the tephrostratigraphic framework for the Lake Ohrid record provides important, independent tie points for the age-depth model of the DEEP site sequence, which is a prerequisite for palaeoclimatic and palaeoenvironmental reconstructions. Furthermore, this age-depth model will help to improve and re-evaluate the chronology of other, both undated and dated tephra layers from other records. Thus, the Lake Ohrid record may potentially become the template for the central Mediterranean tephrostratigraphy, especially for the hitherto poorly known and explored lower Middle Pleistocene period. © 2016 Author(s). 2016 English 17264170 10.5194/bg-13-2151-2016 Biogeosciences 13 Copernicus GmbH 2151-2178 Institute of Geology and Mineralogy, University of Cologne, Zuelpicher Str. 49a, Cologne, Germany; Dipartimento di Scienze della Terra, University of Pisa, Via S. Maria 53, Pisa, Italy; Dipartimento di Scienze della Terra e Geoambientali, University of Bari, Via Orabona 4, Bari, Italy; Istituto per la Dinamica Dei Processi Ambientali (IDPA), CNR, Via M. Bianco 9, Milan, Italy; Istituto di Geologia Ambientale e Geoingegneria, CNR, Via Salaria km 29 300, Monterotondo, Rome, Italy; Laboratoire des Sciences du Climat et de l'Environnement, UMR 8212, CEA/CNRS/UVSQ, Université Paris-Saclay, Gif-sur-Yvette, France; Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, Sezione di Pisa, Via della Faggiola 32, Pisa, Italy 7 biostratigraphy; Campanian; geochemical method; marine environment; paleoclimate; paleoenvironment; Pleistocene; tephra; tephrochronology; volcanic soil, Abruzzi; Adriatic Sea; Alban Hills; Albania; Apennines; Balkans; Basilicata; Campania [Italy]; Italy; L'Aquila; Lago Grande di Monticchio; Lake Ohrid; Lazio; Macedonia [Southern Europe]; Mediterranean Sea; Mount Somma; Napoli [Campania]; Potenza; Sulmona Basin; Vesuvius; Vico https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-84964407338&doi=10.5194%2fbg-13-2151-2016&partnerID=40&md5=48e37f6d4e8e8a692983dccb824e9df2 cited By 61 N. Leicher G. Zanchetta R. Sulpizio B. Giaccio B. Wagner S. Nomade A. Francke P. Del Carlo article Cvetkoska20163147 We reconstruct the aquatic ecosystem interactions since the last interglacial period in the oldest, most diverse, hydrologically connected European lake system, by using palaeolimnological diatom and selected geochemistry data from Lake Ohrid "DEEP site" core and equivalent data from Lake Prespa core, Co1215. Driven by climate forcing, the lakes experienced two adaptive cycles during the last 92 ka: "interglacial and interstadial" and "glacial" cycle. The shortterm ecosystems reorganizations, e.g. regime shifts within these cycles substantially differ between the lakes, as evident from the inferred amplitudes of variation. The deeper Lake Ohrid shifted between ultra oligo- and oligotrophic regimes in contrast to the much shallower Lake Prespa, which shifted from a deeper, (oligo-) mesotrophic to a shallower, eutrophic lake and vice versa. Due to the high level of ecosystem stability (e.g. trophic state, lake level), Lake Ohrid appears relatively resistant to external forcing, such as climate and environmental change. Recovering in a relatively short time from major climate change, Lake Prespa is a resilient ecosystem. At the DEEP site, the decoupling between the lakes' response to climate change is marked in the prolonged and gradual changes during the MIS 5/4 and 2/1 transitions. These response differences and the lakes' different physical and chemical properties may limit the influence of Lake Prespa on Lake Ohrid. Regime shifts of Lake Ohrid due to potential hydrological change in Lake Prespa are not evident in the data presented here. Moreover, a complete collapse of the ecosystems functionality and loss of their diatom communities did not happen in either lake for the period presented in the study. © 2016 Author(s). 2016 English 17264170 10.5194/bg-13-3147-2016 Biogeosciences 13 Copernicus GmbH 3147-3162 Department of Physical Geography, Utrecht University, Palaeoecology, Utrecht, Netherlands; Department of Animal Ecology and Systematics, Justus Liebig University, Giessen, Germany; Institute of Geology and Mineralogy, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany; Institute of Biology, University Ss Cyril and Methodius, Skopje, North Macedonia; Institute of Geological Sciences, Oeschger Centre for Climate Change Research, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland 10 aquatic ecosystem; climate change; climate forcing; diatom; ecosystem resilience; fossil record; hydrological change; lacustrine environment; Last Interglacial; microbial community; micropaleontology; paleoclimate; paleoecology; paleolimnology; physicochemical property; reconstruction, Lake Mikri Prespa; Lake Ohrid, Bacillariophyta https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-84973574852&doi=10.5194%2fbg-13-3147-2016&partnerID=40&md5=03ec85b8bd3ef3707333a02a44508b46 cited By 21 A. Cvetkoska E. Jovanovska A. Francke S. Tofilovska H. Vogel Z. Levkov T.H. Donders B. Wagner F. Wagner-Cremer article Jovanovska20161149 Ancient lakes, such as lakes Ohrid and Prespa on the Balkan Peninsula, have become model systems for studying the link between geological and biotic evolution. Recently, the scientific deep-drilling project Scientific Collaboration on Past Speciation Conditions in Lake Ohrid (SCOPSCO) was initiated to better understand the environmental, climatic, and limnological evolution of the lake. It revealed that Lake Ohrid experienced a number of environmental disturbances during its ca. 2.0 million year long history. These are comprised of disturbances that lasted over longer periods of time ("press events") such as glacial-interglacial cycles and Heinrich events, as well as sudden and short disturbances ("pulse events") like the deposition of landslides, earthquakes, and volcanic ash depositions. The latter includes one of the most severe volcanic episodes during the Late Pleistocene: the eruption of the Campanian Ignimbrite (known as Y-5 marine tephra layer) from the Campi Flegrei caldera, dated to 39.6 ± 0.1 thousand years ago. The event is recorded by the deposition of a ca. 15 cm thick tephra layer in sediment cores of lakes Ohrid (DEEP-5045-1) and Prespa (Co1204). Coincidently, this pulse event is superimposed by the Heinrich H4 event, 40.4-38.4 thousand years ago. In the current paper, diatoms were used as proxies to compare the responses of these lakes to the Y-5 (pulse) and the H4 (press) disturbances. Based on stratigraphically constrained incremental sum of squares cluster (CONISS) and unconstrained Partitioning Around Medoids (PAM) analyses, we found little evidence that diatom community compositions in either lake responded to the H4 event. However, the Y-5 influx caused clear and rapid diatom community changes. After the initial response, community compositions in Lake Ohrid and, to a lesser extent, in Lake Prespa slowly returned to their quasi pre-disturbance state. Moreover, there is no evidence for disturbance-related extinction events. The combined evidence from these findings suggests that lakes Ohrid and Prespa likely did not experience regime shifts. It is therefore concluded that both lakes show resilience to environmental disturbance. However, it seems that Lake Ohrid is more resilient than Lake Prespa, as the recovery of diatom communities is more pronounced and its estimated recovery time is only ca. 1100 years vs. ca. 4000 years in Lake Prespa. The reasons for the differential responses remain largely unknown, but differences in geology, lake age, limnology, and intrinsic parameters of the diatom proxies may play an important role. © Author(s) 2016. Article 2016 English 17264170 10.5194/bg-13-1149-2016 Biogeosciences 13 Copernicus GmbH 1149 – 1161 Department of Animal Ecology and Systematics, Justus Liebig University, Giessen, Germany; Palaeoecology, Department of Physical Geography, Faculty of Geosciences, Utrecht University, Utrecht, Netherlands; Institute of Biology, University Ss. Cyril and Methodius, Skopje, North Macedonia; Institute of Geology and Mineralogy, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany; Dipartimento di Scienze della Terra e Geoambientali, Bari, Italy; IDPA-CNR, Milan, Italy 4 Balkans; Campania [Italy]; Campi Flegrei; Italy; Lake Mikri Prespa; Lake Ohrid; Napoli [Campania]; Bacillariophyta; Campanian; community composition; diatom; ecosystem resilience; environmental disturbance; glacial-interglacial cycle; Heinrich event; paleoclimate; Pleistocene; sediment core; speciation (biology) https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-84959432923&doi=10.5194%2fbg-13-1149-2016&partnerID=40&md5=230af728b82e1c7689989850959fbd5c Cited by: 28; All Open Access, Gold Open Access, Green Open Access Elena Jovanovska Aleksandra Cvetkoska Torsten Hauffe Zlatko Levkov Bernd Wagner Roberto Sulpizio Alexander Francke Christian Albrecht Thomas Wilke article Jovanovska2016031 A new diatom genus, Cribrionella gen. nov., is described from Quaternary sediments of Lake Ohrid. Cribrionella comprises distinct morphological features, such as: i) presence of submarginal alveoli followed by regularly or irregularly arranged areolae, ii) cribra on external areolar openings, iii) absence of silicate layers on internal areolar openings, but presence of thick and inwardly raised circumferential silica trabeculae, iv) rimoportulae positioned on costae, and v) absence of central fultoportulae. Detailed light and scanning electron microscope analyses were undertaken and used for comparison to morphologically related genera. The typus generis Cribrionella ohridana is compared to species from its morphologically closest genus Cyclotella sensu stricto (e.g., C. atomus, C. delicatula, C. bifacialis). Cribrionella ohridana has not been reported from the extant diatom flora of Lake Ohrid, nor in the nearby Lake Prespa. The discovery of a new genus in Lake Ohrid confirms again the importance of the lake, not only in light of species richness and endemicity, but also in evolutionary history of the family Stephanodiscaceae. © 2016 Magnolia Press. Article 2016 English 11793155 10.11646/phytotaxa.252.1.3 Phytotaxa 252 Magnolia Press 031 – 042 1 https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-84960194768&doi=10.11646%2fphytotaxa.252.1.3&partnerID=40&md5=5984acb01c850b71122733c9d3732ff2 Cited by: 3 Elena Jovanovska Aleksandra Cvetkoska Slavica Tofilovska Nadja Ognjanova-Rumenova Zlatko Levkov article Zhang20161351 Lake Ohrid (Macedonia and Albania) is a rare example of a deep, ancient Mediterranean lake and is a key site for palaeoclimate research in the northeastern Mediterranean region. This study conducts the analysis of diatoms as a proxy for Lateglacial and Holocene climate and environmental change in Lake Ohrid at a higher resolution than in previous studies. While Lake Ohrid has the potential to be sensitive to water temperature change, the data demonstrate a highly complex diatom response, probably comprising a direct response to temperature-induced lake productivity in some phases and an indirect response to temperaturerelated lake stratification or mixing and epilimnetic nutrient availability in others. The data also demonstrate the possible influence of physical limnological (e.g. the influence of wind stress on stratification or mixing) and chemical processes (e.g. the influence of catchment dynamics on nutrient input) in mediating the complex response of diatoms. During the Lateglacial (ca. 12 300-11 800 cal yr BP), the low-diversity dominance of hypolimnetic Cyclotella fottii indicates low lake productivity, linked to low water temperature. Although the subsequent slight increase in small, epilimnetic C. minuscula during the earliest Holocene (ca. 11 800-10 600 cal yr BP) suggests climate warming and enhanced stratification, diatom concentration remains as low as during the Lateglacial, suggesting that water temperature increase was muted across this major transition. The early Holocene (ca. 10 600-8200 cal yr BP) is characterised by a sustained increase in epilimnetic taxa, with mesotrophic C. ocellata indicating high water-temperature-induced productivity between ca. 10 600-10 200 cal yr BP and between ca. 9500-8200 cal yr BP and with C. minuscula in response to low nutrient availability in the epilimnion between ca. 10 200-9500 cal yr BP. During the middle Holocene (ca. 8200-2600 cal yr BP), when sedimentological and geochemical proxies provide evidence for maximum Holocene water temperature, anomalously low C. ocellata abundance is probably a response to epilimnetic nutrient limitation, almost mimicking the Lateglacial flora apart from the occurrence of mesotrophic Stephanodiscus transylvanicus in the hypolimnion. During the late Holocene (ca. 2600 cal yr BP-present), high abundance and fluctuating composition of epilimnetic taxa are probably a response more to enhanced anthropogenic nutrient input, particularly nitrogen enrichment, than to climate. Overall, the data indicate that previous assumptions concerning the linearity of diatom response in this deep, ancient lake are invalid, and multi-proxy analysis is essential to improve understanding of palaeolimnological dynamics in future research on the long, Quaternary sequence. © Author(s) 2016. 2016 English 17264170 10.5194/bg-13-1351-2016 Biogeosciences 13 Copernicus GmbH 1351-1365 Institute of Loess Plateau, Shanxi University, Taiyuan, China; Department of Geography, Environment and Earth Sciences, University of Hull, Hull, United Kingdom; Centre for Environmental Geochemistry, School of Geography, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, United Kingdom; NERC Isotope Geosciences Facilities, British Geological Survey, Nottingham, United Kingdom; Institute of Geology and Mineralogy, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany; Institute of Biology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Ss. Cyril and Methodius University, Skopje, North Macedonia 4 butterfly; diatom; environmental change; epilimnion; Holocene; late glacial; nutrient availability; oligotrophic environment; paleolimnology; perciform; proxy climate record; water temperature, Albania; Lake Ohrid; Macedonia [Southern Europe], Bacillariophyta; Cyclotella; Cyclotella ocellata; Stephanodiscus https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-84960075843&doi=10.5194%2fbg-13-1351-2016&partnerID=40&md5=03b8d5777cab8051ec40609ea44af554 cited By 9 X.S. Zhang J.M. Reed J.H. Lacey A. Francke M.J. Leng Z. Levkov B. Wagner article Hauffe20162901 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 processspecific 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. © Author(s) 2016. Review 2016 English 17264170 10.5194/bg-13-2901-2016 Biogeosciences 13 Copernicus GmbH 2901 – 2911 Department of Animal Ecology and Systematics, Justus Liebig University, Giessen, Germany 10 Balkan; Lake Ohrid; Turkmenistan; Gastropoda; assembly rule; biodiversity; biozonation; community dynamics; dispersal; ecozone; evolutionary biology; gastropod; holistic approach; lacustrine environment; relative abundance; speciation (biology); species richness https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-84975467532&doi=10.5194%2fbg-13-2901-2016&partnerID=40&md5=95337217a2e60e86231c96800630645e Cited by: 15; All Open Access, Gold Open Access, Green Open Access Torsten Hauffe Christian Albrecht Thomas Wilke article Bertini2016201 Lake Ohrid (Balkan peninsula) is the oldest European extant lake and one of the deepest and largest. Such a unique, terrestrial natural archive is especially relevant for both paleoenvironmental and paleoclimatic reconstructions but also for genetic studies. In the frame of the International Continental Scientific Drilling Program (ICDP), a deep drilling campaign was carried out within the scope of the Scientific Collaboration on Past Speciation Conditions in Lake Ohrid (SCOPSCO) project in 2013. Here, we present the summary of palynological analyses carried out in the upper 200 m of the overall 569 m long DEEP site sediment succession from the central part of the lake. These studies, performed by an international palynological team, document the main floristic, vegetation and climate changes during the last ca 500 kyr, at a millennial-scale resolution (~1.6 kyr). The continuous sediment infill permitted to trace multiple non-forested/ forested phases as a response to Glacial/Interglacial cycles as well as to sub-Milankovitch climate changes. The pollen record, corresponding with marine isotope stages MIS 13 to MIS 1, points to a progressive change from cooler and wetter to warmer and drier interglacials. New palynological studies are underway to reconstruct vegetational and climatic conditions over older intervals as well as to obtain high resolution data for some key intervals such as MIS 5-6, MIS 11-12, MIS 35-42. The complete record of changes in flora composition and vegetation during both glacials and interglacials will furnish indispensable insights for understanding the role of refugia, ecosystem resilience and maintenance of terrestrial biodiversity in the Mediterranean area. Article 2016 English 22797327 Alpine and Mediterranean Quaternary 29 AIQUA - Associazione Italiana per lo Studio del Quaternario 201 – 210 Dipartimento di Scienze della Terra, Università di Firenze, Firenze, Italy; Dipartimento di Biologia Ambientale, Università di Roma La Sapienza, Roma, Italy; Département de Préhistoire, Muséum national d'Histoire naturelle, Institut de Paléontologie Humaine, Paris, France; Palaeoecology, Department of Physical Geography, Utrecht University, Utrecht, Netherlands; Faculty of Geology and Geoenvironment, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece; Institute of Earth Sciences, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany; CNRS UMR 5554, Institut des Sciences de l'Evolution, Université de Montpellier, Montpellier, France; Dipartimento di Scienze della Vita, Università di Modena e Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy; Institute of Geology and Mineralogy, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany; Dipartimento di Scienze della Terra, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy 2 https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85006894243&partnerID=40&md5=ea50e2df06681fa4ea789f852cd51450 Cited by: 10 Adele Bertini Laura Sadori Nathalie Combourieu-Nebout Timme H. Donders Katerina Kouli Andreas Koutsodendris Sebastien Joannin Alessia Masi Anna Maria Mercuri Konstantinos Panagiotopoulos Odile Peyron Gaia Sinopoli Paola Torri Giovanni Zanchetta Alexander Francke Bernd Wagner article Zanchetta20162757 The DEEP site sediment sequence obtained during the ICDP SCOPSCO project at Lake Ohrid was dated using tephrostratigraphic information, cyclostratigraphy, and orbital tuning through the marine isotope stages (MIS) 15-1. Although this approach is suitable for the generation of a general chronological framework of the long succession, it is insufficient to resolve more detailed palaeoclimatological questions, such as leads and lags of climate events between marine and terrestrial records or between different regions. Here, we demonstrate how the use of different tie points can affect cyclostratigraphy and orbital tuning for the period between ca. 140 and 70 ka and how the results can be correlated with directly/indirectly radiometrically dated Mediterranean marine and continental proxy records. The alternative age model presented here shows consistent differences with that initially proposed by Francke et al. (2015) for the same interval, in particular at the level of the MIS6-5e transition. According to this new age model, different proxies from the DEEP site sediment record support an increase of temperatures between glacial to interglacial conditions, which is almost synchronous with a rapid increase in sea surface temperature observed in the western Mediterranean. The results show how a detailed study of independent chronological tie points is important to align different records and to highlight asynchronisms of climate events. Moreover, Francke et al. (2016) have incorporated the new chronology proposed for tephra OH-DP-0499 in the final DEEP age model. This has reduced substantially the chronological discrepancies between the DEEP site age model and the model proposed here for the last glacial-interglacial transition. © 2016 Author(s). Article 2016 English 17264170 10.5194/bg-13-2757-2016 Biogeosciences 13 Copernicus GmbH 2757 – 2768 Dipartimento di Scienze della Terra, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy; Institute of Environmental Geology and Geoengineering, IGAG-CNR, Montelibretti, Rome, Italy; Institute of Geology and Mineralogy, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany; Dipartimento di Scienze della Terra e Geoambientali, University of Bari, Bari, Italy; Institute of Geological Sciences and Oeschger, Centre for Climate Change Research, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland; Dipartimento di Biologia Ambientale, University of Roma 'La Sapienza', Roma, Italy; Centre for Environmental Geochemistry, School of Geography, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, United Kingdom; NERC Isotope Geosciences Facilities, British Geological Survey, Keyworth, Nottingham, United Kingdom 9 Lake Ohrid; Mediterranean Sea; age determination; cyclostratigraphy; glacial-interglacial cycle; marine isotope stage; marine record; Ocean Drilling Program; paleoclimate; proxy climate record; radiometric method; tephra; tephrochronology https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-84969761382&doi=10.5194%2fbg-13-2757-2016&partnerID=40&md5=adaecfb39d6458abc6357ecf486c9f39 Cited by: 28; All Open Access, Gold Open Access, Green Open Access Giovanni Zanchetta Eleonora Regattieri Biagio Giaccio Bernd Wagner Roberto Sulpizio Alex Francke Hendrik Vogel Laura Sadori Alessia Masi Gaia Sinopoli Jack H. Lacey Melanie J. Leng Niklas Leicher article Cvetkoska2015215 Lake Prespa, in the Balkans, contains an important palaeo-archive in a key location for understanding Quaternary climate variability in the transition between Mediterranean and central European climate zones. Previous palaeoenvironmental research on sediment cores indicates that the lake is highly sensitive to climate change and that diatoms are likely to be strong palaeohydrological proxies. Here, we present new results from diatom analysis of a ca. 91 ka sequence, core Co1215, which spans the time from the end of the last interglacial to the present. Fluctuations in the diatom data were driven primarily by changes in lake level, as a function of shifts in moisture availability. Warmer interglacial (MIS 5, MIS 1) and interstadial (MIS 3) phases exhibit higher lake levels in spite of enhanced evaporative concentration, underlining the importance of changes in precipitation regimes over time. Low lake levels during glacial phases indicate extreme aridity, common to all Mediterranean lakes. Evidence for fluctuations in trophic status is linked, in part, to lake-level change, but also reflects nutrient enrichment from catchment processes. MIS 5a is characterized by the highest lake productivity in the sequence, but low lake levels, which are ascribed primarily to very low precipitation. On a suborbital timescale, the diatoms provide evidence for correlation to the millennial-scale variability recorded in the Greenland oxygen isotope records and clearly reflect the impact of the Heinrich H6, H5 and H3–1 ice-rafting events, suggesting the dominant influence of North Atlantic forcing in this region. Although the highest-amplitude shift in the diatom assemblages occurs during the time of H4 (40–38 ka), it may be superimposed upon the impact of the 39.28 cal ka BP Campanian Ignimbrite volcanic eruption. Diatoms from Lake Prespa core Co1215 display the first strong evidence for the impact of Italian volcanic activity on lacustrine biota in this region. Results emphasize the complexity of diatom response thresholds in different studies across the region. In the case of Lake Prespa, the results highlight the important role of precipitation for maintaining the hydrological balance of the lake, and indirectly, its biodiversity. © 2014, Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht. 2015 English 09212728 10.1007/s10933-014-9821-3 Journal of Paleolimnology 53 Kluwer Academic Publishers 215-231 Institute of Biology, Ss Cyril and Methodius University, Arhimedova 3, Skopje, 1000, North Macedonia; Department of Geography, Environment and Earth Sciences, University of Hull, Hull, United Kingdom; Institute of Geology and Mineralogy, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany; Seminar of Geography and Education, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany; Centre for Environmental Geochemistry, School of Geography, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, United Kingdom; NERC Isotope Geosciences Facility, British Geological Survey, Nottingham, United Kingdom; Department of Geology, University of Leicester, Leicester, United Kingdom 2 https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-84925542974&doi=10.1007%2fs10933-014-9821-3&partnerID=40&md5=7651b899872d1eea82d39bbca4a9c3a5 cited By 14 A. Cvetkoska Z. Levkov J.M. Reed B. Wagner K. Panagiotopoulos M.J. Leng J.H. Lacey article Cvetkoska2015179 Surirella is a polyphyletic and highly diverse diatom genus with more than 500 species described worldwide. Within a study of its diversity and distribution in the Republic of Macedonia, ancient Lake Prespa has been investigated, as “sister” to Lake Ohrid and part of a unique lake system with extraordinary age, biodiversity and number of endemic species. During the study, two new Surirella species have been identified and their LM and SEM based formal descriptions and differential diagnoses are provided herein. Surirella prespanensis sp. nov. has been observed in the contemporary and the fossil diatom flora of the lake. It can be distinguished from other similar taxa by its valve outline, size, shape of the median ridge and the presence of silica grooves along the raphe. Surirella hinziae sp. nov. is known only from the fossil diatom flora of Lake Prespa and can be recognized by its valve outline, size, shape of the median ridge and the presence of helictoglossa-like processes. © Czech Phycological Society (2015). Article 2015 English 18025439 10.5507/fot.2015.018 Fottea 15 Czech phycological Society 179 – 189 2 https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-84943154428&doi=10.5507%2ffot.2015.018&partnerID=40&md5=1b2d57d8565ebf30bffaaed0873de5fb Cited by: 2; All Open Access, Bronze Open Access Aleksandra Cvetkoska Paul B. Hamilton Zlatko Levkov article Lindhorst201584 Lake Ohrid, located on the Balkan Peninsula within the Dinaride-Albanide-Hellenide mountain belt, is a tectonically active graben within the South Balkan Extensional Regime (SBER). Interpretation of multichannel seismic cross sections and bathymetric data reveals that Lake Ohrid formed during two main phases of deformation: (1) a transtensional phase which opened a pull-apart basin, and (2) an extensional phase which led to the present geometry of Lake Ohrid. After the initial opening, a symmetrical graben formed during the Late Miocene, bounded by major normal faults on each side in a pull-apart type basin. The early-stage geometry of the basin has a typical rhomboidal shape restricted by two sets of major normal faults. Thick undisturbed sediments are present today at the site where the acoustic basement is deepest, illustrating that Lake Ohrid is a potential target for drilling a long and continuous sediment core for studying environmental changes within the Mediterranean region. Neotectonic activity since the Pliocene takes place along the roughly N-S-striking Eastern and Western Major Boundary Normal Faults that are partly exposed at the present lake floor. The tectono-sedimentary structure of the basin is divided into three main seismic units overlying the acoustic basement associated with fluvial deposits and lacustrine sediments. A seismic facies analysis reveals a prominent cyclic pattern of high- and low-amplitude reflectors. We correlate this facies cyclicity with vegetation changes within the surrounding area that are associated with glacial/interglacial cycles. A clear correlation is possible back to ca. 450 kyrs. Extrapolation of average sedimentation rates for the above mentioned period results in age estimate of ca. 2 Myrs for the oldest sediments in Lake Ohrid. © 2014 The Authors. Article 2015 English 0950091X 10.1111/bre.12063 Basin Research 27 84 – 101 1 Albania; Lake Ohrid; Macedonia [Southern Europe]; facies analysis; neotectonics; normal fault; sedimentary structure; sedimentation rate; tectonic evolution https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-84920941884&doi=10.1111%2fbre.12063&partnerID=40&md5=dc61452043c893d62df12cb147f28e4d Cited by: 54 Katja Lindhorst S. Krastel K. Reicherter M. Stipp B. Wagner T. Schwenk article just2015tmoi 2015 10.1594/PANGAEA.848638 Institute of Geology and Mineralogy, University of Cologne PANGAEA PANGAEA https://doi.org/10.1594/PANGAEA.848638 Janna Just Norbert R Nowaczyk Alexander Francke Leonardo Sagnotti Bernd Wagner article Ariztegui20151655 Recently, the discovery of active microbial life in deep-sea sediments has triggered a rapid development of the field known as the “deep biosphere.” Geomicrobiological investigations in lacustrine basins have also shown a substantial microbial impact on lake sediments similar to that described for the marine record. Although only 30 % of the lake sites drilled by the International Continental Drilling Program (ICDP) have included microbial investigations, these lakes cover a relatively wide range of salinities (from 0.15 to 33.8 %), pH (from 6.0 to 9.8) and environmental conditions (from very arid to humid subtropical conditions). Here, we analyze results of very recent ICDP lake sites including subsurface biosphere research from southern Patagonia (Laguna Potrok Aike) to the Levantine area (Dead Sea) as well as the East Anatolian high plateau (Lake Van) and Macedonia (Lake Ohrid). These various settings allow the examination of the impact of contrasting environments on microbial activity and their subsequent role during early diagenesis. Furthermore, they permit the identification of biosignatures of former microbial activity recorded in the sediments as well as investigating the impact of microbes in biogeochemical cycles. One of the general outcomes of these preliminary investigations is data to support the hypothesis that microbes react to climatically driven environmental changes that have a direct impact on their subsurface distribution and diversity. This is clear at conspicuous levels associated with well-known climatic periods such as the Medieval Climatic Anomaly or the Little Ice Age. Although more research is needed, this relationship between prevailing microbial assemblages and different climatic settings appears to dominate the lacustrine sites studied until to date. © 2015, The Author(s). Review 2015 English 14373254 10.1007/s00531-015-1148-4 International Journal of Earth Sciences 104 Springer Verlag 1655 – 1665 Department of Earth Sciences, University of Geneva, rue des Maraichers 13, Geneva, 1205, Switzerland; Section 4.5 Geomicrobiology, Helmholtz Centre Potsdam, GFZ German Research for Geosciences, Potsdam, 14473, Germany 6 Argentina; Dead Sea; Laguna Potrok Aike; Lake Ohrid; Lake Van; Levantine Sea; Mediterranean Sea; Patagonia; Santa Cruz [Argentina]; Turkey; biosphere; deep-sea sediment; diagenesis; drilling; environmental change; genomics; geological record; geomicrobiology; lacustrine deposit; microbial activity; paleoclimate; sedimentary basin https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-84940958158&doi=10.1007%2fs00531-015-1148-4&partnerID=40&md5=0af1c04e97299773cc0ebbf26995db8d Cited by: 18; All Open Access, Green Open Access, Hybrid Gold Open Access Daniel Ariztegui Camille Thomas Aurèle Vuillemin article Föller20157209 Ancient lakes represent key ecosystems for endemic freshwater species. This high endemic biodiversity has been shown to be mainly the result of intra-lacustrine diversification. Whereas the principle role of this mode of diversification is generally acknowledged, actual diversification rates in ancient lakes remain little understood. At least four types are conceivable. Diversification rates may be constant over time, they may fluctuate, rates may be higher in the initial phase of diversification, or there may be a pronounced lag phase between colonization and subsequent diversification. As understanding the tempo of diversification in ancient lake environments may help reveal the underlying processes that drive speciation and extinction, we here use the Balkan Lake Ohrid as a model system and the largest species flock in the lake, the non-pyrgulinid Hydrobiidae, as a model taxon to study changes in diversification rates over time together with the respective drivers. Based on phylogenetic, molecular-clock, lineage-through-time plot, and diversification-rate analyses we found that this potentially monophyletic group is comparatively old and that it most likely evolved with a constant diversification rate. Preliminary data of the SCOPSCO (Scientific Collaboration On Past Speciation Conditions in Lake Ohrid) deep-drilling program do indicate signatures of severe environmental/climatic perturbations in Lake Ohrid. However, so far there is no evidence for the occurrence of catastrophic environmental events. We therefore propose that the constant diversification rate observed in endemic gastropods has been caused by two factors: (i) a potential lack of catastrophic environmental events in Lake Ohrid and/or (ii) a probably high ecosystem resilience, buffering environmental changes. Parameters potentially contributing to the lake's high ecosystem resilience are its distinct bathymetry, ongoing tectonic activities, and karst hydrology. The current study not only contributes to one of the overall goals of the SCOPSCO deep-drilling program - inferring the driving forces for biotic evolution in Lake Ohrid. It might also enhance our understanding of how ecosystem resilience, in general, may promote relatively constant diversification rates in isolated ecosystems. However, we encourage future studies testing hypotheses about the lack of catastrophic events in Lake Ohrid. These studies should be based on high-resolution data for the entire geological history of the lake, and they should potentially involve information from the sediment fossil record, not only for gastropods but also for other groups with a high share of endemic taxa. © 2015 Author(s). Article 2015 English 17264170 10.5194/bg-12-7209-2015 Biogeosciences 12 Copernicus GmbH 7209 – 7222 Department of Animal Ecology and Systematics, Justus Liebig University Giessen, Heinrich-Buff-Ring 26-32, Giessen, 35392, Germany 23 Lake Ohrid; Gastropoda; Hydrobiidae; biodiversity; catastrophic event; ecosystem resilience; endemic species; evolution; gastropod; lake ecosystem; phylogeny https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-84949651050&doi=10.5194%2fbg-12-7209-2015&partnerID=40&md5=4dc45c1bd1b383854206b08e570a06d9 Cited by: 25; All Open Access, Gold Open Access, Green Open Access K. Föller B. Stelbrink T. Hauffe C. Albrecht T. Wilke article Baumgarten20157453 Gamma ray (GR) fluctuations and potassium (K) values from downhole logging data obtained in the sediments of Lake Ohrid from 0 to 240 m below lake floor (b.l.f). correlate with fluctuations in δ18O values from the global benthic isotope stack LR04 (Lisiecki and Raymo, 2005). GR and K values are considered a reliable proxy to depict glacial-interglacial cycles, with high clastic input during cold and/or drier periods and high carbonate precipitation during warm and/or humid periods at Lake Ohrid. Spectral analysis was applied to investigate the climate signal and evolution over the length of the borehole. Linking downhole logging data with orbital cycles was used to estimate sedimentation rates and the effect of compaction was compensated for. Sedimentation rates increase on average by 14 % after decompaction of the sediment layers and the mean sedimentation rates shift from 45 cm kyr-1 between 0 and 110 m to 30 cm kyr-1 from 110 to 240 m b.l.f. Tuning of minima and maxima of gamma ray and potassium values versus LR04 extrema, in combination with eight independent tephrostratigraphical tie points, allows establishing of a robust age model for the downhole logging data over the past 630 kyr. © Author(s) 2015. Article 2015 English 17264170 10.5194/bg-12-7453-2015 Biogeosciences 12 Copernicus GmbH 7453 – 7465 Leibniz Institute for Applied Geophysics, Section Rock Physics and Borehole Geophysics, Hanover, Germany; University of Cologne, Institute for Geology and Mineralogy, Cologne, Germany; University of Pisa, Dipartimento di Scienze della Terra, Pisa, Italy; University of Bari Aldo Moro, Dipartimento di Scienze della Terra e Geoambientali, Bari, Italy; Instituto di Geologia Ambientale e Geoingegneria - CNR, Rome, Italy; Laboratoire des Sciences du Climat et de l'Environnement, IPSL, Laboratoire CEA/CNRS/UVSQ, Gif-Sur-Yvette, France 24 Lake Ohrid; age determination; benthos; carbonate; climate signal; cyclostratigraphy; gamma ray radiation; glacial-interglacial cycle; lacustrine deposit; oxygen isotope; potassium; precipitation (chemistry); sedimentation rate https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-84951815976&doi=10.5194%2fbg-12-7453-2015&partnerID=40&md5=a9a30c4086f5223e94fa8aab53367b99 Cited by: 23; All Open Access, Gold Open Access, Green Open Access H. Baumgarten T. Wonik D.C. Tanner A. Francke B. Wagner G. Zanchetta R. Sulpizio B. Giaccio S. Nomade article Lacey20151623 Lake Ohrid (Macedonia/Albania) is the oldest extant lake in Europe and exhibits an outstanding degree of endemic biodiversity. Here, we provide new high-resolution stable isotope and geochemical data from a 10 m core (Co1262) through the Late Glacial to Holocene and discuss past climate and lake hydrology (TIC, δ13Ccalcite, δ18Ocalcite) as well as the terrestrial and aquatic vegetation response to climate (TOC, TOC/N, δ13Corganic, Rock Eval pyrolysis). The data identifies 3 main zones: (1) the Late Glacial–Holocene transition represented by low TIC and TOC contents, (2) the early to mid-Holocene characterised by high TOC and increasing TOC/N and (3) the Late Holocene–Present which shows a marked decrease in TIC and TOC. In general, an overall trend of increasing δ18Ocalcite from 9 ka to present suggests progressive aridification through the Holocene, consistent with previous records from Lake Ohrid and the wider Mediterranean region. Several proxies show commensurate excursions that imply the impact of short-term climate oscillations, such as the 8.2 ka event and the Little Ice Age. This is the best-dated and highest resolution archive of past Late Glacial and Holocene climate from Lake Ohrid and confirms the overriding influence of the North Atlantic in the north-eastern Mediterranean. The data presented set the context for the International Continental scientific Drilling Program Scientific Collaboration On Past Speciation Conditions in Lake Ohrid project cores recovered in spring–summer 2013, potentially dating back into the Lower Pleistocene, and will act as a recent calibration to reconstruct climate and hydrology over the entire lake history. © 2014, Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg. Article 2015 English 14373254 10.1007/s00531-014-1033-6 International Journal of Earth Sciences 104 Springer Verlag 1623 – 1638 6 Albania; Lake Ohrid; Macedonia [Southern Europe]; Mediterranean Region; climate oscillation; environmental change; geochemistry; Holocene; late glacial; paleoclimate; paleoenvironment; paleolimnology; sediment core; stable isotope https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-84940954305&doi=10.1007%2fs00531-014-1033-6&partnerID=40&md5=41768ba3623786f013bc69a09bb6942e Cited by: 39; All Open Access, Green Open Access, Hybrid Gold Open Access Jack H. Lacey Alexander Francke Melanie J. Leng Christopher H. Vane Bernd Wagner article Lacey201513427 Lake Ohrid (Macedonia/Albania) is an ancient lake with a unique biodiversity and a site of global significance for investigating the influence of climate, geological and tectonic events on the generation of endemic populations. Here, we present oxygen (δ18O) and carbon (δ13C) isotope data on carbonate from the upper ca. 248 m of sediment cores recovered as part of the Scientific Collaboration on Past Speciation Conditions in Lake Ohrid (SCOPSCO) project, covering the past 640 ka. Previous studies on short cores from the lake (up to 15 m, < 140 ka) have indicated the Total Inorganic Carbon (TIC) content of sediments to be highly sensitive to climate change over the last glacial-interglacial cycle, comprising abundant endogenic calcite through interglacials and being almost absent in glacials, apart from discrete bands of early diagenetic authigenic siderite. Isotope measurements on endogenic calcite(δ18Oc and δ13Cc) reveal variations both between and within interglacials that suggest the lake has been subject to hydroclimate fluctuations on orbital and millennial timescales. We also measured isotopes on authigenic siderite (δ18Os and δ13Cs) and, with the δ18OCc and δ18Os, reconstruct δ18O of lakewater (δ18Olw) through the 640 ka. Overall, glacials have lower δ18Olw when compared to interglacials, most likely due to cooler summer temperatures, a higher proportion of winter precipitation (snowfall), and a reduced inflow from adjacent Lake Prespa. The isotope stratigraphy suggests Lake Ohrid experienced a period of general stability through Marine Isotope Stage (MIS) 15 to MIS 13, highlighting MIS 14 as a particularly warm glacial, and was isotopically freshest during MIS 9. After MIS 9, the variability between glacial and interglacial δ18Olw is enhanced and the lake became increasingly evaporated through to present day with MIS 5 having the highest average δ18Olw. Our results provide new evidence for long-term climate change in the northern Mediterranean region, which will form the basis to better understand the influence of major environmental events on biological evolution within the lake. © Author(s) 2015. Article 2015 English 18106277 10.5194/bgd-12-13427-2015 Biogeosciences Discussions 12 Copernicus GmbH 13427 – 13481 16 Lake Mikri Prespa; Lake Ohrid; Mediterranean Region; biodiversity; calcite; carbon isotope; endemic species; glacial-interglacial cycle; lacustrine deposit; lake water; Mediterranean environment; oxygen isotope; Pleistocene; population structure; sediment core; siderite; stable isotope; temperature effect https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85031984646&doi=10.5194%2fbgd-12-13427-2015&partnerID=40&md5=8e4e32ba360229b7bd1653cff3a1e904 Cited by: 6; All Open Access, Green Open Access J.H. Lacey M.J. Leng A. Francke H.J. Sloane A. Milodowski H. Vogel H. Baumgarten B. Wagner article Wagner201425 Continental scientific drilling is an important tool for exploring natural and anthropogenic processes on Earth. In past decades the results obtained from lake drilling projects contributed significantly to a better understanding of short-term and long-term climate change and natural hazards. ©2014. American Geophysical Union. All Rights Reserved. Short survey 2014 English 00963941 10.1002/2014EO030001 Eos 95 American Geophysical Union 25 – 26 3 Lake Ohrid; climate variation; core analysis; deep drilling; lacustrine deposit; natural hazard; paleoclimate; paleolimnology; paleontology; stratigraphic correlation; Earth https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-84899094924&doi=10.1002%2f2014EO030001&partnerID=40&md5=eb091c15780d483c878e405e0e4b892c Cited by: 16; All Open Access, Bronze Open Access Bernd Wagner Thomas Wilke Sebastian Krastel Giovanni Zanchetta Roberto Sulpizio Klaus Reicherter Melanie Leng Andon Grazhdani Sasho Trajanovski Zlatko Levkov Jane Reed Thomas Wonik article Wagner201419 The Scientific Collaboration on Past Speciation Conditions in Lake Ohrid (SCOPSCO) project is an international research initiative to study the influence of major geological and environmental events on the biological evolution of lake taxa. SCOPSCO drilling campaigns were carried out in 2011 and 2013. In 2011 we used gravity and piston coring at one of the five proposed drill sites, and in 2013 we undertook deep drilling with the Deep Lake Drilling System (DLDS) of Drilling, Observation and Sampling of the Earth's Continental Crust (DOSECC). In April and May 2013, a total of 2100m sediments were recovered from four drill sites with water depths ranging from 125 to 260 m. The maximum drill depth was 569m below the lake floor in the centre of the lake. By retrieving overlapping sediment sequences, 95% of the sediment succession was recovered. Initial data from borehole logging, core logging and geochemical measurements indicate that the sediment succession covers > 1.2 million years (Ma) in a quasi-continuous sequence. These early findings suggest that the record from Lake Ohrid will substantially improve the knowledge of long-term environmental change and short-term geological events in the northeastern Mediterranean region, which forms the basis for improving understanding of the influence of major geological and environmental events on the biological evolution of endemic species. © Author(s) 2014. Article 2014 English 18168957 10.5194/sd-17-19-2014 Scientific Drilling Integrated Ocean Drilling Program 19 – 29 17 https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-84900450565&doi=10.5194%2fsd-17-19-2014&partnerID=40&md5=54b32b0af1187a0f3bb6ff3099eb9d36 Cited by: 56; All Open Access, Gold Open Access, Green Open Access B. Wagner T. Wilke S. Krastel G. Zanchetta R. Sulpizio K. Reicherter M.J. Leng A. Grazhdani S. Trajanovski A. Francke K. Lindhorst Z. Levkov A. Cvetkoska J.M. Reed X. Zhang J.H. Lacey T. Wonik H. Baumgarten H. Vogel article Lorenschat2014139 Ancient lakes, which are important centres of biodiversity and endemism, are threatened by a wide variety of human impacts. To assess environmental impact on ancient Lake Ohrid we have taken short sediment cores from two contrasting site locations, comprising a site of urban pollution and an apparently pristine area. Recent impacts on water quality and ecology were assessed using sediment, geochemical, ostracode, and diatom data derived from analysis of two 210Pb-dated sediment cores spanning the period from 1918 to 2009. According to the index of geoaccumulation, sediments were often moderately contaminated with As. Fe and Ni concentrations often exceeded reported maximum limits above which harmful effects on sediment-dwelling organisms are expected. Productivity in the (pristine) south-eastern part of Lake Ohrid (Sveti Naum) is generally lower than in the north, probably due to the strong influence of spring discharge. Low ostracode and diatom concentrations, low abundance of the epilimnetic diatom Cyclotellaocellata, and low values of TOC and TIC indicate a lower productivity from the early 1920s to the late 1980s. Since the mid 1970s, increased relative abundance of C. ocellata and increasing diatom concentration indicate increasing productivity in the south-eastern part. Rising numbers of ostracode valves and higher TIC and TOC contents in both sediment cores indicate an increase in productivity during the late 1980s. A slight increase in productivity near Sveti Naum continued from the early 1990s until 2009, witnessed by rising TC, TIC, and TOC content and a generally high number of ostracode valves and ostracode diversity. The area near the City of Struga (site of urban pollution) is also characterized by rising TOC and TIC contents and, furthermore, by increasing Cu, Fe, Pb, and Zn concentrations since the early 1990s. The recent reduction in the number of ostracode valves and ostracode diversity is probably caused by a higher heavy metal load into the lake. This suggests that living conditions for the endemic species in Lake Ohrid have become less favourable in the northern part of the lake, which might threaten the unique flora and fauna of Lake Ohrid. © 2014, Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht. Article 2014 English 09212728 10.1007/s10933-014-9783-5 Journal of Paleolimnology 52 Kluwer Academic Publishers 139 – 154 3 https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-84926426996&doi=10.1007%2fs10933-014-9783-5&partnerID=40&md5=2cb517f64a462a24873103a1949d5fad Cited by: 7; All Open Access, Green Open Access Julia Lorenschat Xiaosen Zhang Flavio S. Anselmetti Jane M. Reed Martin Wessels Antje Schwalb article Cvetkoska2014313 Several taxa from the genus Cyclotella observed in two ancient sister lakes, Prespa and Ohrid were studied and compared to the regionally common species Cyclotella ocellata. Two new species are described from Lake Prespa and additionally Cyclotella thienemannii var. minuscula from Lake Ohrid is formally transferred to Cyclotella minuscula (Jurilj) Cvetkoska stat. nov. Cyclotella paraocellata sp. nov. is compared to C. ocellata and is characterized by a large morphological variability in the fossil and recent diatom assemblages. Cyclotella prespanensis sp. nov. is described and distinguished as a separate taxon by its valve size range, colliculate central area, stria density and number and position of marginal fultoportulae and rimoportulae. The investigation reveals C. ocellata and C. minuscula as the only taxa of the genus Cyclotella present in fossil and contemporary diatom assemblages from both Lake Ohrid and Lake Prespa. © 2014 J. Cramer in Gebr. Borntraeger Verlagsbuchhandlung, Stuttgart. Germany. Article 2014 English 00295035 10.1127/0029-5035/2014/0154 Nova Hedwigia 98 Gebruder Borntraeger Verlagsbuchhandlung 313 – 340 3-4 https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-84898038965&doi=10.1127%2f0029-5035%2f2014%2f0154&partnerID=40&md5=386b12212bce88b724c2d8c67ae512a3 Cited by: 21 Aleksandra Cvetkoska Paul B. Hamilton Nadja Ognjanova-Rumenova Zlatko Levkov article Cvetkoska2014145 The genus Surirella is highly diverse and many taxa are reported as endemic, especially from ancient lakes and tropical continental regions. In ancient Lake Ohrid, 25 different Surirella species have been identified by different authors, five are considered to be endemic for the lake. In contrast, research on its sister Lake Prespa has been less rigorous and data for recent and fossil species of Surirella is very sparse. The number of Surirella taxa reported from Lake Prespa is 11; only one is considered an endemic for both lakes, Ohrid and Prespa. In this study, taxa from the genus Surirella were observed in a number of recent and fossil samples from Lake Prespa. Two taxa possess unique characters that distinguish them from known species. Their formal descriptions, based on detailed LM and SEM observations, are presented here. Surirella subrotunda sp. nov. is differentiated from other similar species by its valve outline, size, and shape of median area; it has been observed only in fossil diatom samples from core Co1215 recovered from Lake Prespa. Surirella parahelvetica sp. nov. is distinguished by its size, valve outline, number of alar canals and stria density. © 2014 Magnolia Press. Article 2014 English 11793155 10.11646/phytotaxa.156.3.5 Phytotaxa 156 Magnolia Press 145 – 155 3 https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-84901921174&doi=10.11646%2fphytotaxa.156.3.5&partnerID=40&md5=8305453713fd98a98e3aa00e98446022 Cited by: 4 Aleksandra Cvetkoska Zlatko Levkov Paul B. Hamilton article Lindhorst2014497 We study potential tsunami hazards associated with submarine landslides in Lake Ohrid, Macedonia/Albania. The transboundary Lake Ohrid located on the Balkan Peninsula shared by Macedonia and Albania is considered to be the oldestcontinuously existing lake in Europe (2–5 Ma), though the age and the origin are not completely unraveled to date. Previous studies by means of hydroacoustic methods have shown that the western margin of Lake Ohrid has a long history of mass wasting. Based on seismic data, slide deposits are found in different stratigraphic levels as well as on the lake floor where they have affected a large area. This study is focused on the well-studied Udenisht Slide Complex covering an area of 27 km2 within the southwestern part of Lake Ohrid. The Udenisht slide is by far the largest mass movement with an average thickness of 30–40 m and an estimated volume of about 0.11 km3. It is therefore well within the limits of submarine landslides that are known to be capable of triggering tsunamis. Using numerical modeling, the propagation of a landslide-generated tsunami with an initial wave height of more than 5 m has been calculated. Run-up heights estimated for coastal communities around the lake are moderate in the north (2–3 m) can reach up to 10 m directly at the site where the slide initiated. This study is a first generation of landslide tsunami hazard assessment for Lake Ohrid and further detailed modeling is recommended for the region. © Springer International Publishing Switzerland 2014. Book chapter 2014 English 18789897 10.1007/978-3-319-00972-8_44 Advances in Natural and Technological Hazards Research 37 Springer Netherlands 497 – 506 https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85019624298&doi=10.1007%2f978-3-319-00972-8_44&partnerID=40&md5=19ad1eb81ee0c11e36a214b8ddb69089 Cited by: 5 Katja Lindhorst Sebastian Krastel Cord Papenberg Mohammed Heidarzadeh article Albrecht2014163 Species invasions into ancient lakes are an important but little understood phenomenon. At ancient Lake Ohrid, a systematic assessment of invasive mollusc species using morphological and genetic data was conducted from 2003 to 2012. Two globally invasive gastropod species, Physa acuta and Ferrissia fragilis, have recently been discovered at 4 out of 386 sites. These sites are anthropogenically impacted. The invasive species co-occur with endemics. Phylogenetic analyses of populations from native and invaded ranges of both species confirmed their identities and provided insights into their invasion histories. Accordingly, P. acuta is genetically more diverse than F. fragilis. Both species are currently present in a considerable number of lakes on the Balkan Peninsula. Possible future trends in Lake Ohrid and the Balkans are discussed and further spread of both species is likely. Given the ongoing environmental change in Lake Ohrid, the number of observations of non-indigenous or other widespread species will probably rise in the coming years and such species and their impact on native species should be carefully monitored. Moreover, ancient lakes with recurrent invasions of alien species might serve as interesting model systems for the study of important topics of invasion biology. © 2013, Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht. Article 2014 English 00188158 10.1007/s10750-013-1724-1 Hydrobiologia 739 Kluwer Academic Publishers 163 – 174 1 Lake Ohrid; Ferrissia fragilis; Ferrissia wautieri; Gastropoda; Physa acuta; coexistence; endemism; gastropod; identification key; introduced species; invasive species; lake ecosystem; phylogenetics; species diversity https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-84907545253&doi=10.1007%2fs10750-013-1724-1&partnerID=40&md5=77501c34d3941bf348f6ff9f9fcead12 Cited by: 29 Christian Albrecht Kirstin Föller Catharina Clewing Torsten Hauffe Thomas Wilke article Lorenschat2014524 We carried out an intensive sampling survey in ancient Lake Ohrid (Macedonia/Albania), covering all seasons, to determine total species number, relative species abundances and spatial distribution of Ostracoda. We identified 32 living species that belong to seven families (Candonidae, Ilyocyprididae, Cyprididae, Leptocytheridae, Limnocytheridae, Cytherideidae, and Darwinulidae) and 15 genera (Candona, Fabaeformiscandona, Candonopsis, Cypria, Cyclocypris, Ilyocypris, Eucypris, Prionocypris, Bradleystrandesia, Herpetocypris, Dolerocypris, Amnicythere, Paralimnocythere, Cytherissa, and Darwinula). Six additional species were identified from empty carapaces and valves. Dominant families in Lake Ohrid were Candonidae and Limnocytheridae, representing 53% and 16% of all species, respectively. Prevalence of species flocks in these two families confirms the "young" ancient status of the lake. Amnicythere displays a preference for oligo-haline to meso-haline waters, but some species are found in saline environments, which suggests Lake Ohrid has a marine history. Recent studies, however, indicate fluvial/glaciofluvial deposition at the onset of Lake Ohrid sedimentation. Candona is the most diverse genus in Lake Ohrid, represented by 12 living species. Paralimnocythere is represented by five living species and all other genera are represented by one or two species. Reports of Candona bimucronata, Ilyocypris bradyi, Eucypris virens, Eucypris sp., Prionocypris zenkeri, Bradleystrandesia reticulate, Herpetocypris sp. 2, and Dolerocypris sinensis are firsts for this lake. Living ostracodes were collected at the maximum water depth (280 m) in the lake (Candona hadzistei, C. marginatoides, C. media, C. ovalis, C. vidua, Fabaeformiscandona krstici, Cypria lacustris, C. obliqua and Amnicythere karamani). Cypria lacustris was overall the most abundant species and Cypria obliqua displayed the highest abundance at 280 m water depth. Principal environmental variables that influence ostracode distributions in Lake Ohrid are water depth and conductivity. In general, species richness, diversity and evenness were greater in waters &#60;60 m deep, with highest values often found in the littoral zone, at depths &#60;30 m. Candonids, however, displayed highest diversity in the sublittoral (30-50 m) and profundal (50-280 m) zones. The most frequent species encountered are taxa endemic to the lake (14 living species), which have a wide depth range (≤280 m), and display higher abundance with greater water depth. Non-endemic species were rare, limited to water depths &#60;50 m, and were found mainly in the north part of the lake where anthropogenic pressure is high. Several cosmopolitan species were encountered for the first time, which suggests that these widespread species are new arrivals that may replace endemics as human impacts increase. © 2014 by the authors. Article 2014 English 14242818 10.3390/d6030524 Diversity 6 MDPI AG 524 – 550 3 Albania; Greece; Lake Ohrid; Macedonia [Greece]; Crustacea; Ostracoda; anthropogenic effect; biodiversity; endemism; human activity; intertidal environment; ostracod; spatial distribution; species diversity; species evenness; species richness; taxonomy; water depth https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-84906900005&doi=10.3390%2fd6030524&partnerID=40&md5=54511cb54015635fff82bdbdc4ea5af6 Cited by: 15; All Open Access, Gold Open Access, Green Open Access Julia Lorenschat Liseth Pe´rez Alexander Correa-Metrio Mark Brenner Ullrich Bramann Antje Schwalb article Panagiotopoulos2014643 The transboundary Lake Prespa (Albania/former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia/Greece) has been recognized as a conservation priority wetland. The high biodiversity encountered in the catchment at present points to the refugial character of this mountainous region in the southwestern Balkans. A lake sediment core retrieved from a coring location in the northern part of the lake was investigated through sedimentological, geochemical, and palynological analyses. Based on tephrochronology, radiocarbon and electron spin resonance (ESR) dating, and cross correlation with other Northern Hemisphere records, the age model suggests that the basal part of core Co1215 reaches back to 92 ka cal BP. Here we present the responses of this mid-altitude site (849 m a.s.l.) to climate oscillations during this interval and assess its sensitivity to millennial-scale variability. Endogenic calcite precipitation occurred in marine isotope stages (MIS) 5 and 1 and is synchronous with periods of increased primary production (terrestrial and/or lacustrine). Periods of pronounced phytoplankton blooms (inferred from green algae and dinoflagellate concentrations) are recorded in MIS 5 and MIS 1 and suggest that the trophic state and lake levels underwent substantial fluctuations. Three major phases of vegetation development are distinguished: the forested phases of MIS 5 and MIS 1 dominated by deciduous trees with higher temperatures and moisture availability, the open landscapes of MIS 3 with significant presence of temperate trees, and the pine-dominated open landscapes of MIS 4 and MIS 2 with lower temperatures and moisture availability. Our findings suggest significant changes in forest cover and landscape openness, as well as in the properties of the vegetation belts (composition and distribution) over the period examined. The study area most likely formed the upper limit of several drought-sensitive trees (temperate tree refugium) at these latitudes in the Mediterranean mountains. © Author(s) 2014. Article 2014 English 18149324 10.5194/cp-10-643-2014 Climate of the Past 10 European Geosciences Union 643 – 660 2 Balkan; Turkmenistan; algal bloom; climate variation; electron spin resonance dating; mountain region; Northern Hemisphere; paleoclimate; palynology; phytoplankton; primary production; radiocarbon dating; sediment core; tephrochronology; transboundary cooperation https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-84897423832&doi=10.5194%2fcp-10-643-2014&partnerID=40&md5=18afe0e8d30f5c2c1f55205e66874963 Cited by: 53; All Open Access, Gold Open Access, Green Open Access K. Panagiotopoulos A. Böhm M.J. Leng B. Wagner F. Schäbitz article Wagner2014261 The 74 (75) ka Toba eruption in Sumatra, Indonesia, is considered to be one of the largest volcanic events during the Quaternary. Tephra from the Toba eruption has been found in many terrestrial and marine sedimentary deposits, and acidity peaks related to the eruption have been used to synchronize ice core records from Greenland and Antarctica. Seismic profiles and sedimentological data from Lake Prespa on the Balkan Peninsula, SE Europe, indicate a lake level lowstand at 73.6 ± 7.7 ka based on ESR dating of shells. Tephrostratigraphy, radiocarbon dating and tuning of the total organic carbon content with the NGRIP isotope record, corroborate that the lake level lowstand was a short-term event superimposed on the general cooling trend at the end of MIS 5, most likely at the onset of the Greenland Stadial GS-20. Acknowledging that tectonic events or karst processes could have triggered this lake level lowstand, the chronological correspondence between the lowstand and the Toba eruption is intriguing. Therefore a Toba-driven short-term shift to aridity in the Balkan region, leading to lake level changes and triggering spatial expansion events in one of the lake's most abundant benthic species, the carino mussel Dreissena presbensis, cannot be excluded. © Author(s) 2014. Article 2014 English 18149324 10.5194/cp-10-261-2014 Climate of the Past 10 Copernicus GmbH 261 – 267 1 Arctic; Greater Sunda Islands; Greenland; Indonesia; Lake Mikri Prespa; Sumatra; Sunda Isles; Dreissena; benthos; bivalve; data set; dating method; ice core; karst; Quaternary; radiocarbon dating; sedimentology; tephrochronology; volcanic eruption https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-84925504593&doi=10.5194%2fcp-10-261-2014&partnerID=40&md5=121e0be6e18684958b932bacf84261cf Cited by: 7; All Open Access, Gold Open Access, Green Open Access B. Wagner M.J. Leng T. Wilke A. Böhm K. Panagiotopoulos H. Vogel J.H. Lacey G. Zanchetta R. Sulpizio article Cvetkoska201422 Lake Prespa (Macedonia/Albania/Greece) occupies an important location between Mediterranean and central European climate zones. Although previous multi-proxy research on the Late Glacial to Holocene sequence, core Co1215 (320cm; ca. 17cal ka BP to present), has demonstrated its great value as an archive of Quaternary palaeoclimate data, some uncertainty remains in the interpretation of climate change. With the exception of oxygen stable isotope data, previous palaeolimnological interpretation has relied largely on proxies for productivity. Here, existing interpretation is strengthened by the addition of diatom data. Results demonstrate that shifts in diatom assemblage composition are driven primarily by lake-level changes and thus permit more confident interpretation of shifts in moisture availability over time, while corroborating previous interpretation of catchment- and climate-induced productivity shifts. An inferred cold, arid shallow lake phase between ca. 17.1 and 15.7cal ka BP is not only followed by a high-productivity phase from ca. 15.7cal ka BP with Late Glacial warming, but also is the first evidence for a gradual increase in lake level, in line with other regional records. Clear evidence for a Younger Dryas climate reversal between ca. 13.1 and 12.3cal ka BP is followed by an unusually gradual transition to the Holocene and deeper, oligotrophic-mesotrophic lake conditions are reached by ca. 11.0cal ka BP. In contrast to the arid episode from ca. 10.0 to 8.0ka inferred from positive 18δOcalcite values, rapid diatom-inferred lake-level increase after the start of the Holocene suggests high moisture availability, in line with palynological evidence, but with only very subtle evidence for the impact of an 8.2ka cold event. The maintenance of high lake levels until 1.9cal ka BP, and the peak of inferred humidity from ca. 7.9 to 6.0cal ka BP, matches the oxygen stable isotope profile and confirms that the latter is driven primarily by evaporative concentration rather than reflecting regional shifts in precipitation sources over time. During the Late Holocene progressive eutrophication is inferred between 1.9 and present. Two shallow phases at ca. 1.0cal ka BP and at ca. 100years ago probably represent an aridity response which is added to increase human impact in the catchment. Overall, the study is important in confirming previous tentative inferences that Late Glacial to Holocene moisture availability has strong affinity with other sites in the Eastern Mediterranean. It also tracks the pattern of North Atlantic forcing. © 2014 Elsevier B.V. Article 2014 English 00310182 10.1016/j.palaeo.2014.04.010 Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology 406 Elsevier 22 – 32 Albania; Greece; Lake Mikri Prespa; Macedonia [Greece]; anthropogenic effect; aridity; climate variation; community composition; diatom; Holocene; lake level; late glacial; Mediterranean environment; moisture content; paleoclimate; paleoecology; paleolimnology; paleoproductivity; palynology; Younger Dryas https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-84900544601&doi=10.1016%2fj.palaeo.2014.04.010&partnerID=40&md5=2cd49d2fa17f5ea08869fcedfdbdbd2c Cited by: 25; All Open Access, Green Open Access Aleksandra Cvetkoska Zlatko Levkov Jane M. Reed Bernd Wagner article Jovanovska2013237 Lake Ohrid is an important biodiversity hotspot, including diatom diversity and endemism. Numerous, putatively endemic diatom species have been described from the lake, alongside reports of relict taxa otherwise known only as fossils from European Neogene deposits. Diploneis Ehrenberg ex Cleve is considered to be one of the species-rich genera in Lake Ohrid. This study presents a detailed account of Diploneis in Lake Ohrid, providing additional information on some of the infrequently recorded taxa. In addition, sediment core samples from Lake Ohrid were used to provide an historical account of some of the more abundant taxa and to determine the morphological similarity between fossil (core samples) and extant populations. To this end, detailed light and scanning electron microscope observations were carried out to ascertain the identity and describe the morphological variation of Diploneis taxa. As a result, 15 Diploneis taxa from Lake Ohrid are reported with four potentially endemic species described as new: D. parabudayana, D. rotunda, D. pulchra and D. vetusa. Among the remaining taxa, two endemic species (D. heisingeriae Jurilj and D. tavcharii Jurilj) previously described from Lake Ohrid were observed, along with nine widespread species commonly reported throughout Europe and elsewhere. © 2013 The International Society for Diatom Research. Article 2013 English 21598347 10.1080/0269249X.2013.797219 Diatom Research 28 237 – 262 3 Lake Ohrid; biodiversity; diatom; endemic species; endemism; fossil record; new species; sediment core; taxonomy https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-84885449211&doi=10.1080%2f0269249X.2013.797219&partnerID=40&md5=17563a29f28c503f81ce9506dd5603cc Cited by: 20 Elena Jovanovska Teofil Nakov Zlatko Levkov article Leng2013123 Here we present stable isotope and geochemical data from Lake Prespa (Macedonia/Albania border) over the Last Glacial cycle (Marine Isotope Stages 5e1) and discuss past lake hydrology and climate (TIC, oxygen and carbon isotopes), as well as responses to climate of terrestrial and aquatic vegetation (TOC, Rock Eval pyrolysis, carbon isotopes, pollen). The Lake Prespa sediments broadly fall into 5 zones based on their sedimentology, geochemistry, palynology and the existing chronology. The Glacial sediments suggest low supply of carbon to the lake, but high summer productivity; intermittent siderite layers suggest that although the lake was likely to have mixed regularly leading to enhanced oxidation of organic matter, there must have been within sediment reducing conditions and methanogenesis. MIS 5 and 1 sediments suggest much more productivity, higher rates of organic material preservation possibly due to more limited mixing with longer periods of oxygen-depleted bottom waters. We also calculated lakewater d18O from siderite (authigenic/Glacial) and calcite (endogenic/Holocene) and show much lower lakewater d18O values in the Glacial when compared to the Holocene, suggesting the lake was less evaporative in the Glacial, probably as a consequence of cooler summers and longer winter ice cover. In the Holocene the oxygen isotope data suggests general humidity, with just 2 marked arid phases, features observed in other Eastern and Central Mediterranean lakes. © 2012 Elsevier Ltd. Article 2013 English 02773791 10.1016/j.quascirev.2012.07.015 Quaternary Science Reviews 66 Elsevier Ltd 123 – 136 Albania; Lake Mikri Prespa; Macedonia [Southern Europe]; Geochemistry; Glacial geology; Iron ores; Isotopes; Oxygen; Productivity; Pyrolysis; Sediments; Central Mediterranean; Hydrological variability; Late quaternary; Marine isotope stages; Mediterranean; Reducing conditions; Rock-Eval pyrolysis; Stable isotopes; bottom water; climate effect; hydrological change; lacustrine deposit; lake water; Last Glacial; marine isotope stage; Mediterranean environment; methanogenesis; oxidation; oxygen isotope; paleoclimate; paleoecology; paleohydrology; palynology; preservation; pyrolysis; stable isotope; Lakes https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-84879561600&doi=10.1016%2fj.quascirev.2012.07.015&partnerID=40&md5=d7f7c1af236f88a59f108915361a019b Cited by: 60; All Open Access, Green Open Access Melanie J. Leng Bernd Wagner Anne Boehm Konstantinos Panagiotopoulos Christopher H. Vane Andrea Snelling Cheryl Haidon Ewan Woodley Hendrik Vogel Gianni Zanchetta Ilaria Baneschi article Damaschke2013267 A detailed tephrostratigraphic record, which dates back to Marine Isotope Stage (MIS) 5b (ca. 91 kyr), has been established from a 17.76 m long core (Co1215) from Lake Prespa (Macedonia, Albania and Greece). A total of eleven tephra and cryptotephra layers (PT0915-1 to PT0915-11) were identified, using XRF scanning, magnetic susceptibility measurements, and macro- and microscopic inspection of the sediments. The major element composition of glass shards and/or micro-pumice fragments indicates that the tephras and cryptotephras originate from the explosive volcanism of Italy. Eight tephra and cryptotephra layers were correlated with specific volcanic eruptions: the AD 512 eruption of Somma-Vesuvius (1438 cal yr BP), the Mercato eruption of Somma-Vesuvius (8890 ± 90 cal yr BP), the Tufi Biancastri/LN1-LN2 eruption of the Campi Flegrei (14 749 ± 523 cal yr BP and 15 551 ± 621 cal yr BP), the SMP1-e/Y-3 eruption of the Campi Flegrei (30 000-31 000 cal yr BP), the Campanian Ignimbrite/Y-5 eruption of the Campi Flegrei (39 280 ± 110 cal yr BP), the SMP1-a event of Ischia Island (around 44 000 cal yr BP) and the Green Tuff/Y-6 eruption of Pantelleria Island (around 45 000 cal yr BP). One tephra could be attributed to the volcanic activity of Mount Etna, but probably represents an unknown eruption at ca. 60 000 cal yr BP. Cryptotephras PT0915-6 and PT0915-10 remain unclassified so far, but according to the presented age-depth model these would have been deposited around 35 000 and 48 500 cal yr BP, respectively. Some of the tephras and cryptotephras are recognised for the first time in the Balkan region. The tephrostratigraphic work provides important information about ash dispersal and explosion patterns of source volcanoes and can be used to correlate and date geographically distant paleoenvironmental and archaeological archives in the central Mediterranean region. Moreover, the tephrostratigraphic work in combination with radiocarbon and electron spin resonance (ESR) dating is a precondition for paleoclimatic reconstructions inferred from the sediment succession Co1215. © 2013 Author(s). Article 2013 English 18149332 10.5194/cp-9-267-2013 Climate of the Past 9 267 – 287 1 Balkans; Campania [Italy]; Ischia; Italy; Lake Mikri Prespa; Napoli [Campania]; age; archaeology; biostratigraphy; chemical composition; fragmentation; numerical model; paleoenvironment; sediment core; tephrochronology https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-84874339683&doi=10.5194%2fcp-9-267-2013&partnerID=40&md5=1a58c600666886e6f2744f6698b7fb2d Cited by: 37; All Open Access, Gold Open Access, Green Open Access M. Damaschke R. Sulpizio G. Zanchetta B. Wagner A. Böhm N. Nowaczyk J. Rethemeyer A. Hilgers article Pavlov20131 This study provides an evaluation of the diversity and distribution of taxa belonging to the genus Hippodonta (Bacillariophyceae) in selected ancient lakes from different geographical regions of the world. The lakes considered are: Lakes Ohrid, Prespa and Dojran from Macedonia, Lake Tanganyika, Tanzania, Lake Turkana, Kenya and Lake Baikal, Russia. In total, there are 34 Hippodonta taxa. Of these, 21 are described as new, 20 species and one variety. The primary morphological features of each taxon are provided and formal descriptions are given for all new taxa. The distinctive characters distinguishing similar taxa are noted. The genus is most diverse in Lake Baikal with 13 taxa, of which four are described as new species (Hippodonta acuta, H. certa, H. communis and H. pulchra). Lake Tanganyika has six taxa, all of which are described as new (H. angustata, H. avittatiformis, H. cocquytiae, H. conspicua, H. crassa and H. radiata). Lake Turkana has only one taxon, also described as new (H. minuta). In the Macedonian old tectonic lakes, seven taxa were found in Lake Ohrid, with five described as new (H. abunda, H. humboldtiana, H. latelanceolata, H. naviculiformis and H. subrostrata), five taxa were found in Lake Prespa, all of which are described as new (H. affinis, H. costulatiformis var. densistriata, H. exigua, H. media and H. rostratoides), and three known taxa were found in Lake Dojran. © 2013 Magnolia Press. Article 2013 English 11793163 10.11646/phytotaxa.90.1.1 Phytotaxa 90 1 – 53 1 https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-84878148827&doi=10.11646%2fphytotaxa.90.1.1&partnerID=40&md5=451b5cb7ec773befd22a37f0ab35a2d0 Cited by: 23 Aleksandar Pavlov Zlatko Levkov David M. Williams Mark B. Edlund article Pavlov20131 Within the past few decades Eunotia (Bacillariophyceae) has been confirmed as one of the most species rich diatom genera. The remarkable diversity of this genus has been well documented for the tropical region of South America, and its wide distribution comprehensively demonstrated for North America and Canada, Europe, East and Southeast Asia, as well as the Subantarctic region. Till present day only twenty eight taxa of Eunotia have been reported for Macedonia, mainly from the various aquatic habitats of different mountains. The main focus of the present study is the diversity, taxonomy and general distribution of taxa belonging to Eunotia in Macedonian mountain regions. The area investigated covers most of the mountains in the western, south-western, southern, central and eastern part. In total 53 taxa have been observed, among which six are described as new species (Eunotia atomus, E. fabaeformis, E. mariovensis, E. pseudominor, E. scardica and E. stojanovskii). The morphological features, as observed by light microscopy (LM), are comprehensively described for each taxon. The ultrastructure of the valve, as observed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), is additionally described for most of the taxa. The general distributional pattern, locality, altitude and substrate preference, for every taxon is also included. The distinctive characters between similar taxa are discussed and taxonomical notes are as well provided. © 2013 Magnolia Press. Article 2013 English 11793163 10.11646/phytotaxa.86.1.1 Phytotaxa 86 1 – 117 1 https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-84878117884&doi=10.11646%2fphytotaxa.86.1.1&partnerID=40&md5=8ecd42ae5e956875899a19baffce3e81 Cited by: 32 Aleksandar Pavlov Zlatko Levkov article Jovanovska201315 A lectotype and isolectotype for Navicula budayana Pantocsek = Diploneis budayana (Pantocsek) Hustedt, Navicula ostracodarum Pantocsek = Diploneis ostracodarum (Pantocsek) Jovanovska, Nakov & Levkov and Navicula praeclara Pantocsek = Diploneis praeclara (Pantocsek) Cleve-Euler from Köpecz, Neogene fossil deposits in Romania have been made. Typification for each species was based on Pantocsek's original images and material deposited at the Hungarian Natural History Museum (BP). Unfortunately, the type slides for Diploneis budayana, D. ostracodarum and D. praeclara were lost or destroyed during the course of World War II. Therefore, authentic material from the type locality Köpecz at BP was used to designate the lectotypes for these three species. Detailed LM and SEM observations have been assigned for each taxon, in order to ascertain the variation in valve morphology. Taxonomic descriptions and comments are made for each species. Typification of taxa described by Pantocsek would potentially affect further stratigraphic, comparative or molecular phylogenetic work not just for Tertiary floras but for Recent floras as well. In particular, studies concerning comparisons of these species between localities, such as Lake Ohrid, will greatly benefit from this work. The outcome of such studies will shed light on the evolutionary and biogeographic history of diatoms in the context of geologic events on the Balkan Peninsula. © 2013 Magnolia Press. Article 2013 English 11793163 10.11646/phytotaxa.137.1.2 Phytotaxa 137 15 – 26 1 https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-84885443057&doi=10.11646%2fphytotaxa.137.1.2&partnerID=40&md5=08e6e5fb42c6a2274ec15bb301578866 Cited by: 3 Elena Jovanovska Krisztina Buczkó Nadja G. Ognjanova-Rumenova Teofil Nakov Zlatko Levkov book levkov2013diatoms 2013 Koeltz Scientific Books, Konigstein Z Levkov D Metzeltin A Pavlov article Lorenschat201342 Understanding the ecology of bioindicators such as ostracods is essential in order to reconstruct past environmental and climate change from analysis of fossil assemblages preserved in lake sediment cores. Knowledge of the ecology of ancient Lake Ohrid's ostracod fauna is very limited and open to debate. In advance of the Ohrid ICDP-Drilling project, which has potential to generate high-resolution long-term paleoenvironmental data of global importance in paleoclimate research, we sampled Lake Ohrid and a wide range of habitat types in its surroundings to assess 1) the composition of ostracod assemblages in lakes, springs, streams, and shortlived seasonal water bodies, 2) the geographical distribution of ostracods, and 3) the ecological characteristics of individual ostracod species. In total, 40 species were collected alive, and seven species were preserved as valves and empty carapaces. Of the 40 ostracod species, twelve were endemic to Lake Ohrid. The most common genus in the lake was Candona, represented by 13 living species, followed by Paralimnocythere, represented by fve living species. The most frequent species was Cypria obliqua. species with distinct distributions included Heterocypris incongruens, Candonopsis kingsleii, and Cypria lacustris. The most common species in shallow, fooded areas was H. incongruens, and the most prominent species in ditches was C. kingsleii. C. lacustris was widely distributed in channels, springs, lakes, and rivers. statistical analyses were performed on a "Lake Ohrid" dataset, comprising the subset of samples from Lake Ohrid alone, and an "entire" dataset comprising all samples collected. The unweighted pair group mean average (UPGMA) clustering was mainly controlled by species-specifc depth preferences. Canonical Correspondence Analysis (CCA) with forward selection identifed water depth, water temperature, and pH as variables that best explained the ostracod distribution in Lake Ohrid. The lack of signifcance of conductivity and dissolved oxygen in CCA of Ohrid data highlight the uniformity across the lake of the well-mixed waters. In the entire area, CCA revealed that ostracod distribution was best explained by water depth, salinity, conductivity, pH, and dissolved oxygen. salinity was probably selected by CCA due to the presence of Eucypris virens and Bradleystrandesia reticulata in short-lived seasonal water bodies. Water depth is an important, although indirect, infuence on ostracod species distribution, which is probably associated with other factors such as sediment texture and food supply. some species appeared to be indicators for multiple environmental variables, such as lake level and water temperature. Article 2013 English 07776276 Belgian Journal of Zoology 143 42 – 68 1 Lake Ohrid; autecology; endemism; fossil assemblage; geographical distribution; lacustrine deposit; lake water; multivariate analysis; ostracod; paleoclimate; paleoenvironment; reconstruction; sediment core; water temperature https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-84886477267&partnerID=40&md5=e3cf68789cdbc4a695a9e78cc3704981 Cited by: 10 Julia Lorenschat Antje Schwalb article Francke2013481 Article 2013 10.5194/cp-9-481-2013 Climate of the Past 9 481 – 498 1 https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-84880895188&doi=10.5194%2fcp-9-481-2013&partnerID=40&md5=33453b28dcbf58ff76454f0cbb0ffc6a Cited by: 79; All Open Access, Gold Open Access, Green Open Access A. Francke B. Wagner M.J. Leng J. Rethemeyer article article 2012 09 Climate of the Past Discussions 8 4333–4355 B. Wagner Alexander Francke R. Sulpizio Giovanni Zanchetta Katja Lindhorst Sebastian Krastel Hendrik Vogel Janet Rethemeyer Gerhard Daut Andon Grazhdani Bashkim Lushaj Sasho Trajanovski article Hoffmann201294 Lake Ohrid (between FYR of Macedonia and Albania), situated in an active tectonic region of the Balkanides, is characterized by N - S trending active faults. To reconstruct the Holocene shoreline evolution we investigated the coastline using sediment cores and geophysical methods to image sedimentary and tectonic structures. We revealed areas of differing sedimentation regimes. The plains north and south of the lake are dominated by clastic input related to climate variations and uplift/erosion, whereas the steep western and eastern margins are controlled by recent tectonics. Furthermore, no evidence for a much higher lake-level during the Holocene was found in the plains north and south of the lake, except rare temporary floodings. This is supported by mappings of the limestone cliffs around Lake Ohrid, which yielded no evidence for abrasional platforms or notches as indicators for past highstands. © 2012 Versita Warsaw and Springer-Verlag Wien. Article 2012 English 18961517 10.2478/s13533-011-0063-x Central European Journal of Geosciences 4 94 – 110 1 https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-84858738648&doi=10.2478%2fs13533-011-0063-x&partnerID=40&md5=d9f631492ee6e557f5a4232fe1f81d36 Cited by: 8; All Open Access, Hybrid Gold Open Access Nadine Hoffmann Klaus Reicherter Christoph Grützner Jochen Hürtgen Andreas Rudersdorf Finn A. Viehberg Martin Wessels article Cvetkoska_Levkov_Reed_2012 2012 Dec. 10.59194/MJEE12141-207c Macedonian Journal of Ecology and Environment 14 7–18 1-2 https://www.mjee.org.mk/index.php/mjee/article/view/96 Aleksandra Cvetkoska Zlatko Levkov Jane Reed article Schreiber201261 Ancient Lake Ohrid is characterized by vertical (bathymetrical) zones within the lake, presumably promoting allopatric speciation due to barriers or parapatric speciation along gradients. Examples within the lake include the belt of Chara algae as well as the shell zone, both presumably impeding migrations of benthic invertebrates. Three potential cases of vertical differentiation leading to distinct depth forms have been reported for the gastropod subfamily Pyrgulinae (Caenogastropoda: Hydrobiidae): Ginaia munda ssp., Macedopyrgula spp. and Ochridopyrgulamacedonica ssp. Based on DNA data of the COI gene from a total of 145 specimens, this article aims at investigating the vertical differentiation within these depth forms and thus patterns of speciation in Lake Ohrid. An initial morphometric analysis showed a clear correlation of shell shape and collecting depth for Ginaia munda ssp. and Macedopyrgula spp. This morphological trend is largely reflected in the genetic structure of the respective taxa. The data presented here indicate the existence of strong gradients of abiotic and biotic factors in Lake Ohrid rather than distinct barriers. Therefore, parapatric speciation may be the predominant form of differentiation of benthic invertebrates in the lake. Incomplete lineage sorting, hybridization and phenotypic plasticity possibly caused by epigenetic mechanisms are discussed as possible reasons for the incongruence between geno- and phenotype observed in few specimens of Ginaia munda ssp. and Macedopyrgula spp. For the third taxon, Ochridopyrgulamacedonica ssp., morphometric and genetic analyses revealed only weak support for the previously proposed depth forms. However, a horizontal differentiation of lake and spring populations was revealed instead, and parapatric and allopatric differentiations are discussed in this taxon. © 2011 Springer Science+Business Media B.V. Article 2012 English 15735117 10.1007/s10750-011-0864-4 Hydrobiologia 682 61 – 73 1 Lake Ohrid; algae; Caenogastropoda; Chara; Gastropoda; Hydrobiidae; Invertebrata; Lonchocarpus glaucifolius; alga; allopatry; barrier (equipment); bathymetric survey; benthos; gastropod; genetic analysis; genetic structure; morphometry; parapatry; phenotypic plasticity; phylogeography; speciation (biology) https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-84856214332&doi=10.1007%2fs10750-011-0864-4&partnerID=40&md5=622029f5f2f8e8830a1592a8ce0db895 Cited by: 28 Kirstin Schreiber Torsten Hauffe Christian Albrecht Thomas Wilke article Wagner20122069 Lake Ohrid shared by the Republics of Albania and Macedonia is formed by a tectonically active graben within the south Balkans and suggested to be the oldest lake in Europe. Several studies have shown that the lake provides a valuable record of climatic and environmental changes and a distal tephrostratigraphic record of volcanic eruptions from Italy. Fault structures identified in seismic data demonstrate that sediments have also the potential to record tectonic activity in the region. Here, we provide an example of linking seismic and sedimentological information with tectonic activity and historical documents. Historical documents indicate that a major earthquake destroyed the city of Lychnidus (today: city of Ohrid) in the early 6th century AD. Multichannel seismic profiles, parametric sediment echosounder profiles, and a 10.08 m long sediment record from the western part of the lake indicate a 2 m thick mass wasting deposit, which is tentatively correlated with this earthquake. The mass wasting deposit is chronologically well constrained, as it directly overlays the AD 472/AD 512 tephra. Moreover, radiocarbon dates and cross correlation with other sediment sequences with similar geochemical characteristics of the Holocene indicate that the mass wasting event took place prior to the onset of the Medieval Warm Period, and is attributed it to one of the known earthquakes in the region in the early 6th century AD. © Author(s) 2012. Article 2012 English 18149332 10.5194/cp-8-2069-2012 Climate of the Past 8 2069 – 2078 6 Lake Ohrid; depositional environment; earthquake trigger; environmental change; geochemical method; Holocene; sedimentology; seismic data; tephrochronology; volcanic eruption https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-84871809728&doi=10.5194%2fcp-8-2069-2012&partnerID=40&md5=43f5dfc8bc21882a2399a0a776ddf2ca Cited by: 28; All Open Access, Gold Open Access, Green Open Access B. Wagner A. Francke R. Sulpizio G. Zanchetta K. Lindhorst S. Krastel H. Vogel J. Rethemeyer G. Daut A. Grazhdani B. Lushaj S. Trajanovski article Albrecht201247 The spatial distribution of (endemic) biodiversity in ancient and potentially ancient lakes in Europe is poorly understood. Examples include Lakes Prespa and Mikri Prespa in the Central Balkans. Utilizing information of the most species-rich taxon in these lakes, the Mollusca, we therefore attempt to statistically assess and visualize the spatial distribution of biodiversity, to analyse biogeographical patterns, and to carry out a conservation assessment. We estimate that at least 40 (sub)species (29 gastropod and 11 bivalve taxa) occur in the lakes. For both lakes combined, 37. 5% of the mollusc taxa are endemic. In general, the mollusc richness in Lake Mikri Prespa is lower than in Lake Prespa and less heterogeneously distributed. The highest species richness can be seen on the western and south eastern shores of Lake Prespa. Based on the presence/absence of genera, a minimum spanning tree analysis supports the sister lake relationship of both lakes, which, in turn, are most closely related to lakes in the western Balkans and not to nearby Lake Ohrid. The IUCN red list assessment revealed (A) a tendency towards mollusc faunal change, (B) a contemporary decline and potential loss of mollusc diversity, and (C) that all endemic species are of conservation concern. © 2011 Springer Science+Business Media B.V. Article 2012 English 15735117 10.1007/s10750-011-0830-1 Hydrobiologia 682 47 – 59 1 Lake Mikri Prespa; Bivalvia; Gastropoda; Mollusca; assessment method; biodiversity; biogeography; conservation management; endemic species; extinction; habitat conservation; heterogeneity; mollusc; population decline; Red List; spatial distribution; species conservation; species richness; taxonomy; visualization https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-84856225957&doi=10.1007%2fs10750-011-0830-1&partnerID=40&md5=ed1342a09ce5a38bcc5ab444f3d8f080 Cited by: 18 Christian Albrecht Torsten Hauffe Kirstin Schreiber Thomas Wilke article Wagner2012112 Hydro-acoustic surveys and coring campaigns at Lake Prespa were carried out between 2007 and 2009. This paper presents hydro-acoustic profiles and provide lithological and chronostratigraphical information from three up to 15.75 m long sediment sequences from the Macedonian side of the lake. The sediment sequences comprise glacial and interglacial sediments likely deposited from the end of Marine Isotope Stage (MIS) 5 to present day. The information implies a distinct change of sedimentation patterns at the Pleistocene/Holocene transition and the establishment of a relatively strong Holocene current system and deposition of channel-related contourite drift in Lake Prespa. Potential causes for the establishment of this current during the Holocene include significant lake level change, reduced winter ice cover, and/or higher aeolian activity. © 2012 Elsevier Ltd and INQUA. Article 2012 English 10406182 10.1016/j.quaint.2012.02.016 Quaternary International 274 112 – 121 Lake Mikri Prespa; chronostratigraphy; contourite; drift behavior; glacial deposit; Holocene; ice cover; interglacial; lake level; lithology; marine isotope stage; Pleistocene; sediment core; sedimentary sequence; sedimentation https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-84865956830&doi=10.1016%2fj.quaint.2012.02.016&partnerID=40&md5=b7a9cb7c9eb54ac8c96ef20303cc443d Cited by: 29 Bernd Wagner Anne Aufgebauer Hendrik Vogel Giovanni Zanchetta Roberto Sulpizio Magret Damaschke article Aufgebauer2012122 This paper presents sedimentological, geochemical, and biological data from Lake Prespa (Albania/Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia/Greece). The 320 cm core sequence (Co1215) covers the last 17 ka calBP and reveals significant change in climate and environmental conditions on a local and regional scale. The sediment record suggests typical stadial conditions from 17.1 to 15.7 ka calBP, documented through low lake productivity, well-mixed conditions, and cold-resistant steppe catchment vegetation. Warming is indicated from 15.7 ka calBP with slightly increased in-lake productivity, gradual expansion of trees, and decreasing erosion through disappearance of local ice caps. Between 14.5 and 11.5 ka calBP relatively stable hydrological conditions are documented. The maximum in tree taxa percentages during the Bølling/Allerød interstadial (14.5-13.2 ka calBP) indicates increased temperatures and moisture availability, whereas the increase of cold-resistant open steppe vegetation taxa percentages during the Younger Dryas (13.2-11.5 ka calBP) is coupled with distinct colder and drier conditions. The Holocene sequence from 11.5 ka calBP indicates ice-free winters, stratification of the water column, a relatively high lake trophic level and dense vegetation cover over the catchment. A strong climate related impact on the limnology and physical parameters in Lake Prespa is documented around 8.2 ka through a significant decrease in productivity, enhanced mixing, strong decomposition and soil erosion, and a coeval expansion of herbs implying cool and dry climate conditions. Intensive human activity in the catchment is indicated from around 1.9 ka calBP. This multiproxy approach improves our understanding of short- and long-term climate fluctuations in this area and their impact on catchment dynamics, limnology, hydrology, and vegetation. © 2012 Elsevier Ltd and INQUA. Article 2012 English 10406182 10.1016/j.quaint.2012.02.015 Quaternary International 274 122 – 135 Albania; Balkan; Greece; Lake Mikri Prespa; Macedonia [Greece]; Turkmenistan; climate conditions; climate variation; environmental change; geochemistry; Holocene; human activity; ice cap; lacustrine deposit; limnology; paleoclimate; paleoenvironment; sediment core; sedimentology; warming; water column; Younger Dryas https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-84865982086&doi=10.1016%2fj.quaint.2012.02.015&partnerID=40&md5=4c72551578e17b8996a7174a324d1a3d Cited by: 76 Anne Aufgebauer Konstantinos Panagiotopoulos Bernd Wagner Frank Schaebitz Finn A. Viehberg Hendrik Vogel Giovanni Zanchetta Roberto Sulpizio Melanie J. Leng Magret Damaschke article article 2011 10 10.11646/phytotaxa.30.1.1 Phytotaxa 30 1-41 Zlatko Levkov David Williams article Reicherter2011217 The Lake Ohrid Basin in FYROM (Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia) and Albania meets all criteria of an active, seismic landscape: linear step-like fault scarps in the landscape and under water within the lake. Post-glacial (or Late Pleistocene) bedrock fault scarps at Lake Ohrid are long-lived expressions of repeated surface faulting in tectonically active regions, where erosion cannot outpace the fault slip. Other morphotectonic features are wind gaps, wineglass-shaped valleys and triangular facets, which are well preserved. Generally, the faults and fault scarps are getting younger towards the basin centre, as depicted on seismic and hydroacoustic profi les. Additionally, mass movement bodies within the lake and also onshore (rockfalls, landslides, sub-aquatic slides, homogenites, turbidites) are likely to have been seismically triggered. These morphotectonic observations are in line with focal mechanisms of earthquakes in the greater Lake Ohrid area. We investigated the neotectonic history and tectonic geomorphology of the Lake Ohrid Basin by means of an integrated multidisciplinary approach, using tectonic geomorphology and a variety of geophysical and remote sensing methods. © 2011 E. Article 2011 English 18601804 10.1127/1860-1804/2011/0162-0217 Zeitschrift der Deutschen Gesellschaft fur Geowissenschaften 162 217 – 234 2 https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-79960091763&doi=10.1127%2f1860-1804%2f2011%2f0162-0217&partnerID=40&md5=f5cb943db6ef5d97367681659e5aec29 Cited by: 28 Klaus Reicherter Nadine Hoffmann Katja Lindhorst Sebastian Krastel Tomás Fernández-Steeger Christoph Grützner Thomas Wiatr article Wagner2011995 Review 2011 English 17264189 10.5194/bg-8-995-2011 Biogeosciences 8 995 – 998 4 Balkans; Lake Mikri Prespa; Lake Ohrid; geomorphological mapping; historical record; history of geology; lake evolution https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-79955380917&doi=10.5194%2fbg-8-995-2011&partnerID=40&md5=1205da676e3a894dc6e3bbb2e89014bf Cited by: 22; All Open Access, Gold Open Access, Green Open Access B. Wagner T. Wilke article Lorenschat2011113 2011 English 15629449 Joannea - Geologie und Palaontologie 113-115 Institut für Umweltgeologie, Technische Universität Braunschweig, Langer Kamp 19c, 38106 Braunschweig, Germany; Macedonian Museum of Natural History, Boulevard Ilinden 86, MK-1000 Skopje, North Macedonia; Institut für Geologie und Mineralogie, Universität zu Köln, Zülpicherstraße 49 a/b, 50674 Köln, Germany 11 ecosystem approach; fossil record; genetic analysis; molecular analysis; ostracod; paleoenvironment; science and technology; speciation (biology), Lake Ohrid, Ostracoda https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-80053257183&partnerID=40&md5=619f0af3beec1590e2cc19698b0f3ce3 cited By 2 J. Lorenschat B. Scharf T. Petkovski F. Viehberg A. Schwalb article Hauffe2011175 The quality of spatial analyses of biodiversity is improved by (i) utilizing study areas with well defined physiogeographical boundaries, (ii) limiting the impact of widespread species, and (iii) using taxa with heterogeneous distributions. These conditions are typically met by ecosystems such as oceanic islands or ancient lakes and their biota. While research on ancient lakes has contributed significantly to our understanding of evolutionary processes, statistically sound studies of spatial variation of extant biodiversity have been hampered by the frequently vast size of ancient lakes, their limited accessibility, and the lack of scientific infrastructure. The European ancient Lake Ohrid provides a rare opportunity for such a reliable spatial study. The comprehensive horizontal and vertical sampling of a species-rich taxon, the Gastropoda, presented here, revealed interesting patterns of biodiversity, which, in part, have not been shown before for other ancient lakes. In a total of 284 samples from 224 different locations throughout the Ohrid Basin, 68 gastropod species, with 50 of them (= 73.5%) being endemic, could be reported. The spatial distribution of these species shows the following characteristics: (i) within Lake Ohrid, the most frequent species are endemic taxa with a wide depth range, (ii) widespread species (i.e. those occurring throughout the Balkans or beyond) are rare and mainly occur in the upper layer of the lake, (iii) while the total number of species decreases with water depth, the proportion of endemics increases, and (iv) the deeper layers of Lake Ohrid appear to have a higher spatial homogeneity of biodiversity. Moreover, gastropod communities of Lake Ohrid and its feeder springs are both distinct from each other and from the surrounding waters. The analysis also shows that community similarity of Lake Ohrid is mainly driven by niche processes (e.g. environmental factors), but also by neutral processes (e.g. dispersal limitation and evolutionary histories of species). For niche-based mechanisms it is shown that large scale effects such as type of water body or water depth are mainly responsible for the similarity of gastropod communities, whereas small scale effects like environmental gradients affect gastropod compositions only marginally. In fact, neutral processes appear to be more important than the small scale environmental factors, thus emphasizing the importance of dispersal capacities and evolutionary histories of species. © Author(s) 2011. Article 2011 English 17264189 10.5194/bg-8-175-2011 Biogeosciences 8 175 – 188 1 Lake Ohrid; Gastropoda; endemic species; environmental factor; evolutionary biology; gastropod; heterogeneity; spatial analysis; spatial variation; species diversity; spring water; taxonomy; water depth https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-79551501734&doi=10.5194%2fbg-8-175-2011&partnerID=40&md5=77cd42d7591f9bfe49cfcdb78a071d99 Cited by: 27; All Open Access, Gold Open Access, Green Open Access T. Hauffe C. Albrecht K. Schreiber K. Birkhofer S. Trajanovski T. Wilke article Reed20103083 Lake Ohrid is a site of global importance for palaeoclimate research. This study presents results of diatom analysis of a ca. 136 ka sequence, Co1202, from the northeast of the lake basin. It offers the opportunity to test diatom response across two glacial-interglacial transitions and within the Last Glacial, while setting up taxonomic protocols for future research. The results are outstanding in demonstrating the sensitivity of diatoms to climate change, providing proxy evidence for temperature change marked by glacial-interglacial shifts between the dominant planktonic taxa, Cyclotella fottii and C. ocellata, and exact correlation with geochemical proxies to mark the start of the Last Interglacial at ca. 130 ka. Importantly, diatoms show much stronger evidence in this site for warming during MIS3 than recorded in other productivity-related proxies, peaking at ca. 39 ka, prior to the extreme conditions of the Last Glacial maximum. In the light of the observed patterns, and from the results of analysis of early Holocene sediments from a second core, Lz1120, the lack of a response to Late Glacial and early Holocene warming from ca. 14.7-6.9 ka suggests the Co1202 sequence may be compromised during this phase. After ca. 7.4 ka, there is evidence for enhanced nutrient enrichment compared to the Last Interglacial, followed by a post-Medieval loss of diversity which is consistent with cooling, but not definitive. Taxonomically, morphological variability in C. fottii shows no clear trends linked to climate, but an intriguing change in central area morphology occurs after ca. 48.7 ka, coincident with a tephra layer. In contrast, C. ocellata shows morphological variation in the number of ocelli between interglacials, suggesting climatically-forced variation or evolutionary selection pressure. The application of a simple dissolution index does not track preservation quality very effectively, underlining the importance of diatom accumulation data in future studies. © 2010 Author(s). Article 2010 English 17264189 10.5194/bg-7-3083-2010 Biogeosciences 7 3083 – 3094 10 Albania; Lake Ohrid; Macedonia [Southern Europe]; Bacillariophyta; Cyclotella; Cyclotella ocellata; climate change; diatom; glacial-interglacial cycle; Holocene; Last Glacial; morphology; nutrient enrichment; paleoclimate; taxonomy; tephra https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-77958037325&doi=10.5194%2fbg-7-3083-2010&partnerID=40&md5=5db8546facc33cafee43e41d37143937 Cited by: 39; All Open Access, Gold Open Access, Green Open Access J.M. Reed A. Cvetkoska Z. Levkov H. Vogel B. Wagner article Trajanovski20103387 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. © Author(s) 2010. Article 2010 English 17264189 10.5194/bg-7-3387-2010 Biogeosciences 7 3387 – 3402 11 Balkans; Lake Ohrid; Dina; Erpobdellidae; Hirudinea; Hirudinida; biotic factor; endemic species; geological record; hybridization; leech; molecular analysis; paleobiogeography; Pleistocene; Pliocene; population structure; spatial analysis; speciation (biology); watershed https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-78149243238&doi=10.5194%2fbg-7-3387-2010&partnerID=40&md5=d75d8cf81099c03128bef9d5e038bd82 Cited by: 43; All Open Access, Gold Open Access, Green Open Access S. Trajanovski C. Albrecht K. Schreiber R. Schultheiß T. Stadler M. Benke T. Wilke article Sulpizio20103273 Four cores from Balkans lakes Ohrid and Prespa were examined for recognition of tephra layers and cryptotephras, and the results presented along with the review of data from other two already published cores from Lake Ohrid. The six cores provide a previously unrealised tephrostratigraphic framework of the two lakes, and provide a new tephrostratigraphic profile (composite) for the Balkans, which spans from the end of the Middle Pleistocene to the AD 472. A total of 12 tephra layers and cryptotephras were recognised in the cores. One is of Middle Pleistocene age (131 ka) and correlated to the marine tephra layer P-11 from Pantelleria Island. Eight volcanic layers are Upper Pleistocene in age, and encompass the period between ca. 107 ka and ca. 31 ka. This interval contains some of the main regional volcanic markers of the central Mediterranean area, including X-6, X-5, Y-5 and Y-3 tephra layers. The other layers of this interval have been related to the marine tephra layers C20, Y-6 and C10, while one was for the first time recognised in distal areas and correlated to the Taurano eruption of probable Vesuvian origin. Three cryptotephras were of Holocene age. Two of which have been correlated to Mercato and AD 472 eruptions of Somma-Vesuvius, while the third has been correlated to the FL eruption from Mount Etna. These recognitions provide a link of the Ohrid and Prespa lacustrine successions to other archives of the central Mediterranean area, like south Adriatic, Ionian, and south Tyrrhenian seas, lakes of southern Italy (Lago Grande di Monticchio, Pantano di San Gregorio Magno and Lago di Pergusa) and Balkans (Lake Shkodra). © 2010 Author(s). Article 2010 English 17264189 10.5194/bg-7-3273-2010 Biogeosciences 7 3273 – 3288 10 Italy; Lake Mikri Prespa; Lake Ohrid; Pantelleria; Sicily; Trapani; data set; Holocene; Pleistocene; stratigraphy; succession; tephrochronology; volcanic eruption https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-77958566354&doi=10.5194%2fbg-7-3273-2010&partnerID=40&md5=4bd4b5cbf0d95a2f3bf5e96178eace6d Cited by: 69; All Open Access, Gold Open Access, Green Open Access R. Sulpizio G. Zanchetta M. D'Orazio H. Vogel B. Wagner article Lindhorst20103531 Ancient Lake Ohrid is a steep-sided, oligotrophic, karst lake that was tectonically formed most likely within the Pliocene and often referred to as a hotspot of endemic biodiversity. This study aims on tracing significant lake level fluctuations at Lake Ohrid using high-resolution acoustic data in combination with lithological, geochemical, and chronological information from two sediment cores recovered from sub-aquatic terrace levels at ca. 32 and 60 m water depth. According to our data, significant lake level fluctuations with prominent lowstands of ca. 60 and 35 m below the present water level occurred during Marine Isotope Stage (MIS) 6 and MIS 5, respectively. The effect of these lowstands on biodiversity in most coastal parts of the lake is negligible, due to only small changes in lake surface area, coastline, and habitat. In contrast, biodiversity in shallower areas was more severely affected due to disconnection of today sub-lacustrine springs from the main water body. Multichannel seismic data from deeper parts of the lake clearly image several clinoform structures stacked on top of each other. These stacked clinoforms indicate significantly lower lake levels prior to MIS 6 and a stepwise rise of water level with intermittent stillstands since its existence as water-filled body, which might have caused enhanced expansion of endemic species within Lake Ohrid. © Author(s) 2010. Article 2010 English 17264189 10.5194/bg-7-3531-2010 Biogeosciences 7 3531 – 3548 11 Lake Ohrid; acoustic data; biodiversity; chronology; coastal zone; endemic species; geochemical method; habitat type; karst; lacustrine deposit; lithology; oligotrophic environment; paleoenvironment; Pliocene; resolution; sediment core; seismic data; stratigraphy; water depth; water level https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-78349276994&doi=10.5194%2fbg-7-3531-2010&partnerID=40&md5=6c262ff246a822c66d4e730fd9a92ad4 Cited by: 51; All Open Access, Gold Open Access, Green Open Access K. Lindhorst H. Vogel S. Krastel B. Wagner A. Hilgers A. Zander T. Schwenk M. Wessels G. Daut article Vogel20103333 Lake Ohrid is likely of Pliocene age and thus commonly referred to as the oldest existing lake in Europe. In this study spatial variability of recent sediment composition is assessed using >50 basin wide distributed surface sediment samples. Analysis of biogeochemical bulk parameters, selected metals, pigment concentrations as well as grain size distributions revealed a significant spatial heterogeneity in surface sediment composition. It implies that sedimentation in Lake Ohrid is controlled by an interaction of multiple natural and anthropogenic factors and processes. Major factors controlling surface sediment composition are related to differences in geological catchment characteristics, anthropogenic land use, and a counterclockwise rotating surface water current. In some instances processes controlling sediment composition also seem to impact distribution patterns of biodiversity, which suggests a common interaction of processes responsible for both patterns. Article 2010 English 17264189 10.5194/bg-7-3333-2010 Biogeosciences 7 3333 – 3342 10 Lake Ohrid; anthropogenic source; assessment method; biodiversity; biogeochemistry; catchment; chemical composition; concentration (composition); grain size; heterogeneity; lacustrine deposit; land use; metal; pigment; Pliocene; sedimentation; spatial variation; surficial sediment https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-78049525261&doi=10.5194%2fbg-7-3333-2010&partnerID=40&md5=f4561f3cad8fa7ca30d42ed04d40bf1c Cited by: 61; All Open Access, Gold Open Access, Green Open Access H. Vogel M. Wessels C. Albrecht H.-B. Stich B. Wagner article Albrecht20103435 Ancient Lake Ohrid is probably of early Pleistocene or Pliocene origin and amongst the few lakes in the world harbouring 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 stratigraphic subdivision comprising the basal succession of core Co1200 between 181.5-263 cm, appeared solid, greyish-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 and the agreement between sediment and palaeontological proxies was tested. The study also aims at investigating major faunal changes since the Last Interglacial and searching for signs of extinction events. The combined findings of the ecological study and the sediment characteristics suggest deposition in a shallow water environment during the Last Interglacial. 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 water depth) 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. © Author(s) 2010. Article 2010 English 17264189 10.5194/bg-7-3435-2010 Biogeosciences 7 3435 – 3446 11 Lake Ohrid; Bivalvia; Gastropoda; Mollusca; biostratigraphy; deep drilling; fossil record; interglacial; mollusc; paleoenvironment; paleontology; sediment core https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-78249236524&doi=10.5194%2fbg-7-3435-2010&partnerID=40&md5=c22e0b3c5af8a8b8a61cc1e386499648 Cited by: 10; All Open Access, Gold Open Access, Green Open Access C. Albrecht H. Vogel T. Hauffe T. Wilke article Wilke20103051 The Balkans is a biogeographically highly diverse region and a worldwide hotspot of endemic freshwater diversity. A substantial part of this diversity is attributed to well recognized and potential ancient lakes in its southwestern part. However, despite considerable research efforts, faunal relationships among those lakes are not well understood. Therefore, genetic information from native representatives of the mussel genus Dreissena is here used to test the biogeographical zonation of the southwestern Balkans, to relate demographic changes to environmental changes, to assess the degree of eco-insularity, to reconstruct their evolutionary history, and to explore the potential of native taxa for becoming invasive. Phylogeographical and population genetic analyses indicate that most studied populations belong to two native species: D. presbensis (including the distinct genetic subgroup from Lake Ohrid, "D. stankoviciquot;) and D. blanci. In addition, the first confirmed record of invasive D. polymorpha in the southwestern Balkan is presented. The distribution of native Dreissena spp. generally coincides with the biogeographical zonations previously suggested based on fish data. However, there is disagreement on the assignment of the ancient lakes in the area to respective biogeographical regions. The data for Lake Ohrid are not conclusive. A closer biogeographical connection to lakes of the Vardar region and possibly the northern Ionian region is, however, suggested for Lake Prespa. The reconstruction of the evolutionary history of Dreissena spp. suggests that populations underwent demographic and spatial expansions in the recent past. Expansions started around 320 000-300 000 years ago in "D. stankovici", 160 000-140 000 years ago in D. blanci, and 110 000-70 000 years ago in D. presbensis. These time frames are discussed within the context of available paleogeological data for lakes Ohrid and Prespa. It is suggested that regional environmental changes may have had pronounced effects on the population histories of native Dreissena spp., though the high buffer capacity of Lake Ohrid may have lessened these effects in "D. stankovici". In addition, local events influencing individual lakes had very likely considerable effects on the demographic histories of Dreissena spp. as well. The observed patterns of immigration and emigration in and out of ancient lakes may suggest that limited gene flow enabled the survival of few isolated subpopulations and that later on eco-insularity (selective advantages of locally adopted groups) may have prevented excessive hybridization and sympatry of closely related taxa. As for the potential invasiveness of native Dreissena spp., the inferred spatial expansions are not human-mediated and all taxa still appear to be restricted to their native ranges. A concern, however, is that today D. presbensis and D. blanci also occur in artificial water bodies, and that invasive D. polymorpha has reached the area. © Author(s) 2010. Article 2010 English 17264189 10.5194/bg-7-3051-2010 Biogeosciences 7 3051 – 3065 10 Balkans; Lake Mikri Prespa; Lake Ohrid; Dreissena; Dreissena polymorpha; Dreissena stankovici; bivalve; extinction; freshwater environment; genetic analysis; historical perspective; native species; paleoecology; reconstruction; species diversity; sympatry; zoogeography https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-77957989147&doi=10.5194%2fbg-7-3051-2010&partnerID=40&md5=4efb6f2b1e722322468a72d60aca240c Cited by: 43; All Open Access, Gold Open Access, Green Open Access T. Wilke R. Schultheiß C. Albrecht N. Bornmann S. Trajanovski T. Kevrekidis article Holtvoeth20103473 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 ‰-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. © Author(s) 2010. Article 2010 English 17264189 10.5194/bg-7-3473-2010 Biogeosciences 7 3473 – 3489 11 Lake Ohrid; Animalia; Capra hircus; Ciliophora; Ovis aries; Photobacteria; Suidae; anoxic conditions; aquatic environment; bacterium; biodegradation; biomarker; climate change; glacial deposit; Holocene; hydrology; lacustrine deposit; lipid; organic acid; organic matter; paleoenvironment; primary production; river discharge; soil erosion; soil organic matter; terrestrial environment; vegetation cover https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-78349266512&doi=10.5194%2fbg-7-3473-2010&partnerID=40&md5=34f8f5a52ab67d38cc2ebba787a0f6e6 Cited by: 47; All Open Access, Gold Open Access, Green Open Access J. Holtvoeth H. Vogel B. Wagner G.A. Wolff article Leng20103109 Here we present stable isotope data from three sediment records from lakes that lie along the Macedonian-Albanian border (Lake Prespa: 1 core, and Lake Ohrid: 2 cores). The records only overlap for the last 40 kyr, although the longest record contains the MIS 5/6 transition (Lake Ohrid). The sedimentary characteristics of both lakes differ significantly between the glacial and interglacial phases. At the end of MIS 6 Lake Ohrid's water level was low (high δ18Ocalcite) and, although productivity was increasing (high calcite content), the carbon supply was mainly from inorganic catchment rock sources (high δ13Ccarb). During the last interglacial, calcite and TOC production and preservation increased, progressively lower δ18Ocalcite suggest increase in humidity and lake levels until around 115 ka. During ca. 80 ka to 11 ka the lake records suggest cold conditions as indicated by negligible calcite precipitation and low organic matter content. In Lake Ohrid, δ13Corg are complacent; in contrast, Lake Prespa shows consistently higher δ13Corg suggesting a low oxidation of 13C-depleted organic matter in agreement with a general deterioration of climate conditions during the glacial. From 15 ka to the onset of the Holocene, calcite and TOC begin to increase, suggesting lake levels were probably low (high δ18Ocalcite). In the Holocene (11 ka to present) enhanced productivity is manifested by high calcite and organic matter content. All three cores show an early Holocene characterised by low δ18Ocalcite, apart from the very early Holocene phase in Prespa where the lowest δ18Ocalcite occurs at ca. 7.5 ka, suggesting a phase of higher lake level only in (the more sensitive) Lake Prespa. From 6 ka, δ18Ocalcite suggest progressive aridification, in agreement with many other records in the Mediterranean, although the uppermost sediments in one core records low δ18Ocalcite which we interpret as a result of human activity. Overall, the isotope data present here confirm that these two big lakes have captured the large scale, low frequency palaeoclimate variation that is seen in Mediterranean lakes, although in detail there is much palaeoclimate information that could be gained, especially small scale, high frequency differences between this region and the Mediterranean. © 2010 Author(s). Article 2010 English 17264189 10.5194/bg-7-3109-2010 Biogeosciences 7 3109 – 3122 10 Lake Mikri Prespa; Lake Ohrid; aridification; calcite; catchment; core analysis; geological record; Holocene; human activity; humidity; Mediterranean environment; paleoclimate; paleoenvironment; reconstruction; sediment core; stable isotope; total organic carbon; water level https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-77958055757&doi=10.5194%2fbg-7-3109-2010&partnerID=40&md5=127aafd8b13490b471b1ad88cf342083 Cited by: 60; All Open Access, Gold Open Access, Green Open Access M.J. Leng I. Baneschi G. Zanchetta C.N. Jex B. Wagner H. Vogel article Hoffmann20103377 Lake Ohrid Basin is a graben structure situated in the Dinarides at the border of the Former Yugoslavian Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) and Albania. It hosts one of the oldest lakes in Europe and is characterized by a basin and range-like geological setting together with the halfgraben basins of Korca, Erseka and Debar. The basin is surrounded by Paleozoic metamorphics in the northeast and north and Mesozoic ultramafic, carbonatic and magmatic rocks in the east, northwest, west and south. Paleocene to Pliocene units are present in the southwest. With the basin development, Neogene sediments from Pliocene to recent deposited in the lows. There are three major deformation phases: (A) NWĝ€"SE shortening from Late Cretaceous to Miocene; (B) uplift and diminishing compression during Messinian ĝ€" Pliocene; (C) vertical uplift and (N)Eĝ€"(S)W extension from Pliocene to recent led to the basin formation. Neotectonic activity of the study area concentrates on Nĝ€"S trending normal faults that bound the Ohrid Basin eastwards and westwards. Seismic activity with moderate to strong events is documented during the last 2000 yrs; the seismic hazard level is among the highest in Albania and Macedonia. Activity of the youngest faults is evidenced by earthquake data and field observations. Morphotectonic features like fault scarps, a stepped series of active normal faults, deformed paleosols, a wind gap and fault-related hydrothermal activity are preserved around Lake Ohrid and allow delineating the tectonic history. It is shown that the Lake Ohrid Basin can be characterized as a seismogenic landscape. This paper presents a tectonic history of the Lake Ohrid Basin and describes tectonic features that are preserved in the recent landscape. The analysis of morphotectonic features is used to derive the deformation history. The stratigraphy of the area is summarized and concentrates on the main units. © 2010 Author(s). Article 2010 English 17264189 10.5194/bg-7-3377-2010 Biogeosciences 7 3377 – 3386 10 Albania; Lake Ohrid; Macedonia [Southern Europe]; data set; hydrothermal activity; lake evolution; landscape; magmatism; metamorphism; Neogene; neotectonics; observational method; Paleozoic; seismic anisotropy; seismic hazard; stratigraphy; uplift https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-79960572977&doi=10.5194%2fbg-7-3377-2010&partnerID=40&md5=14bcb177358b62eb56df8de11692eafd Cited by: 38; All Open Access, Gold Open Access, Green Open Access N. Hoffmann K. Reicherter T. Fernández-Steeger C. Grützner article Wagner20103187 Lakes Prespa and Ohrid, in the Balkan region, are considered to be amongst the oldest lakes in Europe. Both lakes are hydraulically connected via karst aquifers. From Lake Ohrid, several sediment cores up to 15 m long have been studied over the last few years. Here, we document the first long sediment record from nearby Lake Prespa to clarify the influence of Lake Prespa on Lake Ohrid and the environmental history of the region. Radiocarbon dating and dated tephra layers provide robust age control and indicate that the 10.5 m long sediment record from Lake Prespa reaches back to 48 ka. Glacial sedimentation is characterized by low organic matter content and absence of carbonates in the sediments, which indicate oligotrophic conditions in both lakes. Holocene sedimentation is characterized by particularly high carbonate content in Lake Ohrid and by particularly high organic matter content in Lake Prespa, which indicates a shift towards more mesotrophic conditions in the latter. Long-term environmental change and short-term events, such as related to the Heinrich events during the Pleistocene or the 8.2 ka cooling event during the Holocene, are well recorded in both lakes, but are only evident in certain proxies. The comparison of the sediment cores from both lakes indicates that environmental change affects particularly the trophic state of Lake Prespa due to its lower volume and water depth. © Author(s) 2010. Article 2010 English 17264189 10.5194/bg-7-3187-2010 Biogeosciences 7 3187 – 3198 10 Balkan; Lake Mikri Prespa; Lake Ohrid; Turkmenistan; carbonate; core analysis; environmental change; glacial deposit; Heinrich event; Holocene; karst hydrology; lacustrine deposit; organic matter; paleoenvironment; paleolimnology; Pleistocene; radiocarbon dating; sedimentation rate; tephra; trophic status https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-77958613334&doi=10.5194%2fbg-7-3187-2010&partnerID=40&md5=560f1168a1f72e6aa51c82a8da09b671 Cited by: 59; All Open Access, Gold Open Access, Green Open Access B. Wagner H. Vogel G. Zanchetta R. Sulpizio article Matter20103755 To date, little is known about the role of spring waters with respect to authigenic carbonate precipitation in a 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. © 2010 Author(s). Article 2010 English 17264189 10.5194/bg-7-3755-2010 Biogeosciences 7 3755 – 3767 11 Lake Ohrid; Bacillariophyta; carbonate; chronology; diatom; eutrophication; lacustrine deposit; littoral environment; precipitation (chemistry); radiocarbon dating; sediment core; sediment trap; sedimentation; silt; sonar; stratigraphy; water column https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-78649527716&doi=10.5194%2fbg-7-3755-2010&partnerID=40&md5=fa5c4f1e6e6cfede2f7d49d13d4ccc09 Cited by: 30; All Open Access, Gold Open Access, Green Open Access M. Matter F.S. Anselmetti B. Jordanoska B. Wagner M. Wessels A. Wüest article Vogel2010320 Here we present a tephrostratigraphic record (core Co1202) recovered from the northeastern part of Lake Ohrid (Republics of Macedonia and Albania) reaching back to Marine Isotope Stage (MIS) 6. Overall ten horizons (OT0702-1 to OT0702-10) containing volcanic tephra have been recognised throughout the 14.94m long sediment succession. Four tephra layers were visible at macroscopic inspection (OT0702-4, OT0702-6, OT0702-8 and OT0702-9), while the remaining six are cryptotephras (OT0702-1, OT0702-2, OT0702-3, OT0702-5, OT0702-7 and OT0702-10) identified from peaks in K, Zr and Sr intensities, magnetic susceptibility measurements, and washing and sieving of the sediments. Glass shards of tephra layers and cryptotephras were analysed with respect to their major element composition, and correlated to explosive eruptions of Italian volcanoes. The stratigraphy and the major element composition of tephra layers and cryptotephras allowed the correlation of OT0702-1 to AD 472 or AD 512 eruptions of Somma-Vesuvius, OT0702-2 to the FL eruption of Mount Etna, OT0702-3 to the Mercato from Somma-Vesuvius, OT0702-4 to SMP1-e/Y-3 eruption from the Campi Flegrei caldera, OT0702-5 to the Codola eruption (Somma-Vesuvius or Campi Flegrei), OT0702-6 to the Campanian Ignimbrite/Y-5 from the Campi Flegrei caldera, OT0702-7 to the Green Tuff/Y-6 eruption from Pantelleria Island, OT0702-8 to the X-5 eruption probably originating from the Campi Flegrei caldera, OT0702-9 to the X-6 eruption of generic Campanian origin, and OT0702-10 to the P-11 eruption from Pantelleria Island. The fairly well-known ages of these tephra layers and parent eruptions provide new data on the dispersal and deposition of these tephras and, furthermore, allow the establishment of a chronological framework for core Co1202 for a first interpretation of major sedimentological changes. © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. Article 2010 English 10991417 10.1002/jqs.1311 Journal of Quaternary Science 25 320 – 338 3 Albania; Greece; Lake Ohrid; Macedonia [Greece]; caldera; Campanian; ignimbrite; Last Glacial-Interglacial; magnetic susceptibility; marine isotope stage; potassium; stratigraphy; strontium; tephra; tephrochronology; tuff; volcanic eruption; X-ray fluorescence; zircon https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-77449087250&doi=10.1002%2fjqs.1311&partnerID=40&md5=4f33163495f69733dfafd2bc43191465 Cited by: 101 Hendrik Vogel Giovanni Zanchetta Roberto Sulpizio Bernd Wagner Norbert Nowaczyk article Vogel2010295 Lake Ohrid is probably of Pliocene age, and the oldest extant lake in Europe. In this study climatic and environmental changes during the last glacial-interglacial cycle are reconstructed using lithological, sedimentological, geochemical and physical proxy analysis of a 15-m-long sediment succession from Lake Ohrid. A chronological framework is derived from tephrochronology and radiocarbon dating, which yields a basal age of ca. 136 ka. The succession is not continuous, however, with a hiatus between ca. 97. 6 and 81. 7 ka. Sediment accumulation in course of the last climatic cycle is controlled by the complex interaction of a variety of climate-controlled parameters and their impact on catchment dynamics, limnology, and hydrology of the lake. Warm interglacial and cold glacial climate conditions can be clearly distinguished from organic matter, calcite, clastic detritus and lithostratigraphic data. During interglacial periods, short-term fluctuations are recorded by abrupt variations in organic matter and calcite content, indicating climatically-induced changes in lake productivity and hydrology. During glacial periods, high variability in the contents of coarse silt to fine sand sized clastic matter is probably a function of climatically-induced changes in catchment dynamics and wind activity. In some instances tephra layers provide potential stratigraphic markers for short-lived climate perturbations. Given their widespread distribution in sites across the region, tephra analysis has the potential to provide insight into variation in the impact of climate and environmental change across the Mediterranean. © 2010 Springer Science+Business Media B.V. Article 2010 English 09212728 10.1007/s10933-009-9404-x Journal of Paleolimnology 44 295 – 310 1 Albania; Greece; Lake Ohrid; Macedonia [Greece]; accumulation rate; climate variation; geochemical method; Last Glacial-Interglacial; lithology; lithostratigraphy; paleoclimate; paleolimnology; Pliocene; proxy climate record; radiocarbon dating; sedimentology; tephrochronology https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-77952670412&doi=10.1007%2fs10933-009-9404-x&partnerID=40&md5=2c14af903bbafd634034c28461f4a912 Cited by: 134; All Open Access, Green Open Access Hendrik Vogel Bernd Wagner Giovanni Zanchetta Roberto Sulpizio Peter Rosén article Kostoski20103999 Immediate conservation measures for world-wide freshwater resources are of eminent importance. This is particularly true for so-called ancient lakes. While these lakes are famous for being evolutionary theatres, often displaying an extraordinarily high degree of biodiversity and endemism, in many cases these biota are also experiencing extreme anthropogenic impact. Lake Ohrid, a major European biodiversity hotspot situated in a trans-frontier setting on the Balkans, is a prime example for a lake with a magnitude of narrow range endemic taxa that are under increasing anthropogenic pressure. Unfortunately, evidence for a "creeping biodiversity crisis" has accumulated over the last decades, and major socio-political changes have gone along with human-mediated environmental changes. Based on field surveys, monitoring data, published records, and expert interviews, we aimed to (1) assess threats to Lake Ohrids' (endemic) biodiversity, (2) summarize existing conservation activities and strategies, and (3) outline future conservation needs for Lake Ohrid. We compiled threats to both specific taxa (and in cases to particular species) as well as to the lake ecosystems itself. Major conservation concerns identified for Lake Ohrid are: (1) watershed impacts, (2) agriculture and forestry, (3) tourism and population growth, (4) non-indigenous species, (5) habitat alteration or loss, (6) unsustainable exploitation of fisheries, and (7) global climate change. Among the major (well-known) threats with high impact are nutrient input (particularly of phosphorus), habitat conversion and silt load. Other threats are potentially of high impact but less well known. Such threats include pollution with hazardous substances (from sources such as mines, former industries, agriculture) or climate change. We review and discuss institutional responsibilities, environmental monitoring and ecosystem management, existing parks and reserves, biodiversity and species measures, international conservation activities, and ongoing research on conservation and raising of public awareness. Following this summary, we evaluate the status quo and future of Lake Ohrid and its biota. A comprehensive conservation strategy should include measures that result in an immediate reduction of nutrient input, particularly with phosphorus, in order to slow down the ongoing eutrophication process. The existing watershed management should become more effective. Implementation and particularly with a view to the enforcement of national laws should be enhanced. Increased research on the lakes' limnology, biodiversity, and conservation management practices are necessary. The latter research should identify conservation priorities. Public awareness should be enhanced. Facing these parallel needs to protect the unique biodiversity of Lake Ohrid, we suggest urging (a) implementation and enforcement of the General Management Plan that would ensure long-term integrated and sustainable use of the lake and its watershed, (b) scientific studies on ecology, biodiversity and effects of human impact, (c) the establishment of Core Conservation areas (CCA), including underwater reserves, and (d) Coastal Zone Management (CZM) areas that would constitute buffer zones for the CCAs around the lake. Given the number of identified threats, it is clear that only concerted international action can stop or at least slow down further degradation of Lake Ohrid and the creeping biodiversity crisis already evident. All conservation activities should, among others, ultimately lead to a trans-boundary major conservation area of the Ohrid-Prespa region that would allow long-term integration of both humans and nature. © Author(s) 2010. Article 2010 English 17264189 10.5194/bg-7-3999-2010 Biogeosciences 7 3999 – 4015 12 Lake Ohrid; anthropogenic effect; biodiversity; buffer zone; coastal zone management; eutrophication; future prospect; habitat conservation; hot spot; lake ecosystem https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-78650566957&doi=10.5194%2fbg-7-3999-2010&partnerID=40&md5=c36d6c7a39e95efd1e2f57e698276f1c Cited by: 35; All Open Access, Gold Open Access, Green Open Access G. Kostoski C. Albrecht S. Trajanovski T. Wilke article Wagner200951 In summary, the SCOPSCO workshop provided a reliable platflorm to discuss the present state of knowledge and future steps towards a deep drilling campaign. A full proposal for an ICDP drilling campaign will be submitted in 2009. Conference paper 2009 English 18163459 10.2204/iodp.sd.7.08.2009 Scientific Drilling 51 – 53 7 Deep drillings; Lake ohrid; Scientific collaborations https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-78651581215&doi=10.2204%2fiodp.sd.7.08.2009&partnerID=40&md5=e8e6b671015b5ad20b18dd3969ddff82 Cited by: 3; All Open Access, Gold Open Access, Green Open Access Bernd Wagner Thomas Wilke Sebastian Krastel-Gudegast Andon Grazhdani Klaus Reicherter Sasho Trajanovski Giovanni Zanchetta article Wilke200925 Biologists have used a wide range of organisms to study the origin of taxa and their subsequent evolutionary change in space and time. One commonly used tool is the molecular clock approach, relating substitution rates of nucleotide or amino acid sequences to divergence times. The accuracy of the molecular clock, however, has long been subject to controversy, and numerous papers have addressed problems associated with estimating divergence times. Some workers pointed out a striking imbalance between sophisticated software algorithms used for molecular clock analyses on the one hand, and the poor data on the other hand. Moreover, there is often unease among workers relative to molecular clocks because of the controversy surrounding the approach, the complex mathematical background of many molecular clock tools, the still limited number of available, user-friendly software packages, the often confusing terminology of molecular clock approaches, and the general lack of reliable calibration points and/or external clock rates. The current review therefore briefly provides an overview of analytical strategies, covering approaches based on calibration points and/or bounds, approaches based on external clock rates, and approaches that attempt to estimate relative divergence times in the absence of information that can be used for estimating substitution rates. It also deals with major problems and pitfalls associated with data and analyses, including potential errors of calibration points and bounds, the performance of the gene(s) used, estimation of confidence limits, and misinterpretation of the results of clock analyses due to problems with sampling design. A substantial part of the review addresses the question of "universal" molecular clock rates and summarizes important biological and life history variables that account for deviations from rate constancy both between lineages and at different times within lineages. The usefulness of these factors is discussed within the framework of "trait-specific" molecular clock rates. One such clock rate is introduced here for the cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) gene in small dioecious, tropical and subtropical Protostomia with a generation time of approximately one year. A flow chart is provided as a "simple fool's guide" to molecular clock analyses, together with a glossary of widely used terms in molecular clock approaches. Finally, step-by-step examples are provided for calculating divergence times in the caenogastropod subfamily Pyrgulinae based on both an internal calibration point and a "trait-specific" molecular clock rate, and it is demonstrated how a relative clock approach can be used for testing evolutionary hypotheses. Our review encourages a judicious use of molecular clock analyses in evolutionary studies of invertebrates by demonstrating their great potential on the one hand and (often-manageable) problems and pitfalls on the other hand. Conference paper 2009 English 07402783 10.4003/006.027.0203 American Malacological Bulletin 27 American Malacological Society 25 – 45 1-2 Caenogastropoda; Invertebrata; Protostomia https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-69149111299&doi=10.4003%2f006.027.0203&partnerID=40&md5=9d2d19b55069e18253715595d1235c5c Cited by: 182 Thomas Wilke Roland Schultheiß Christian Albrecht article Albrecht2009357 Ancient lakes are hotspots of biodiversity, often harboring a large number of endemic species that make them prime model systems for evolutionary biologists. Besides such well-recognized ancient or long-lived lakes as Baikal, Biwa, Ohrid, and Tanganyika, there are other potentially old and biodiverse lakes in the world with poorly specified ages and under-studied faunas. We here report on the mollusc fauna of one such lake, Lake Trichonis in continental Greece. This graben lake is situated in a highly tectonized area, characterized by karst features and probably of middle to late Pliocene origin. Lake Trichonis is deep, oligotrophic, and rich in such specific habitat types as macrophyte meadows, rocky shores and sublacustrine spring systems. Moreover, it is a hotspot of freshwater biodiversity in Greece, particularly in molluscs. After reviewing newly collected material and the published mollusc records, we found that at least 33 mollusc species occur in Lake Trichonis, with 24 gastropod and 9 bivalve species currently being recognized. This is 24% of the total freshwater mollusc diversity of Greece; 21% of the gastropods (five species) are endemic to Lake Trichonis. If the whole Trichonis Basin is considered, which also includes neighboring Lake Lysimachia, eight species (33%) of the total fauna appear to be endemic. Taking lake surface areas into account, the index of gastropod endemism of 0.442 (log Nendemic species/log Asurface area) for the Lake Trichonis Basin resembles on a world-wide scale values known for Lake Baikal, Russia, and Lake Biwa, Japan, and is only exceeded by Lake Ohrid, Macedonia/Albania, and ancient lakes of Sulawesi, Indonesia. Despite the limited knowledge about the lake's evolutionary history, the suggested age of origin, the palaeogeographical characteristics, and the potential timing of phylogenetic events reviewed here support the presumed status of Lake Trichonis as an ancient lake. From a conservational standpoint, more research, management and conservation efforts are necessary because ancient lakes are among the most vulnerable and threatened ecosystems on earth. Effects of human-induced environmental change are already noticeable in Lake Trichonis. Recognition of Lake Trichonis as a unique system with an unusually high biodiversity may help promoting conservation efforts. Article 2009 English 00762997 10.4002/040.051.0209 Malacologia 51 357 – 375 2 Bivalvia; Gastropoda; Lysimachia; Mollusca https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-77149157015&doi=10.4002%2f040.051.0209&partnerID=40&md5=39248899177232ff25d3ac38cca098de Cited by: 32 Christian Albrecht Torsten Hauffe Kirstin Schreiber Sasho Trajanovski Thomas Wilke article Wagner2009407 Lake Ohrid is considered to be of Pliocene origin and is the oldest extant lake in Europe. A 1,075-cm-long sediment core was recovered from the southeastern part of the lake, from a water depth of 105 m. The core was investigated using geophysical, granulometric, biogeochemical, diatom, ostracod, and pollen analyses. Tephrochronology and AMS radiocarbon dating of plant macrofossils reveals that the sediment sequence spans the past ca. 39,500 years and features a hiatus between ca. 14,600 and 9,400 cal. year BP. The Pleistocene sequence indicates relatively stable and cold conditions, with steppe vegetation in the catchment, at least partial winter ice-cover of the lake, and oxygenated bottom waters at the coring site. The Holocene sequence indicates that the catchment vegetation had changed to forest dominated by pine and summer-green oak. Several of the proxies suggest the impact of abrupt climate oscillations such as the 8.2 or 4.0 ka event. The observed changes, however, cannot be related clearly to a change in temperature or humidity. Human impact started about 5,000 cal. year BP and increased significantly during the past 2,400 years. Water column mixing conditions, inflow from subaquatic springs, and human impact are the most important parameters influencing internal lake processes, notably affecting the composition and characteristics of the sediments. © 2008 Springer Science+Business Media B.V. Article 2009 English 09212728 10.1007/s10933-008-9234-2 Journal of Paleolimnology 41 407 – 430 3 Eurasia; Europe; Lake Ohrid; Southern Europe; Bacillariophyta; Ostracoda; anthropogenic effect; diatom; environmental change; fossil; ostracod; paleolimnology; palynology; Quaternary; radiocarbon dating; sediment core; sedimentary sequence; steppe; tephrochronology https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-65749102303&doi=10.1007%2fs10933-008-9234-2&partnerID=40&md5=214970cec712b96e87ded4e12c0a9cf4 Cited by: 116 Bernd Wagner André F. Lotter Norbert Nowaczyk Jane M. Reed Antje Schwalb Roberto Sulpizio Verushka Valsecchi Martin Wessels Giovanni Zanchetta article Albrecht2008103 Worldwide ancient lakes have been a major focal point of geological, biological, and ecological research, and key concepts in, for example, evolutionary biology are partly based on ancient lake studies. Ancient lakes can be found on most continents and climate zones with most actual or putative ancient lakes in Europe being restricted to the Balkan Region. The arguably most outstanding of them is the oligotrophic and karstic Lake Ohrid, a steep-sided graben of rift formation origin situated in the central Balkans. Here, an attempt is made to summarize current knowledge of the geological, limnological, and faunal history of Lake Ohrid. Additionally, existing data on biodiversity and endemism in Lake Ohrid are updated and evaluated, and patterns and processes of speciation are reviewed in the context of the Ohrid watershed, including its sister lake, Lake Prespa. Whereas the geological history of the Ohrid Graben is relatively well studied, there is little knowledge about the limnological and biotic history of the actual lake (e.g., the age of the extant lake or from where the lake first received its water, along with its first biota). Most workers agree on a time frame of origin for Lake Ohrid of 2-5 million years ago (Mya). However, until now, the exact limnological origin and the origin of faunal or floral elements of Lake Ohrid remain uncertain. Two largely contrasting opinions either favour the theory of de novo formation of Lake Ohrid in a dry polje with a spring or river hydrography or a palaeogeographical connection of Lake Ohrid to brackish waters on the Balkan Peninsula. Whereas neither theory can be rejected at this point, the data summarized in the current review support the de novo hypothesis. An assessment of the fauna and flora of Lake Ohrid confirms that the lake harbours an incredible endemic biodiversity. Despite the fact that some biotic groups are poorly studied or not studied at all, approximately 1,200 native species are known from the lake, including 586 animals, and at least 212 species are endemic, including 182 animals. The adjusted rate of endemicity is estimated at 36% for all taxa and 34% for Animalia. In terms of endemic biodiversity, Lake Ohrid is with these 212 known endemic species and a surface area of 358 km2 probably the most diverse lake in the world, taking surface area into account. Preliminary phylogeographical analyses of endemic Lake Ohrid taxa indicate that the vast majority of respective sister taxa occurs in the Balkans and that therefore the most recent common ancestors of Ohrid- and non-Ohrid species likely resided in the region when Lake Ohrid came into existence. These data also indicate that there is relatively little faunal exchange and overlap between Lake Ohrid and its sister lake, Lake Prespa, despite the fact that the latter lake is a major water supplier for Lake Ohrid. Studies on selected species flocks and scatters, mostly in molluscs, point towards the assumption that only few lineages originally colonized Lake Ohrid from the Balkans and that the majority of endemic species seen today probably started to evolve within the lake during the early Pleistocene. Within the Ohrid watershed, endemism occurs at different spatial and taxonomic scales, ranging from species endemic to certain parts of Lake Ohrid to species endemic to the whole watershed and from subspecies to genus level and possibly beyond. Modes of speciation in the Ohrid watershed are largely affected by its degree of isolation. Observational evidence points towards both allopatric (peripatric) and parapatric speciation. Though sympatric speciation within a habitat is conceivable, so far there are no known examples. Today, the lake suffers from increasing anthropogenic pressure and a "creeping biodiversity crisis". Some endemic species presumably have already gone extinct, and there are also indications of invasive species penetrating Lake Ohrid. The comparatively small size of Lake Ohrid and the extremely small range of many endemic species, together with increasing human pressure make its fauna particularly vulnerable. It is thus hoped that this review will encourage future research on the ecology and evolutionary biology of the lake's taxa, the knowledge of which would ultimately help protecting this unique European biodiversity hot spot. © 2008 Springer Science+Business Media B.V. Conference paper 2008 English 15735117 10.1007/s10750-008-9558-y Hydrobiologia 615 103 – 140 1 Animalia; Mollusca; Mya; Animals; Biodiversity; Offshore oil well production; Rivers; biodiversity; evolution; evolutionary biology; lake; limnology; native species; Pleistocene; speciation (biology); Ancient lake; Balkans; Endemism; Geology; Lake Ohrid; Lake Prespa; Limnology; Sister lakes; Speciation; Lakes https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-53649084174&doi=10.1007%2fs10750-008-9558-y&partnerID=40&md5=bb7449347c48b5be19d85cc37dbc29d9 Cited by: 190 Christian Albrecht Thomas Wilke article Albrecht2008157 Ancient sister lakes are considered to be ancient lakes lying in close geographic proximity, sharing a related origin and significant time of co-existence, usually having hydrological connection as well as a balanced degree of faunal overlap and distinctness. A paradigm for studying sister lake relationships are the ancient lakes Ohrid and Prespa in the Balkans, which are characterized by high degrees of endemicity. Three general patterns of endemic species can be distinguished for these lakes: (1) taxa that are endemic to either lake, with no close relatives in the respective sister lake, (2) closely related but distinct endemic taxa in both lakes (sister species) and (3) shared endemic taxa occurring in both lakes. In the present paper, two endemic freshwater pulmonate gastropod species, Radix relicta (Lake Ohrid) and R. pinteri (Lake Prespa), are used to study the evolution of presumed sister species based on biogeographical and comparative DNA data from world-wide Radix taxa. Phylogenetic, phylogeographical and parametric bootstrap analyses all suggest a sister group relationship of R. relicta and R. pinteri (pattern 2 of endemic diversity). Sister to these two taxa is the widespread R. ampla, which does not occur in the vicinity of lakes Ohrid and Prespa. The southern feeder spring complexes of Lake Ohrid are inhabited by another lineage (Radix sp. 1), which resembles Radix relicta in morphology/anatomy. For Lake Prespa, the widespread R. auricularia was reported in addition to the endemic R. pinteri. Comparative phylogenetic data favour a western Adriatic zoogeographical affinity of lakes Ohrid and Prespa over an Aegean-Anatolian faunal connection. The status of lakes Ohrid and Prespa as sister lakes is evaluated in the light of current knowledge on gastropod speciation and endemism in these hotspots of biodiversity. © 2008 Springer Science+Business Media B.V. Conference paper 2008 English 15735117 10.1007/s10750-008-9555-1 Hydrobiologia 615 157 – 167 1 Eurasia; Europe; Lake Mikri Prespa; Lake Ohrid; Southern Europe; Gastropoda; Radix (gastropod); Radix ampla; Radix auricularia; Radix sp.; Biodiversity; Nucleic acids; Organic acids; biodiversity; DNA; endemic species; evolution; freshwater ecosystem; gastropod; lake; phylogenetics; taxonomy; Ancient lake; Balkan; Lake Ohrid; Lake Prespa; Radix; Sister lakes; Lakes https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-53649106181&doi=10.1007%2fs10750-008-9555-1&partnerID=40&md5=1d6e53f6ed1a125d788916b702e4ac21 Cited by: 67 Christian Albrecht Christian Wolff Peter Glöer Thomas Wilke article Vogel2008689 Measurements of Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIRS) in the mid-infrared (MIR) region were conducted on sedimentary records from Lake El'gygytgyn, NE Siberia, and Lake Ohrid, Albania/Macedonia. Calibration models relating FTIR spectral information to biogeochemical property concentrations were established using partial least squares regression (PLSR). They showed good statistical performance for total organic carbon (TOC), total nitrogen (TN), and biogenic silica (opal) in the sediment record from Lake El'gygytgyn, and for TOC, total inorganic carbon (TIC), TN, and opal in sediments from Lake Ohrid. In both cases, the calibration models were successfully applied for down-core analysis. The results, in combination with the small amount of sample material needed, negligible sample pre-treatments, and low costs of analysis, demonstrate that FTIRS is a promising, cost-effective tool that allows high-resolution paleolimnological studies. © 2008 Springer Science+Business Media B.V. Article 2008 English 09212728 10.1007/s10933-008-9193-7 Journal of Paleolimnology 40 689 – 702 2 Chukchi; Elgygytgyn Lake; Eurasia; Europe; Lake Ohrid; Russian Federation; Southern Europe; biogenic deposit; biogeochemistry; cost-benefit analysis; FTIR spectroscopy; paleolimnology; quantitative analysis; sediment core https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-46649121481&doi=10.1007%2fs10933-008-9193-7&partnerID=40&md5=0276302f1f01a23ab50212e2b90b4efe Cited by: 69; All Open Access, Green Open Access Hendrik Vogel Peter Rosén Bernd Wagner Martin Melles Per Persson article Hauswald2008169 Ancient lakes have long been recognized as "hot spots of evolution" and "evolutionary theatres" and they have significantly contributed to a better understanding of speciation and radiation processes in space and time. Yet, phylogenetic relationships of many ancient lake taxa, particularly invertebrate groups, are still unresolved. Also, the lack of robust morphological, anatomical, and phylogeographical data has largely prevented a rigorous testing of evolutionary hypotheses. For the freshwater gastropod genus Valvata-a group with a high degree of endemism in several ancient lakes-different evolutionary scenarios are suggested for different ancient lakes. Lake Baikal, for example, is inhabited by several endemic Valvata taxa that presumably do not form a monophyletic group. For such an evolutionary pattern, the term ancient lake species scatter is introduced here. In contrast, for the Balkan Lake Ohrid, workers previously suggested the presence of a monophyletic group of endemic Valvata species, that is, an ancient lake species flock. Sequence data of the mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase c subunit I gene (COI) from worldwide taxa, with a strong emphasis on Balkan species, are here used to test whether the putative Ohrid Valvata endemics represent an ancient lake species flock and to study patterns of speciation both on the Ohrid and the Balkan scale. The study reveals three distinct clades of endemic Valvata in Lake Ohrid. Monophyly of these taxa, however, is rejected, and they therefore do not represent an ancient lake species flock, but rather an ancient lake species scatter. Also, in contrast to many other gastropod groups in Lake Ohrid, the valvatids apparently did not radiate. Many Valvata taxa in ancient lakes are characterized by enhanced levels of shell complexity. However, it remains unclear whether these patterns are associated with ancient lake environments per se. It is here suggested that similarities in shell structure between North American and Balkan taxa might simply be due to convergent evolution. © 2008 Springer Science+Business Media B.V. Conference paper 2008 English 15735117 10.1007/s10750-008-9556-0 Hydrobiologia 615 169 – 179 1 Eurasia; Europe; Lake Mikri Prespa; Lake Ohrid; Southern Europe; Gastropoda; Invertebrata; Valvata; Valvatida; Digital signal processing; Shells (structures); evolutionary biology; freshwater ecosystem; gastropod; lake; phylogenetics; species flock; taxonomy; Ancient lake species flock; Ancient lake species scatter; Ancient lakes; Lake Ohrid; Lake Prespa; Valvata; Lakes https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-53649092343&doi=10.1007%2fs10750-008-9556-0&partnerID=40&md5=ddc101ddd6b1fce23b5fe1408bb5d135 Cited by: 29 Anne-Kathrin Hauswald Christian Albrecht Thomas Wilke article Wagner200871 A 1075 cm long core (Lz1120) was recovered in the south-eastern part of the Lake Ohrid (Republics of Macedonia and Albania) and sampled for identification of tephra layers. Magnetic susceptibility investigations show rather high magnetic values throughout the core, with peaks unrelated to the occurrence of tephra layers but instead to the relative abundance of detrital magnetic minerals in the sediment. Naked-eye inspection of the core allowed us to identify of two tephra layers, at 896-897 cm and 1070-1075 cm. Laboratory inspection of the grain-size fraction > 125 μm allowed for the identification of a third cryptotephra at 310-315 cm. Major element analyses on glass shards of the tephra layers at 896-897 cm and 1070-1075 cm show a trachytic composition, and indicate a correlation with the regionally dispersed Y-3 and Y-5 tephra layers, dated at ca 30 and 39 cal ka BP. The cryptotephra at 310-315 cm has a mugearitic-benmoreitic composition, and was correlated with the FL eruption of Mt. Etna, dated at 3370 ± 70 cal yr BP. These ages are in agreement with five 14C AMS measurements carried out on plant remains and macrofossils from the lake sediments at different depths along the core. The recognition of distal tephra from Italian volcanoes allows us to link the Lake Ohrid succession to other archives located in the Mediterranean area and in eastern Europe. The benmoreitic-mugearitic tephra layer at 310-315 cm is the first recognition in the Balkan area of a distal ash deposit from a mid-intensity explosive eruption of Mt. Etna, as far as 600 km from the source. © 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved. Article 2008 English 03770273 10.1016/j.jvolgeores.2007.08.018 Journal of Volcanology and Geothermal Research 177 71 – 80 1 Albania; Eurasia; Europe; Macedonia [Southern Europe]; Mediterranean Sea; Southern Europe; Backpropagation; Landforms; Magnetic materials; Magnetic properties; Magnetic susceptibility; Minerals; Sedimentation; Sedimentology; Volcanoes; biostratigraphy; dispersion; explosive volcanism; magnetic susceptibility; tephra; tephrochronology; trachyte; volcanic ash; volcanic eruption; volcanology; Albania/Macedonia; Italian volcanoes; Lake Ohrid; tephrochronology; tephrostratigraphy; Lakes https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-53949105072&doi=10.1016%2fj.jvolgeores.2007.08.018&partnerID=40&md5=22f84b2c90a45246fa28b8e53be0f983 Cited by: 61 B. Wagner R. Sulpizio G. Zanchetta S. Wulf M. Wessels G. Daut N. Nowaczyk article Schultheiß2008141 The morphologically remarkable endemic fauna within ancient lakes has received much attention in the literature. More inconspicuous taxa, however, often lack detailed molecular and morphometrical examination, although their proportion of the endemic fauna of an ancient lake must not be underestimated. Consequently, a better understanding of evolutionary patterns and processes within these lakes requires more knowledge about the often-neglected inconspicuous taxa. In the present study, we focus on the notoriously cryptic pea clam genus Pisidium (Bivalvia: Sphaeriidae). Though the genus is widely distributed, most endemic species are reported only from ancient lakes, including the European ancient sister lake system of Ohrid and Prespa on the Balkan Peninsula. Here we test for the first time hypotheses on the evolution of the endemic pea clams in this European biodiversity hotspot by molecular means. Combining a broad 16S phylogeny (comprising most European pea clam species), network analyses and morphometrical analyses, we found interesting biogeographical patterns and provide evidence for cryptic species in both lakes. Furthermore, we confirmed the proposed sister-species relationship of the endemics P. edlaueri in Lake Ohrid and P. maasseni in Lake Prespa, and we suggest scenarios of the endemic pea clam evolution within both lakes. The patterns of speciation found in the genus Pisidium are compared to patterns in morphologically distinct molluscan groups in lakes Ohrid und Prespa. © 2008 Springer Science+Business Media B.V. Conference paper 2008 English 15735117 10.1007/s10750-008-9553-3 Hydrobiologia 615 141 – 156 1 Eurasia; Europe; Lake Mikri Prespa; Lake Ohrid; Southern Europe; Bivalvia; Mollusca; Pisidium; Pisum sativum; Sphaeriidae (bivalves); Biodiversity; Electric network analysis; Graph theory; Network protocols; Sensor networks; endemic species; fauna; lake; mollusc; morphometry; phylogenetics; phylogeography; speciation (biology); taxonomy; Ancient lakes; Cryptic speciation; Morphometrics; Phylogenetics; Pisidium; Pisidium edlaueri; Pisidium maasseni; Lakes https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-53649091991&doi=10.1007%2fs10750-008-9553-3&partnerID=40&md5=75500f2aa3af21e3b821c0853b629060 Cited by: 43 Roland Schultheiß Christian Albrecht Ulrich Bößneck Thomas Wilke article Wagner2008341 Lake Ohrid, at the Macedonian/Albanian border, was likely tectonically formed during the Tertiary and therefore is one of the oldest lakes in Europe. However, only a few studies exist concerning the potential of Lake Ohrid sediments for long-term palaeoenvironmental reconstructions within the scope of future potential deep-drilling campaigns. Therefore, as a first step, a transect of short surface sediment cores was investigated for chronology, physical properties, grain size, and biogeochemistry. The results were compared with information derived from a shallow hydro-acoustic seismic survey. The investigations indicate a rather uniform and bioturbated sedimentation in the central part of the lake basin with mean sedimentation rates of ca. 0.5-1 mm/year. The sediment composition is dominated by authigenetic carbonates. Diatom frustules or fragments form the major part of biogenic matter deposits, as indicated by the relatively high contents of biogenic opal and low contents of total organic carbon and total nitrogen. The shallow hydro-acoustic seismic survey indicates that horizons of sediment redeposition occur sporadically. Towards the shore of the lake, the sedimentation rate increases and sedimentation is increasingly influenced by local inflows or mass-movement processes triggered by tectonic activities. Thus Lake Ohrid has a high potential for palaeoenvironmental reconstructions on a multi-decadal scale and provides additional information concerning tectonic activity in the region. © 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved. Article 2008 English 00310182 10.1016/j.palaeo.2007.10.015 Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology 259 Elsevier B.V. 341 – 356 2-3 Albania; Eurasia; Europe; Lake Ohrid; Macedonia [Southern Europe]; Southern Europe; Bacillariophyta; biogeochemistry; bioturbation; chronology; comparative study; core analysis; grain size; lacustrine deposit; mass movement; paleoenvironment; physical property; reconstruction; sedimentation rate; seismic survey; tectonics; Tertiary https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-40149110826&doi=10.1016%2fj.palaeo.2007.10.015&partnerID=40&md5=81111f5a66c4846467dbda59d85f83cc Cited by: 63 Bernd Wagner Klaus Reicherter Gerhard Daut Martin Wessels Andreas Matzinger Antje Schwalb Zoran Spirkovski Mitat Sanxhaku