Browning of freshwaters Consequences to ecosystem services, underlying drivers, and potential mitigation measures

• Published in: Ambio Vol. 49; no. 2; pp. 375 - 390
• Main Authors: Kritzberg, Emma S., Hasselquist, Eliza Maher, Škerlep, Martin, Löfgren, Stefan, Olsson, Olle, Stadmark, Johanna, Valinia, Salar, Hansson, Lars-Anders, Laudon, Hjalmar
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Dordrecht Springer Science + Business Media 01-02-2020; Springer Netherlands; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Acid deposition; Acidification; Animals; Aquatic ecosystems; Atmospheric Sciences; Biodiversity; Browning; Carbon; Climate Change; Dissolved organic carbon; DOC; Drinking water; Earth and Environmental Science; Earth and Related Environmental Sciences; Ecology; Ecosystem; Ecosystem services; Environment; Environmental Engineering/Biotechnology; Environmental Management; Environmental perception; Environmental Sciences; Fresh water; Geochemistry; Geokemi; Geovetenskap och miljövetenskap; Hydrology; Iron; Lakes; Land use; Land use management; Light penetration; Miljövetenskap; Natural Sciences; Natural waters; Naturvetenskap; Oceanografi, hydrologi, vattenresurser; Oceanography, Hydrology, Water Resources; Organic carbon; Physical Geography; Regions; REVIEW; Scandinavian and Nordic Countries; Structure-function relationships; Surface water; Scandinavian and Nordic Countries; Climate change; DOC; Browning; Iron; Acid deposition; Land use
• ISSN: 0044-7447; 1654-7209; 1654-7209
• DOI: 10.1007/s13280-019-01227-5

Browning of surface waters, as a result of increasing dissolved organic carbon and iron concentrations, is a widespread phenomenon with implications to the structure and function of aquatic ecosystems. In this article, we provide an overview of the consequences of browning in relation to ecosystem services, outline what the underlying drivers and mechanisms of browning are, and specifically focus on exploring potential mitigation measures to locally counteract browning. These topical concepts are discussed with a focus on Scandinavia, but are of relevance also to other regions. Browning is of environmental concern as it leads to, e.g., increasing costs and risks for drinking water production, and reduced fish production in lakes by limiting light penetration. While climate change, recovery from acidification, and land-use change are all likely factors contributing to the observed browning, managing the land use in the hydrologically connected parts of the landscape may be the most feasible way to counteract browning of natural waters.