The impact of nutrient change and climate alteration on the deep eutrophic lake, Rostherne Mere, Cheshire, UK

This is a series of sediment, ecology, hydrology, climate and model simulations conducted as part of a PhD research project on Rostherne Mere and in its catchment. These data were collected to show the relationship between a changing climate and altering nutrient loads for the impacts on the past, present and future of ecological and limnological change. Rostherne Mere is part of the Shropshire-Cheshire meres, situated close to the town of Knutsford, near Manchester Airport. Long-term monitoring of sediment traps, thermal lake profiles and nutrient concentrations are combined with intensive catchment monitoring, sediment cores and future projected modelling scenarios to give an up to date perspective on the lake restoration and to inform future management debate. The combined datasets include sediment core organic carbon burial calculations; sediment trap settling flux; river flow and nutrient loads; lake nutrient concentrations, phytoplankton assemblages, thermal profiles and secchi depth; high-resolution seasonal sediment trap diatom assemblages; PROTECH model validation and future scenario assessments. The work was carried out as part of a Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) funded PhD [grant number NE/L002493/1], with part of the work also funded by the NERC small grant [grant number NE/H011978/1] and the UKLEON network monitoring station [NERC small grant number NE/1007261/1].