Short comment on chironomid assemblages and stratigraphy of high altitude lakes from Tibet

Abstract

A recent chironomid record of three shallow, highaltitude lakes in southern Tibet, as well as a shortpalaeolimnological history of one lake, are presented.The recent chironomid assemblages consistedof 13 taxa; one of the Orthocladiinae taxarecorded most likely represents a new species. Inspite of the low head capsule concentration in thesediment core of Lake Karuugema, probably dueto physical disturbance, redistribution and outwashof head capsules, there was a trend from assemblagescomposed of stenothermal/rheophilictaxa to eurythermal/limnophilic taxa. This shiftin assemblage structure suggests that changes inmonsoon precipitation and catchment hydrologymay have influenced the habitat conditions of thechironomids.