In the early nineteenth century, Iceland entered the global market, which caused a large expansion and modernisation of agricultural practices, including rising livestock numbers, higher crop density and the introduction of artificial fertilizers and pesticides. However, the impact of these pressures on Icelandic ecosystems over the past two centuries are largely unknown. This study applies paleolimnological analyses to a sedi...

Over recent decades, Iceland has experienced a decline in conventional agriculture, a rapid increase in tourism and significant climatic change, all of which can potentially influence lake ecosystems. To investigate limnological changes over the past 70 years, sediment cores were collected from two lakes: Hafravatn, near Reykjavík and surrounded by summerhouses, and Grænavatn, a less accessible lake 25 km south-west of Reykjav...