Freshwater lakes are among the most valuable and sensitive components of the Earth’s ecosystems, providing essential services such as drinking water, food production, climate regulation, biodiversity support, and recreational benefits. Despite occupying a relatively small proportion of the global land surface, lakes play a disproportionately large role in biogeochemical cycling and regional climate processes. However, these ecosystems are increasingly threatened by climate change, which acts both as a direct stressor and as a catalyst that amplifies existing anthropogenic pressures such as nutrient enrichment, land-use change, and water extraction.
Climate change influences lake ecosystems through interconnected physical, chemical, and biological pathways. Rising air temperatures alter thermal regimes, strengthening and prolonging stratification. Changes in precipitation patterns and increased frequency of extreme events such as droughts, heatwaves and intense rainfall modify the hydrological inputs, water levels, and residence times. Enhanced evaporation further disrupts lake water balance, particularly in shallow and closed systems. These physical changes cascade into alterations in water quality, nutrient cycling, and dissolved oxygen dynamics.
Beyond ecological impacts, climate-driven lake degradation has significant socioeconomic consequences. Declining water quality, reduced fish yields, and diminished recreational value threaten human health, food security and livelihoods. Particularly in vulnerable regions. This review synthesises current knowledge on climate-induced changes in lake ecosystems, highlighting the key mechanisms, feedbacks and research gaps and underscores the urgent need for integrated management and adaptive strategies to safeguard lake ecosystems in a warming world.
