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Physical and chemical limnology of 204 lakes from the Canadian Arctic Archipelago

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Abstract

The physical and chemical limnology of 204 lakes from across the Canadian Arctic Archipelago was examined. Mean summer air temperature did not correlate well with lake chlorophyll levels due to the predominance of ultra-oligotrophic hard-water lakes located in a polar climate. Local geology influences ion budgets and is an important factor in determining pelagic phosphorus availability, carbon cycling and metal concentrations. Ratios of particulate carbon, particulate nitrogen and chlorophyll a indicate that planktonic microorganisms are not always the major producers of organic carbon in arctic lakes. Allochthonous particulate matter contributes significantly to the carbon and phosphorus budgets of small and mid-sized lakes across the Arctic, although the availability of these elements is controlled by many interacting geochemical and biological factors. Phosphorus is generally limiting, however, increases in available phosphorus, nitrogen and carbon are all required to make significant long-term differences in lake productivity. Particulate phosphorus levels can be high in lakes where phosphorus-rich shales or carbonatite bedrock are present. These phosphorus-enriched lakes are found in several areas across the mid-arctic islands, however, only small amounts of this nutrient are available as soluble reactive phosphorus. Although lakes throughout the Arctic are typically ultra-oligotrophic, they still represent an important sink for allochthonous nutrient deposition.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Research Division, Canadian Museum of Nature, P.O. Box 3443, Station D, Ottawa, Ontario, K1P 6P4, Canada

    Paul B. Hamilton

  2. Laboratoire de paléoclimatologie et climatologie, Département de géographie, Université d'Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, K1N 6N5, Canada

    Konrad Gajewski & David E. Atkinson

  3. Département de biologie, Université d'Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, K1N 6N5, Canada

    David R.S. Lean

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Hamilton, P.B., Gajewski, K., Atkinson, D.E. et al. Physical and chemical limnology of 204 lakes from the Canadian Arctic Archipelago. Hydrobiologia 457, 133–148 (2001). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1012275316543

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