Limnological features of a remote alpine lake in Montana, including a new species of Cladophora (Chlorophyta)
Stanford JA and Prescott GW. 1988. Limnological features of a remote alpine lake in Montana, including a new species of Cladophora (Chlorophyta). Journal of the North American Benthological Society. 7(2):140-151
Cladophora gyrfalconium, a previously unknown alga that forms an epilithic mat, is described. The species was discovered in Gyrfalcon Lake, the highest elevation lake in Glacier National Park. We [the authors] describe Cladophora gyrfalconium, a previously unknown alga that forms an epilithic mat, 0.04 g average ash free dry weight (AFDW)/m^2), in the littoral areas of Gyrfalcon Lake. This slow growing alga is the dominant autotroph in this cold (< 70 ice-free days/yr), ultra-oligotrophic lake (average nutrients: 3 μg/L total phosphorus; 75 μg/L Total Nitrogen). No colonization by the alga was observed when an array of experimental substrata were left in the lake, and regrowth of cropped mats was negligible 2 years later. Chironomids of the genus Pseudodiamesa appear to be the only major benthic grazers in the lake's simple food web. The algal mat seems to be in a climax successional state and is thought to be a relict population.
- Type
- Journal Article
- Authors
- Stanford, Jack; Prescott, Gerald
- Units
- GLAC , WRD
- Keywords
- Alpine Zone, Aquatic Sciences, Cladophora (green algae genus), Glacier National Park MT, Gyrfalcon Lake Glacier National Park MT, Lakes & Ponds, New Species, No Keyword, WRBIB