The ecology and chemistry of caldera springs of Crater Lake National Park
Gregory SV, Wildman RC, Ashkenas LR, Lamberti G. 1990. The ecology and chemistry of caldera springs of Crater Lake National Park. Pages 81-89. In Drake ET, Larson GL, Dymond J, Collier R (ed): Crater Lake: An ecosystem study. Corvallis, Oregon. June 18-22, 1988. San Francisco. 69th Annual Meeting of the Pacific Division/American Association for the Advancement of Science
"Six springs within the Crater Lake caldera were investigated in August 1986. Spring 42, in particular, exhibited high concentrations of nitrate (287 ppb); the other springs all contained less then 60 ppb. Annual patterns of water chemistry indicate high concentrations of nitrate under snow cover, followed by dilution during snowmelt and a rise in concentration in late summer as discharge decreases. In Spring 48, there was a rapid uptake of nitrate from the source to the outlet into the lake, decreasing from 58 to 18 ppb. Biological activity in the study spring corresponded to the observed pattern of nutrient availability. Abundance of benthic algae and rates of gross primary production were highest in Spring 42. At the relative concentration of nitrogen to phosphorous in these springs, primary production would be limited by inorganic nitrogen. Primary production was also high in Spring 48. Primary production in the other springs was less than half of that observed in Spring 42 and 48, which may be related together lower nitrate concentrations or more unstable channels. Aquatic invertebrates, excluding chironomids, were more abundant in Spring 42 and 48, a pattern consistent with the higher primary production in these two springs. Invertebrates were most abundant in Spring 48, which may be related to the greater channel stability in this stream. Hypotheses for both natural and man-caused processes responsible for these patterns of water chemistry and biological activity are discussed."
- Type
- Conference Proceeding Paper
- Authors
- Gregory, S; Wildman, R; Ashkenas, L; Lamberti, G
- Units
- CRLA
- Keywords
- Aquatic Ecology, Aquatic Sciences, Chemistry, Ecology, Geochemistry, Invertebrates, Springs, Stream Ecology, Surface Water, Water Chemistry, Water Quality