Primary Production in Alaskan Tundra Lakes
Howard HH and Prescott GW. 1971. Primary Production in Alaskan Tundra Lakes. The American Midland Naturalist. 85(1):108-123
Primary production studies of tundra lakes of the Brooks Range and coastal plain reveal two production types. Most lakes had a very low mean rate (20-44 mg C/m3/24 hr), whereas shallow (ca. 1 m maximum depth) lakes of the coastal plain had very high values (223-285 mg C/m3/24 hr). The lakes may be productive for up to 8 months but the period may be as short as 4 months in lakes that freeze to the bottom. No production was detected in any lake from December through March, though sunlight was available from mid-January. The highest production rates occurred after the period of maximum radiation either under the ice (June) or when lakes were open (July-September).
- Type
- Journal Article
- Authors
- Howard, H; Prescott, G
- Units
- ARCN , BELA , CAKR , GAAR , KOVA , NOAT
- Keywords
- Arctic, Ecology, Lakes, Limnology, Nutrients, Productivity, Vegetation, Water Chemistry