Phytoplankton and Bacterial Production and Biomass in Subalpine Eastern Brook Lake, Sierra Nevada, California. II. Comparison with Other High-Elevation Lakes
Thomas WH, Cho BC, Azam F. 1991. Phytoplankton and Bacterial Production and Biomass in Subalpine Eastern Brook Lake, Sierra Nevada, California. II. Comparison with Other High-Elevation Lakes. Arctic and Alpine Research. 23(3):296-302
In ice-free seasons, phytoplankton production in subalpine Eastern Brook Lake, Sierra Nevada, California, ranged from 11.9 to 61.4 μg C L-1 d-1. Integrated production ranged from 40 to 235 mg C m-2 d-1 and yearly values would be 23.8 gC m-2 yr-1 (1986) and 22.4 gC m-2 yr-1 (1987). These values were in the middle ranges of those for other north-temperate, high-elevation lakes. Photosynthetic efficiencies were 0.016 to 0.103% and were similar to those in other subalpine lakes. Near-surface chlorophyll (ice-free season) ranged from 1.46 to 2.62 μg L-1 but approached 25 μg L-1 under the ice (winter 1987). Ice-free season chlorophyll values in Eastern Brook Lake were similar to those for other Sierra Nevada lakes except Lake Tahoe (lower values), but were generally higher than estimated values for other lakes. Dominant genera (ice-free season) were Chlorella or Disphora. Other genera were dominant in other lakes. Under the ice (1987) a massive bloom of the Chrysophyte Dinobryon occurred; a similar winter bloom was reported for a Colorado lake. Bacterial production ranged from 3 to 19 μg C L-1 d-1 and was similar to that in Austrian alpine lakes, but greater than that for a Norwegian mountain lake. Bacterial numbers ranged from 0.1 to 5.5× 109 cells L-1 and were similar to those in other mountain lakes. In contrast with other mountain lakes, nutrients were rarely detectable in Eastern Brook Lake and the biota must depend on regeneration. We conclude that Eastern Brook Lake is oligotrophic, not ultraoligotrophic.
- Type
- Journal Article
- Authors
- Thomas, William; Cho, Byung; Azam, Farooq
- Units
- SEKI
- Keywords
- Bacteria, Biomass, Brook Lake, Ecology, Photosynthesis, Phytoplankton, Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks CA