Limnology of shallow lakes in the Yukon Flats National Wildlife Refuge, Interior Alaska
Dates
Year
2003
Citation
Heglund, P. J., and Jones, J. R., 2003, Limnology of shallow lakes in the Yukon Flats National Wildlife Refuge, Interior Alaska: Lake and Reservoir Management, v. 19, no. 2, p. 133-140.
Summary
Data from 129 shallow riverine takes within the Yukon Flats National Wildlife Refuge (between 65degrees 45degreesN and 67degrees 30degreesN and 142degrees 30degreesW and 150degrees 00'W) are presented as a baseline contribution to the regional limnology of Alaska. Ion composition reflected the composition of carbonate alluvium within the region; in most lakes Ca > Mg and bicarbonate dominated the anions (similar to90%). In lakes where alkali deposits occurred, Na, Mg and bicarbonate were the principal ions. Some 25% of the takes were slightly brackish (conductivity >500 S) to brackish. The lakes are colored, with 18 to 447 Pt-units. And, they are fertile, with over 70% classified as eu-or hypereutrophic on the basis of their nutrient [...]
Summary
Data from 129 shallow riverine takes within the Yukon Flats National Wildlife Refuge (between 65degrees 45degreesN and 67degrees 30degreesN and 142degrees 30degreesW and 150degrees 00'W) are presented as a baseline contribution to the regional limnology of Alaska. Ion composition reflected the composition of carbonate alluvium within the region; in most lakes Ca > Mg and bicarbonate dominated the anions (similar to90%). In lakes where alkali deposits occurred, Na, Mg and bicarbonate were the principal ions. Some 25% of the takes were slightly brackish (conductivity >500 S) to brackish. The lakes are colored, with 18 to 447 Pt-units. And, they are fertile, with over 70% classified as eu-or hypereutrophic on the basis of their nutrient content. Ratios of N:P suggested nitrogen was potentially limiting in about half the study lakes and was increasingly important at high P values. The yield of algal chlorophyll (Chl) per unit of plant nutrient was low in these lakes and Chl-nutrient relations explained less of the variance relative to published models. Invertebrate grazing potentially regulates Chl in some takes. Typically these lakes freeze to the sediments and most do not support a permanent fishery. High ratios of organic suspended solids to Chl indicate detrital carbon contributes to the filterable carbon pool of these shallow lakes.
