Open AccessPhytoplankton and pelagic primary productivity in Øvre Heimdalsvatn
Author(s) -
Tangen Karl,
Brettum Pål
Publication year - 1978
Publication title -
ecography
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.973
H-Index - 128
eISSN - 1600-0587
pISSN - 0906-7590
DOI - 10.1111/j.1600-0587.1978.tb00949.x
Subject(s) - phytoplankton , primary productivity , standing crop , algae , environmental science , productivity , ecology , pelagic zone , oceanography , biology , biomass (ecology) , nutrient , geology , economics , macroeconomics
A phytoplankton investigation was carried out in the subalpine, low‐productive Norwegian lake Øvre Heimdalsvatn in 1969–70 and 1972. This paper describes the temporal and spatial distribution of the standing stock of phytoplankton, and phytoplankton primary productivity. The annual average primary productivity in 1972 was 4.0–4.9 mg C m −3 d −1 ; the annual average standing stock varied from 120 mg m −3 (freshweight) in 1969–70, to 250 mg m −3 in 1972. Phytoplankton species composition and size distribution is discussed. Throughout the year the phytoplankton is dominated by small (ultraplankton) species; μ‐algae (< 5 μm) showed cell concentrations up to 15 mill. cells 1 −1 . The dominating group was chrysophytes; cryptophytes, dinoflagellates or green algae were at times abundant. A phytoplankton monthly budget and a diagram showing annual average carbon flow through the standing stock of phytoplankton are presented; the phytoplankton dynamics in Øvre Heimdalsvatn is compared to that of other low‐productive lakes.