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Phytoplankton Abundance and Primary Production Rates in Two Arctic Ponds
Author(s) -
Kalff Jacob
Publication year - 1967
Publication title -
ecology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.144
H-Index - 294
eISSN - 1939-9170
pISSN - 0012-9658
DOI - 10.2307/1936499
Subject(s) - phytoplankton , tundra , autotroph , zoology , abundance (ecology) , biology , facultative , ecology , heterotroph , eutrophication , arctic , nutrient , environmental science , bacteria , genetics
Phytoplankton abundance and rates of primary production (C 1 4 ), were studied at bidaily or tridaily intervals during two summers in two small Alaskan tundra ponds. The phytoplankton, composed largely of unicellular flagellates, numbered between 0.79 and over 100 X 10 6 cells per liter. Rarely did the percentage of cells smaller than 11μ fall below 75% of the total; net phytoplankton were negligible at all times. Annual carbon fixation during 1963 and 1964 was 380 mg/m 2 (830 mg/m 3 ) and 820 mg/m 2 (2,000 mg/m 3 ) in pond III and 670 mg C/m 2 and 850 mg/m 2 in pond II. Daily production, on the basis of a 140—day growing season in 1963 and 1964, averaged 2.6 and 5.9 mg/m 2 respectively in pond III and 4.8 and 6.1 mg/m 2 in pond II. Annual production rates are the lowest on record for fresh waters. Phytoplankton abundance and carbon fixation were, during a portion of the study, significantly correlated. Evidence was obtained that many of the phytoplankton were facultative heterotorphs and capable of supplementing autotrophic growth with heterotrophic growth under low light conditions.