The Relict Fauna of Greiner Lake, Victoria Island, N.W.T., Canada

• Published in: Journal of the Fisheries Research Board of Canada
• Main Author: Johnson, Lionel
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Canadian Science Publishing 1962
• Subjects: Canada; Greiner Lake; Victoria Island; victoria island
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1139/f62-073; http://www.nrcresearchpress.com/doi/pdf/10.1139/f62-073

A survey of Greiner Lake in Victoria Island revealed the presence there of four species usually considered to be 'relicts' of marine or glacial events. The species are: Mysis relicta, Limnocalanus macrurus, Gammaracanthus loricatus aestuariorum and Mesidothea (Saduria) entomon. M. entomon is a new record for fresh waters isolated from contact with the sea in North America and G. loricatus aestuariorum is a new record for this region. Greiner Lake (15 m above sea level) is in an area that has risen from the sea within the last 1,300 years. It has a maximum depth of 11 m and a maximum summer temperature of approximately 8 °C. An analysis of the lake water is given and also a brief account of other species present. Possible methods for the arrival of the relicts in Victoria Island are discussed.