Unusual biogenic calcite structures in two shallow lakes, James Ross Island, Antarctica

The floors of two shallow endorheic lakes, located on volcanic surfaces on James Ross Island, are covered with calcareous organosedimentary structures. Their biological and chemical composition, lake water characteristics, and seasonal variability of the thermal regime are introduced. The lakes are...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Biogeosciences
Main Authors: Elster, J. (Josef), Nedbalová, L. (Linda), Vodrážka, R., Láska, K., Haloda, J., Komárek, J. (Jiří)
Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
Language:English
Published: 2016
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-13-535-2016
http://hdl.handle.net/11104/0266369
Description
Summary:The floors of two shallow endorheic lakes, located on volcanic surfaces on James Ross Island, are covered with calcareous organosedimentary structures. Their biological and chemical composition, lake water characteristics, and seasonal variability of the thermal regime are introduced. The lakes are frozen down to the bottom for 8– 9 months a year and their water chemistry is characterised by low conductivity and neutral to slightly alkaline pH. The photosynthetic microbial mat is composed of ilamentous cyanobacteria and microalgae that are considered to be Antarctic endemic species.