Seasonal Variations in the Limnology and Ecosystem Metabolism of a Canadian hHgh-Arctic Permafrost Thaw Lake

• Main Author: Wisniewski, Victoria Eleonora
• Other Authors: Lehnherr, Igor, Geography
• Format: Thesis
• Language: unknown
• Published: 2020
• Subjects: Aquatic ecosystem metabolism; Carbon cycling; High-Arctic; Limnology; Seasonality; 0368; Arctic; Nunavut; Climate change; Ice; permafrost
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/1807/101175

Aquatic ecosystem metabolism describes the turnover of carbon biomass and energy available within an ecosystem to support aquatic food webs. This research provides insight on ecosystem responses to seasonality in a high-Arctic thaw lake. Skeleton Lake (Nunavut) was sampled over multiple ice-covered and open water seasons to quantify how the presence and absence of ice effects physical, chemical, and biological factors that drive whole-lake ecosystem metabolism. This provides valuable data on the energetic processes supporting all aquatic life, allowing us to understand how climate change may impact the security of freshwater resources. This research captures a meaningful understanding of year-round carbon metabolism in small Arctic lakes and displays the importance environmental factors have on metabolic processes. Open water provides ample opportunity for primary production in surface waters; while deep below ice, this lake teems with biological activity both in complete darkness and at the first signs of spring light. M.Sc.