An examination of the limnology and freshwater diatom autoecology of Bathurst Island, Northwest Territories, Canadian High Arctic
grantor: University of Toronto Limnological analysis of 38 lakes and ponds on Bathurst Island, N.W.T., Canada revealed that the sites were alkaline (pH = 8.0-8.6), and that the major ion concentrations were relatively high, reflecting the calcareous nature of local geology. Total nitrogen ranged fro...
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| Format: | Thesis |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
1999
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| Online Access: | http://hdl.handle.net/1807/13426 http://www.collectionscanada.ca/obj/s4/f2/dsk1/tape9/PQDD_0001/MQ45525.pdf |
| Summary: | grantor: University of Toronto Limnological analysis of 38 lakes and ponds on Bathurst Island, N.W.T., Canada revealed that the sites were alkaline (pH = 8.0-8.6), and that the major ion concentrations were relatively high, reflecting the calcareous nature of local geology. Total nitrogen ranged from 247[mu]g/L-1065.2[mu]g/L. Total (unfiltered) phosphorus ranged from 3.2[mu]g/L-64.0[mu]g/L. PON:POP and TN:TPU analysis found 63% of the sites to most likely be N-limited. Linear regression analysis of chlorophyll a vs. TN revealed a significant correlation for N-limited sites, indicating that nitrogen may be limiting algal growth in most sites. Principle Components Analysis identified dominant limnological gradients. 148 diatom taxa were identified from surface-sediment of 29 lakes and ponds. Dominant species were small, pennate and benthic. 'Fragilaria ' and 'Pinnularia' species dominated colder, larger sites; warmer, more nutrient-rich sites supported larger diatom assemblages. Canonical Correspondence and Weighted-Averaging analyses identified the potential to build diatom-based transfer functions for paleoreconstructions on Bathurst Island. M.Sc. |
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