Benthic algae in littoral and profundal areas of a deep subarctic lake

Abstract

Collections of benthic algae were made in an isolated subarctic lake during July and August 1975. Samples were taken from 30 stations situated at depths of 0.1 to 35 m. The number of species associated with sediments declined with depth from 66 to 22 m. Achnanthes minutissima, Navicula pupula, Cymbella spp., and Nostoc pruniforme reached greatest relative abundance in shallow water whereas Nitzschia palea and Nitzschia dissipata were relatively common below 20 m. Amphora ovalis, Gyrosigma spenceri, and Tabellaria flocculosa did not exhibit a consistent distribution pattern. Standing crops of the epipelon ranged from3 × 106 cells cm−2 (8.5 × 10 μm3 cm−2) at a depth of 0.1–5 m to8 × 103 cells cm−2 (7 × 106 μm3 cm−2) below 20 m. Low light levels, and to a lesser degree, temperature were the most important factors influencing the diversity, species composition, and density of the epipelon in deep water.The epipsammic community consisted of 10 species at all depths. Although Achnanthes pinnata was rare in deep water, the relative abundance of other common species (Amphora ovalis var. pediculus, Fragilaria construens var. venter, and Achnanthes minutissima) was constant at all stations. Standing crops varied from 3.5 × 104 cells cm−2 (39 × 106 μm3 cm−2) at 0.1–5 m to0.3 × 104 cells cm−2 (0.3 × 106 μm3 cm−2) below 20 m. Although low light levels probably controlled densities in deep water, physical characteristics of the substrate determined the diversity and species composition of the community.