Mollusks in the zoobenthos of relict lakes with abnormally high biological production in the eastern European subarctic

Abstract

Species diversity and density of mollusks have been studied in Vashutkiny Lakes (Bol’shezemel’skaya Tundra, northeastern Europe). These lakes are comparable to northern boreal lakes in mollusk species diversity and density levels. Two hypotheses proposed by Zvereva are analyzed: on the relict origin of the ecosystem of these lakes and on the leading role of intrazonal factors in the formation of their abnormally high level of production. Both hypotheses are confirmed by recent data. The production of these lakes is mainly determined by their flowing regime, which offers intense convective heat exchange between water masses and suprapermafrost taliks under the lakes and leads to the accumulation of summer heat in friable Quaternary sediments, which are widespread in lake depressions. Intense water exchange together with strong wind-induced mixing hinders the stratification of water masses.