Limnology of freshwater lakes of Schirmacher Oasis, East Antarctica
Abstract
Ten freshwater lakes in the Schirmacher Oasis, Antarctica, with water temperature varying from 1.0 to 7.9 degrees; dissolved oxygen from 10.4 to 13.8 mg l/1 and pH from 7.6 to 8.8, were studied biologically during January-February of 1985 and 1987. The nutrient concentrations showed wide fluctuations with some lakes showing very low levels of nitrate and phosphate. the concentrations of dissolved and particulate carbohydrate indicated high organic matter content. Shallow water microfauna included seven taxonomic groups with minimum and maximum faunal density of 43 and 823 individuals in 10 cm/2 respectively was recorded from covered and uncovered sediments. Faunal density showed a strong correlation with organic carbon content and the sediment texture
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