Polar Lakes and Rivers: Limnology of Arctic and Antarctic Aquatic Ecosystems

347 Pages·2008·23.05 MB·English

by  Warwick F. Vincent

Polar Lakes and Rivers
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Polar Lakes and
Rivers
Limnology of Arctic and
Antarctic Aquatic Ecosystems
EDITED BY
Warwick F. Vincent and Johanna Laybourn-Parry
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Preface
From the summit of the tumulus I saw the ice ahead of community, scientists typically work exclusively
us in the same condition . . . a long blue lake or a rushing in either the Arctic or in Antarctica. Both of us
stream in every furrow. have conducted research in both polar regions,
Peary, R.E. (1907). Nearest the Pole, and this has impressed upon us the remarkable
p. 220. Hutchinson, London. diversity of high-latitude aquatic ecosystems, and
their striking commonalities and differences. The
We marched down a narrow gap, cut through a great bar
of granite, and saw ahead of us a large lake, some three Arctic and Antarctica are currently the focus of
miles long. It was of course frozen, but through the thick unprecedented public and political attention, not
ice covering we could see water plants, and below the only for their natural resources and geopolitical
steep cliffs the water seemed very deep. signifi cance, but also because they are continuing
Taylor, G. (1913). The western journeys. In Huxley, L. to provide dramatic evidence of how fast our glo-
(ed.), Scott’s Last Expedition, vol. II, p. 193. bal environment is changing. Moreover, 2007–2008
Smith Elder & Co., London. marked the fourth International Polar Year (IPY),
so the time seemed right to turn the talk into
From the early explorers onwards, visitors to the action. However, if it had not been for Ian Sherman
Arctic and to Antarctica have commented with of Oxford University Press, and his persuasive-
great interest on the presence of lakes, wetlands, and ness and encouragement at the American Society
fl owing waters. These environments encompass a for Limnology and Oceanography meeting in
spectacular range of conditions for aquatic life, from Santiago de Compostela in 2005, we would prob-
dilute surface melt ponds, to deep, highly stratifi ed, ably not have embarked on this book.
hypersaline lakes. Many of these high-latitude eco- One of the valuable opportunities provided
systems are now proving to be attractive models by this book project has been to bring together
to explore fundamental themes in limnology; for groups of Arctic and Antarctic scientists for many
example, landscape–lake interactions, the adapta- of the chapters. People who ordinarily would not
tion of plants, animals, and microbes to environ- have found themselves collaborating have shared
mental extremes, and climate effects on ecosystem their knowledge and expertise from the two polar
structure and functioning. Some of these waters regions. We hope that this collaboration will foster
also have direct global implications; for example, further joint ventures among our colleagues, and
permafrost thaw lakes as sources of greenhouse that it will encourage a more pole-to-pole approach
gases, subglacial aquatic environments as a plan- towards high-latitude ecosystems, in the spirit
etary storehouse of ancient microbes, and Arctic of IPY.
rivers as major inputs of fresh water and organic This book is intended for both the specialist
carbon to the world ocean. and the more general reader. To assist the latter
For more years than we care to admit, the two of we have included a glossary of terms. The color
us have talked about the need for a text on high- plates are also intended to provide a better picture
latitude lakes and rivers that compared and con- of the habitats and organisms to those unfamiliar
trasted the two polar regions. Whereas the Arctic with them. We asked the authors to adopt a tutorial
and Antarctic have much in common, they also approach for nonspecialists, to limit their citations
have distinct differences. Within the polar research to be illustrative (rather than exhaustive) of key
v
vi PREFACE
concepts and observations, and, where possible, to worked with us on the limnology of Arctic and
consider differences and similarities between the Antarctic lakes and rivers; and our research fund-
Arctic and Antarctic. We have greatly appreciated ing and logistics agencies, including the Natural
their willingness to be involved in this project and Sciences and Engineering Research Council
the excellence of their contributions. (Canada), the Canada Research Chair program,
In addition to thanking the contributing the Canadian Network of Centers of Excellence
authors to this volume, we express our gratitude program ArcticNet, Polar Shelf Canada, the
to Ian Sherman, Helen Eaton, and other staff at Natural Environment Research Council (UK),
Oxford University Press for their expert help the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research
in bringing this volume through to completion; Council (UK), the Leverhulme Trust, and the
the many reviewers of the manuscripts; Janet Australian, UK, New Zealand, Spanish, and US
Drewery at Keele University and Tanya Adrych Antarctic programmes.
at the University of Tasmania for assistance in
Warwick F. Vincent and
manuscript preparation; our students, postdoc-
Johanna Laybourn-Parry
toral fellows, and other researchers who have
2008
About International Polar Year
The International Polar Year (IPY) 2007–2008 rep- Researchers in IPY 2007–8 have made a commit-
resents one of the most ambitious coordinated ment to raising awareness about the polar regions
international science programmes ever attempted. and increasing the accessibility of science. This
Researchers from over sixty countries and a broad book is part of an internationally endorsed IPY
range of disciplines are involved in this two-year outreach project.
effort to study the Arctic and Antarctic and explore For more information, please visit www.ipy.org.
the strong links these regions have with the rest of
the globe.
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Contents
Preface v
About international polar year vii
Contributors xvii
1 Introduction to the limnology of high-latitude lake and river ecosystems 1
Warwick F. Vincent, John E. Hobbie, and Johanna Laybourn-Parry
Outline 1
1.1 Introduction 1
1.2 History of polar limnology 4
1.3 Limnological diversity 5
1.4 Controlling variables for biological production 7
1.4.1 Water supply 7
1.4.2 Irradiance 8
1.4.3 Low temperature 8
1.4.4 Nutrient supply 9
1.4.5 Benthic communities 9
1.5 Food webs in polar lakes 10
1.6 Polar lakes and global change 12
1.6.1 Physical thresholds 12
1.6.2 Biogeochemical thresholds 13
1.6.3 Biological thresholds 13
1.7 Conclusions 14
Acknowledgements 14
References 14
Appendix 1.1 18
2 Origin and geomorphology of lakes in the polar regions 25
Reinhard Pienitz, Peter T. Doran, and Scott F. Lamoureux
Outline 25
2.1 Introduction 25
2.2 Lake origins 26
2.2.1 Wetlands 26
2.2.2 Ice-dependent lakes 27
2.2.3 Postglacial lakes 28
2.2.4 Thermokarst lakes and ponds 30
2.2.5 Coastal uplift systems 31
2.2.6 Meteoritic impact crater lakes 32
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