Environmental and biological characteristics of high altitude lochs in Scotland

0334150 - BC 2010 RIV CZ eng J - Journal Article
Kernan, M. - Brancelj, A. - Clarke, G. - Lami, A. - Raddum, G. - Straškrábová, Viera - Stuchlík, E. - Velle, G. - Ventura, M.
Environmental and biological characteristics of high altitude lochs in Scotland.
Advances in Limnology. Roč. 62, - (2009), s. 379-417. ISSN 1612-166X
Grant - others:EU EURO-LIMPACS(CZ) GOCE-CT-2003-505540
Institutional research plan: CEZ:AV0Z60170517
Keywords : mountain lakes * species composition * environmental gradients
Subject RIV: EH - Ecology, Behaviour

The response of key organisms to variations in environmental gradients due to geography and climate, pollution and catchment characteristics was examined in mountain lakes in Scotland. Samples were taken from pelagic (zooplankton, bacteria and chlorophyll a) and littoral (benthic invertebrates and epilithic diatoms) zones.Surface sediment samples were taken for analysis of sub-fossil Cladocera, chironomids, diatoms and pigments. Concentrations of trace metals, persistent organic pollutants and spheroidal carbonaceous particles were also measured. Multivariate techniques were employed. Biological assemblages of key organisms groups were found to be driven by environmental gradients, like organic content and acid-base status. Low alkalinity lochs with sparse soil coverage at higher altitudes have distinctly different biological communities compared with lochs with high levels of organic matters and high proportion of peaty soils in the catchments.
Permanent Link: http://hdl.handle.net/11104/0178962