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Benthic algal biomass and productivity in high subarctic streams, Alaska

  • Chapter
High Latitude Limnology

Part of the book series: Developments in Hydrobiology ((DIHY,volume 49))

Abstract

Year-round measurements of the standing crop of epilithic algae (as chlorophyll a concentration) in two streams — one second and one fourth order (map scale 1:63 360) — in interior Alaska (64°–65°N) were only about one tenth that reported from streams of temperate North America. Cell densities in these streams, however, were similar to those in comparable temperate streams. Year-round domination of the benthic flora by very tiny diatoms (Achnanthes spp.) may explain the apparent disparity between low chlorophyll a content and nearly average cell densities. Chlorophyll a standing crop in a more alkaline groundwater-fed stream, however, was higher and within the range of similarly sized temperate streams. Maximum chlorophyll a standing crop varied positively with alkalinity in 5 clear-water streams where standing crop was measured on natural or artificial substrates. Seasonal mean concentrations of sestonic chlorophyll a (used as estimates of benthic algal chlorophyll a standing crop) varied directly and significantly with alkalinity among ten clear-water streams; and, with total phosphorus among 8 of 10 clear-water and 5 brown-water streams studied. During the summer, when there is little darkness, gross primary productivity (as estimated by the diurnal dissolved-oxygen method) was similar to that of northern temperate streams. Gross primary productivity was also seen to vary directly with alkalinity in 5 clear-water streams of this region.

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Author notes

  1. Jacqueline D. LaPerriere, Erwin E. Van Nieuwenhuyse & Patricia R. Anderson

    Present address: California Department of Fish and Game, Monterey, CA, 93940, USA

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Alaska Cooperative Fishery Research Unit, University of Alaska, Fairbanks, AK, 99775-0110, USA

    Jacqueline D. LaPerriere

  2. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, USA

    Erwin E. Van Nieuwenhuyse

  3. School of Forestry, Fisheries and Wildlife, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, 65201, USA

    Patricia R. Anderson

Authors
  1. Jacqueline D. LaPerriere
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  2. Erwin E. Van Nieuwenhuyse
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  3. Patricia R. Anderson
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Taupo Research Laboratory, Division of Marine & Freshwater Science, DSIR, Taupo, New Zealand

    Warwick F. Vincent

  2. British Antarctic Survey, Natural Environment Research Council, Cambridge, UK

    J. Cynan Ellis-Evans

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© 1989 Kluwer Academic Publishers

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LaPerriere, J.D., Van Nieuwenhuyse, E.E., Anderson, P.R. (1989). Benthic algal biomass and productivity in high subarctic streams, Alaska. In: Vincent, W.F., Ellis-Evans, J.C. (eds) High Latitude Limnology. Developments in Hydrobiology, vol 49. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-009-2603-5_6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-009-2603-5_6

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht

  • Print ISBN: 978-94-010-7674-6

  • Online ISBN: 978-94-009-2603-5

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

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