Hydrobiological effects of gathering reindeer at an arctic lake in Russia

Abstract

For the separation of reindeer, animals are collected on the shore of lake Layato (67 60'N, 56 E) about one month in every summer. Feces and urine produced by the herd are washed directly into the lake, which results in changes in the water quality and lake biota. When for instance in 1991 the herd numbered about 1000 animals, ammonium concentrations and zoobenthic biomass increased markedly after the period of separation.

Keywords

• reindeer gathering
• eutrophication
• pollution
• species composition
• zoobenthos