Environmental features of small subarctic glacial lakes (Khibiny massif, Kola penninsula)

Abstract

Two subarctic alpine glacial lakes, located at 759 and 812 m above sea level in the Khibiny massif, were investigated. An assessment of the current state of the catchment areas, depth and bottom topography, chemical composition of water and sediments, along with a set of hydrobiological studies of ecosystem components (phyto- and zooplankton, chlorophyll content, benthos, phytoperiphyton) has been made. No serious effects of environmental pollution have been detected in the lakes. The typical ecosystem features include oligotrophic status, low salinity and high oxygen content. The information obtained could be successfully used for regulating anthropogenic load and assessing polluted water bodies of the Kola Subarctic.

Keywords

• subarctic alpine lakes
• khibiny
• phytoplankton
• zooplankton
• benthos
• phytoperiphyton