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SFS Annual Meeting

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COMPARISONS OF WINTER UNDER-ICE VS. SUMMER ICE-FREE ECOLOGICAL CONDITIONS OF FIVE SUBALPINE LAKES IN THE KLAMATH MOUNTAINS, CA USA

Recent studies suggest a need for investigating winter, under-ice processes and their contribution to ecological dynamics in lake ecosystems. This subject is especially relevant considering how climate variability is affecting the period of ice cover on lakes. We explore the winter (under-ice) vs. summer (ice-free, stratified) ecological attributes of five subalpine lakes (z= 3 to 35 m, area= 0.5 to 20.1 ha) in the upper Klamath mountain range of Northern California. We compare primary productivity rate (using 14C method) and zooplankton and phytoplankton compositions of the winter and summer period of these lakes. Primary productivity was twenty times higher in summer compared to winter. Phytoplankton compositions varied across lakes with Chlorophyceae, Euglenophyceae, and Bacillariophyceae dominating in summer and Bacillariophyceae dominating in winter. Zooplankton composition also varied across all lakes with Daphnia, Diaptomus, and Diaphanosoma spp. dominating in summer and Diaptomus spp. dominating in winter.

Karly Feher (Primary Presenter/Author), University of Nevada Reno, kfeher@nevada.unr.edu;


Robert C. Richards ( Co-Presenter/Co-Author), UC Davis , bobrichards.richards@gmail.com ;


Charles R Goldman ( Co-Presenter/Co-Author), UC Davis , goldmantahoe@yahoo.com ;


Timothy Caldwell ( Co-Presenter/Co-Author), McBain Associates, Tim@mcbainassociates.com;


Sudeep Chandra ( Co-Presenter/Co-Author), Global Water Center and Biology Department, University of Nevada, Reno, sudeep@unr.edu;