A SURVEY ON WATER CHEMISTRY AND PLANKTON IN HIGH-MOUNTAIN LAKES IN NORTHERN SWEDISH LAPLAND

A helicopter survey was carried out on 56 water bodies in the Abisko mountain August 1981. Water chemistry was found to be highly correlated with bedrock quality in the drainage area of the lakes. Low pH values (down to 5.1) appeared in the neighbourhood of sulphuric iron-ores. Natrium and chloride concentrations showed large scale patterns which can be explained by orographic rainfall. Biologically, northern high mountain conditions are reflected in species composition rather than in biomass or possibly in diversity. Small chrysomonades and dinoflagellates, as well as Keratella hiemalis and Cyclops scutifer characterize the most 'arctic' waters. A comparison with data from earlier investigations did not confirm expected signs of acidification.