Hydrological Connectivity and Basin Morphometry Influence Seasonal Water-Chemistry Variations in Tundra Ponds of the Northwestern Hudson Bay Lowlands

• Published in: Arctic, antarctic, and alpine research antarctic, and alpine research, 2014-02, Vol.46 (1), p.218-235
• Main Authors: White, Jerry, Hall, Roland I, Wolfe, Brent B, Light, Erin M, Macrae, Merrin L, Fishback, LeeAnn
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 1523-0430; 1938-4246
• DOI: 10.1657/1938-4246-46.1.218

Due to shallow depth and high surface area—to—volume ratio, ponds of the Hudson Bay Lowlands are vulnerable to climatic and hydrological changes, but relations between hydrological processes and limnological conditions remain unknown. Here, we measured water balance and limnological variables (water chemistry, suspended sediments, chlorophyll-a) at 20 ponds near Churchill (Manitoba) three times during the ice-free season of 2010 to explore relations among hydrological connectivity, basin morphometry, and waterchemistry variations. Using principal components analysis, we identified that the ponds followed one of four distinctive “seasonal water chemistry trajectories” (SWCT1–4). Most of the ponds that lacked apparent hydrologic connectivity displayed SWCT1, characterized by rising alkalinity and ionic content between early June and late July due to evaporative concentration. In contrast, most ponds with apparent hydrological connectivity displayed SWCT2 or SWCT3, characterized by marked changes in suspended sediment and total nitrogen concentrations due to inflow that transferred allochthonous materials from the catchment. Ponds in SWCT2 likely possessed temporary hydrological connections during periods of relatively high water supply and exhibited marked decline of suspended sediment and total nitrogen content when hydrological connection was lost. Most ponds in SWCT3 maintained active hydrological connections during all or most of the ice-free season and possessed relatively high suspended sediment and total nitrogen concentrations throughout the season. Ponds in SWCT4 possessed relatively stable water chemistry due to greater water depth and local features that reduced wind-induced sediment resuspension. We conclude that hydrological connectivity and basin morphometry exert important influence on seasonal pond water-chemistry dynamics.