Limnological features of the saline lakes of the Bunger Hills (Wilkes Land, Antarctica)

• Published in: Antarctic science 1993-03, Vol.5 (1), p.41-50
• Main Authors: Kaup, E., Haendel, D., Vaikmäe, R.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Brackish; Earth sciences; Earth, ocean, space; Exact sciences and technology; Geochemistry; Hydrogeology; Hydrology. Hydrogeology; Mineralogy; Papers—Life Sciences and Oceanography; Silicates; Water geochemistry
• ISSN: 0954-1020; 1365-2079
• DOI: 10.1017/S0954102093000070

Twelve saline lakes 5-35m above sea level in Bunger Hills (66°10'S, 101°00'E) were investigated from January to April in 1987-89. Some lakes may be relict and all were subject to wind-borne marine salts with present salinities between 3.4-79.0°/‰ and δ18O values mostly between -10 to -14%. Temperatures up to 17.7°C were measured at the bottom of Lake Polest where a sharp thermohalocline was observed during the period of open water. Mg2+ dominated over Ca2+ in all the lakes. Phosphates concentration was 3-10 μgP I-1 and total phosphorus 8-16 μgP I-1. The concentrations of nitrates and nitrites were often equal, ranging between 1-4 μgN I-1. Dissolved O2 was usually near saturation levels but peaked at more than 230% of saturation in the hypolimnion of Lake Polest as a result of temperature-enhanced photosynthesis with an assimilation rate of 23.9 mgC (mg Chl a)-1h-1. The values for chlorophyll a were 0.26-1.93 mg m-3 and for primary production 0.013-0.171 gCm-3d-1, the latter being an order of magnitude higher than in the fresh water lakes of the Bunger Hills.