Phytoplankton pigments of lakes and fiords of Northern Ellesmere Island, Nunavut, Canada
Abstract
Phytoplankton communities in Arctic lakes and fiords are diverse despite oligotrophic conditions. Phytoplankton pigment analyses allow the estimation of the potential primary production of aquatic ecosystems with chlorophyll a concentration (biomass). This method is also used to describe the composition of the phytoplankton community as signature pigments are known to be present only in specific phytoplankton groups. Finally, phytoplankton pigment concentrations reflect the physiological status of phytoplnakton as some carotenoids are photoprotectors, while others are photosynthetics. As an exemple, a high zeaxanthin to chlorophyll a ratio may indicate a photoprotection strategy induced by increased irradiance. It is essential to study phytoplankton dynamics as changes in primary production or species composition can indicate changes in the environment (e.g. climate warming or nutrient enrichment). This Nordicana D issue consists of phytoplanktonic pigment concentrations of lakes and fiords located on the northern coastline of Ellesmere Island. These aquatic ecosystems have been sampled at different depths since 2005. These data are used to evaluate changes in biomass and in the community composition vertically, between years and between lakes. We also aim to understand the phototrophic characteristics of these water columns.
Water samples (0.35-1.05 L) for high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) were taken in lakes and fiords with a 6.2 L Kemmerer sampler or a 7 L Limnos sampler at different depths. Samples were transferred to plastic containers and transported back to a field laboratory. Samples were always keep in the dark. Samples were filtered onto 25-mm-diameter GF/F glass fibre filters that were frozen immediately in the field in a Dry Shipper (-80 °C) and subsequently stored in a -80 °C freezer until analysis. Pigments were extracted from the frozen phytoplankton filters by sonication, cleared by centrifugation, and filtered with PTFE syringe filters (pore size 0.2 µm) into HPLC vials. Shortly following extraction, 100 µL of phytoplankton pigment extracts were injected into an HPLC system.
Data citation
NEIGE 2022. Phytoplankton pigments of lakes and fiords of Northern Ellesmere Island, Nunavut, Canada, v. 1.1. Nordicana D26, doi: 10.5885/45436CE-0E0A89CB98C148F4.
Location map
Key references
-
Antoniades, D., Veillette, J., Martineau, M.-J., Belzile, C., Tomkins, J., Pienitz, R., Lamoureux, S. & W.F. Vincent, 2009. Bacterial dominance of phototrophic communities in a High Arctic lake and its implications for paleoclimate analysis. Polar Biology, 3: 147-161.
DOI: 10.1016/j.polar.2009.05.002 -
Veillette, J., Martineau, M.-J., Antoniades, D., Sarrazin, D. & W.F. Vincent, 2010. Effects of loss of perennial lake ice on mixing and phytoplankton dynamics: Insights from High Arctic Canada. Annals of Glaciology, 51: 56-70.
DOI: 10.3189/172756411795931921 -
Veillette, J., Lovejoy, C., Potvin, C., Harding, T., Jungblut, A.D., Antoniades, D., Chénard, C., Suttle, C.A. & W.F. Vincent, 2011. Milne Fiord epishelf lake: A coastal Arctic ecosystem vulnerable to climate change. Écoscience, 18: 304-316.
DOI: 10.2980/18-3-3443 -
Charvet, S., Vincent, W.F. & C.L. Lovejoy, 2012 Chrysophytes and other protists in High Arctic lakes: molecular gene surveys, pigment signatures and microscopy. Polar Biology, 35: 733-748.
DOI: 10.1007/s00300-011-1118-7 -
Bonilla, S., Villeneuve, V. & W.F. Vincent, 2005. Benthic and planktonic algal communities in a high Arctic lake: pigment structure and contrasting responses to nutrient enrichment. Journal of Phycology, 41: 1120-1130.
DOI: 10.1111/j.1529-8817.2005.00154.x -
Bonilla, S., Rautio, M. & W.F. Vincent, 2009. Phytoplankton and phytobenthos pigment strategies: implications for algal survival in the changing Arctic. Polar Biology, 32: 1293-1303.
DOI: 10.1007/s00300-009-0626-1
Contributors
Charvet, Sophie
Centre d'études nordiques
Antoniades, Dermot
Centre d'études nordiques
Bégin, Paschale Noël
Centre d'études nordiques
Bonilla, Sylvia
Centre d'études nordiques
Vincent, Warwick
Centre d'études nordiques
Veillette, Julie
Centre d'études nordiques
Lionard, Marie
Centre d'études nordiques
Martineau, Marie-Josée
Centre d'études nordiques
Girard, Catherine
Centre d'études nordiques
Polar Data Catalogue links (Metadata)
Version history
-
Version 1.1 (2003–2019)Updated June 21, 2022
-
Updated July 7, 2016
You can request an older version by contacting nordicana@cen.ulaval.ca
Measurement sites
| Site | Latitude | Longitude | Altitude (m) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lac A | 83.0045 | -75.41899 | 4 | More info |
| Lac B | 82.97297 | -75.43652 | 23 | More info |
| Lac C1 | 82.85 | -78.2 | 4 | More info |
| Lac C2 | 82.83333 | -78.08333 | 1.5 | More info |
| Milne Fiord | 82.59132 | -80.59707 | 0 | More info |
| Ward Hunt Lake | 83.05194 | -74.175 | 26 | More info |
| Thores Lake | 82.65162 | -73.663669 | 400 | More info |
Supplementary material
Download
Note that each pigment data series also includes information on the thickness (in cm) of ice and snow (if present) at the time of sampling.
Data available for download are in ZIP format. Please properly cite the data when using it.