Dissolved Organic Matter, Nutrients, and Bacterial Metabolism (Respiration and Growth) in Ponds on Degrading Ice-Wedge Polygonal Terrain, Bylot Island, Nunavut, Canada (2017-2019).
Abstract
Ponds were sampled every July on Bylot Island (Qarlikturvik Valley, 73°09’N, 79°58’W) from 2017 to 2019. In 2017 and 2018, ponds were sampled twice during the sampling campaign. Samples were collected approximately 20 centimeters below the surface or above the sediments. Ponds were characterized by their morphologies and the level of soil erosion due to permafrost degradation; the three categories are erosive ice-wedge trough (eIWT) ponds, stable ice-wedge trough (sIWT) ponds, and coalescent polygon (CP) ponds. The purpose of the data was to characterize dissolved organic matter (DOM) and nutrient (nitrogen and phosphorus species) supplies in ponds commonly encountered in degrading ice-wedge polygonal landscapes and to identify potential drivers of DOM decomposition and heterotrophic bacterial metabolism in these systems. DOM quality was assessed through absorbance (a320, SUVA254, and S285) and fluorescence metrics (PARAFAC EEMs, components C1-C8).
Data citation
Pacoureau, T., Laurion, I., Rautio, M. 2025. Dissolved Organic Matter, Nutrients, and Bacterial Metabolism (Respiration and Growth) in Ponds on Degrading Ice-Wedge Polygonal Terrain, Bylot Island, Nunavut, Canada (2017-2019)., v. 1.1. Nordicana D131, doi: 10.5885/45894CE-B3C95FF767D14B50.
Location map
Key references
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Pacoureau, T., Mazoyer, F., Maranger, R., Rautio, M., & Laurion, I. (2025). Shifts in dissolved organic matter and nutrients in tundra ponds along a gradient of permafrost erosion. Arctic Science, (ja).
DOI: 10.1139/as-2024-0060
Acknowledgements
We sincerely thank V. Laderrière, J. Comte, V. Preskienis, and F. Mazoyer for their assistance in the field. Additionally, we extend our gratitude to D. Bélanger, J. Perreault, L. Rancourt, and V. Laderrière for their contributions to water chemistry analysis, and to F. Soulat for flux cytometry analysis. This research was supported by the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada, and the Polar Continental Shelf Program (Natural Resources Canada). We gratefully acknowledge the Centre for Northern Studies for providing access to research infrastructures, Parks Canada and the community of Mittimatalik for access to the study site, and the Interuniversity Research Group in Limnology for access to their analytical services.
Polar Data Catalogue links (Metadata)
Version history
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Version 1.1 (2017–2019)Updated November 4, 2025
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Version 1 (2017–2019)Updated March 25, 2024
You can request an older version by contacting nordicana@cen.ulaval.ca
Measurement sites
| Site | Latitude | Longitude | Altitude (m) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bylot Island | 73.15 | -79.983 | 6 | More info |
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Data available for download are in ZIP format. Please properly cite the data when using it.
Limnology and bacterial metabolism in ponds of Bylot Island Get file
Sites
Data
Dissolved oxygen
06/2017 – 07/2019
DOC
07/2017 – 07/2019
TN
07/2017 – 07/2019
TP
07/2017 – 07/2019
TDN
07/2019 – 07/2019
Bacterial production
07/2018 – 07/2018
Bacterial respiration
07/2018 – 07/2018
Fmax1
07/2017 – 07/2019
Fmax2
07/2017 – 07/2019
Fmax3
07/2017 – 07/2019
Fmax4
07/2017 – 07/2019
Fmax5
07/2017 – 07/2019
Fmax6
07/2017 – 07/2019
Fmax7
07/2017 – 07/2019
Fmax8
07/2017 – 07/2019
FDOM total
07/2017 – 07/2019
S285
07/2017 – 07/2019
a320
07/2017 – 07/2019
SUVA254
07/2017 – 07/2019
NO2-NO3
07/2019 – 07/2019
SRP
07/2018 – 07/2019
NH4
07/2018 – 07/2019
Fe
07/2017 – 07/2019
Pond
07/2017 – 07/2019
Category
07/2017 – 07/2019
Year
07/2017 – 07/2019
Month
07/2017 – 07/2019
Day
07/2017 – 07/2019
Hour
07/2017 – 07/2019
Sampling depth
07/2017 – 07/2019
Temperature
07/2017 – 07/2019
pH
07/2017 – 07/2019
Conductivity
07/2019 – 07/2019
Chlorophyll a
07/2017 – 07/2018
DIN
07/2019 – 07/2019
DON
07/2019 – 07/2019
TSS
07/2017 – 07/2018
Bacterial Abundance
07/2017 – 07/2018
NO2-NO3 status
07/2019 – 07/2019