WATER CHEMISTRY AND ALGAL FLORA OF CRYOGENIC LAKES IN THE ARCTIC BASIN OF THE LOWER YENISEI RIVER

In this paper, we discuss results of our comprehensive studies of cryogenic lakes in the Arctic basin of the Lower Yenisei. 7 lakes were sampled for water chemistry and hydrobiology research in autumn 2009. The lakes are low mineralized (13.6–143 mg/L). Water рН varies from neutral (6.79) to weakly alkaline (8.4). Dissolved oxygen concentration is high (11.3–13.1 mg/L). By content of biogenic elements the lakes studied may be classified oligotrophic, the concentration of nitrogen and phosphorous do not exceed a tenth of mg/L. We found in the lakes 186 species and intraspecific taxa of microalgae. A feature of the algal plankton of the cryogenic lake of the Lower Yenisei is a diverse and occasionally abundant flora of scaled chrysophytes, and a low content of diatoms characteristic for autumnal phytoplankton of the northern lakes.