The Norwegian subalpine lake. Ovre Heimdalsvatn, has a surface area of 0.78 km2 and a maximum depth of 13 m. It is ice-covered for 7.5–8 months, has a marked spring spate and a mean annual renewal period of about two months. The water is poor in electrolytes. Intensive studies have been made by an interdisciplinary team of the lake's physical and chemical properties, primary production and secondary production under the auspices of IBP/PF from 1969 to 1973, Allochthonous material accounted for 1/3 of utilized plant input. The major lake predator, the brown trout, fed largely on benthic organisms and did not exploit the zooplankton biomass. On account of the long period of ice cover and the rapid rise in temperature after ice break, many organisms (both planktonic and benthic) showed synchronous development. Abiotic conditions, such as the nature of the spring spate and the temperature rise, strongly affect species and community development.

The lake ecosystem of Ovre Heimdalsvatn

A study of the diet of native brown trout (Salmo trutta) parr and introduced European minnow (Phoxinus phoxinus) in the subalpine lake, Ovre Heimdalsvatn, showed that the two species had considerable dietary overlap, both in the littoral zone and in the outlet of the lake. Chironomidae constituted a substantial proportion of the diet of the two species in both habitats. The results indicated that both zooplankton (Cladocera) and large macroinvertebrates (EPT-species) made up a higher proportion of the minnow diet in the early phase of the minnow establishment (1975–1977) than later, and that the significance of small macroinvertebrates (Chironomidae) as prey has increased during the same period. Dietary analysis of the sympatric brown trout and minnow population in Ovre Heimdalsvatn does not provide a definitive conclusion about the degree of competition between the two species. However, together with the findings in other studies in Ovre Heimdalsvatn that have documented reduced recruitment and individual growth of brown trout, decreased individual growth of minnows and a marked decline in the density of large crustaceans (Lepidurus arcticus and Gammarus lacustris) in the shallow littoral of the lake during the last decades indicates that competitive interactions between the two species are likely. This is probably an example of the competition between two fish species with a high degree of dietary overlap when living in sympatry, most likely caused by absence of alternative prey and alternative habitats due to the high predation risk for both brown trout parr and minnows in deeper parts and in the open waters of the lake.

Diet overlap between introduced European minnow (Phoxinus phoxinus) and young brown trout (Salmo trutta) in the lake, Øvre Heimdalsvatn: a result of abundant resources or forced niche overlap?

Fossil Trichoptera (caddisfly) remains have been identified and quantitatively recorded in the late-glacial and early-Holocene sediments from Krakenes Lake, western Norway. The sediment sequence was deposited between 12,300 and 8850 14C BP, covering the Allerod, Younger Dryas, and early-Holocene periods. The first Trichoptera were recorded at 12,000 14C BP, and during the Allerod a diverse assemblage of Limnephilidae taxa developed in the lake. By about 11,400 14C BP the relatively thermophilous Polycentropus flavomaculatus and Limnephilus rhombicus were present, suggesting that the summer water temperature was at least 17 °C. This temperature fell by 5-8 °C at the start of the Younger Dryas, and the thermophilous taxa were replaced within 20-40 14C yrs by Apatania spp., including the arctic-alpine A. zonella, suggesting a maximum summer water temperature of 10-12 °C. The Trichoptera assemblage was impoverished in numbers and in diversity over the next 200 yrs as the severe conditions of the Younger Dryas developed. As soon as temperatures rose and glacial meltwater and silt input ended about 700 14C yrs later, the resident Apatania assemblage expanded immediately, within 10 yrs. About 130 yrs later, thermophilous taxa replaced Apatania, and a much more diverse assemblage than in the Allerod occupied the varied habitats made available by the development of the Holocene lake ecosystem. The 130 yr delay may have been caused by a gradual temperature increase crossing a critical threshold, or by the time taken for thermophilous taxa to migrate from their Younger Dryas refugia.

Late-glacial and early-Holocene Trichoptera (Insecta) from Krakenes Lake, western Norway

Cesium isotopes and90Sr have been determined in the inflow and outflow rivers of a Norwegian subalpine lake. The lake is situated in an area contaminated by Chernobyl fallout. Sampling was carried out during the spring peak discharge period associated with snowmelt. Transported coatse particulate plant material was collected by traps. Particles and colloids were removed from water samples by hollow fibre ultrafiltration. The results illustrate that run-off during the spring snowmelt is an important pathway for these radionuclides. The cesium isotopes are predominantly transported as colloids, while90Sr is present in the form of low molecular weight mobile species. Based on lake budget calculations, more than 50% of the cesium input is retained in the lake, while more than 90% of the90Sr is transported through the lake and into lower parts of the drainage system.

Fractionation of cesium isotopes and90Sr in snowmelt run-off and lake waters from a contaminated Norwegian mountain catchment

Long-term data series of ice cover on lakes and river temperatures from the mountain areas of Norway are lacking. The present study analyses the last four decades of ice data from the subalpine lake, Ovre Heimdalsvatn, and water temperature data from its outlet river, Hinogla. These data are compared to water temperature data from three neighbouring, quite different locations, the glacier-fed rivers Leirungsai and Sjoa, and the alpine lake, Bessvatn. The study also examines the air temperature/river temperature relationships, and the air temperature/ice freeze-up and break-up dates. During the months of July, August and September, the water temperature in Hinogla was well correlated to the air temperature, but the correlation was poor in the remaining months due to the ice cover and snow conditions. A significant temperature increase of 2–3°C has been observed in Hinogla in the months August–October since 1984. There were only minor changes in the duration of the ice cover season during the last 40 years, but a delay of 9 days was found in the freeze-up date and a delay of 6 days in the break-up date, although the latter was not significant.

Long-term trends in water temperature and ice cover in the subalpine lake, Øvre Heimdalsvatn, and nearby lakes and rivers

The Lake Ovre Heimdalsvatn is greatly affected by wind. Precipitation, especially heavy rainfall, has probably a good possibility of eroding and leaching material into the lake. The mean annual temperature is −1.2°C, and the estimated mean annual evapo-transpiration is about 200 mm. The lake is covered by ice from late October to the beginning of June. Run-off, lake level and precipitation are well correlated, indicating that the influence of the catchment is large and rapid.

Hypsography , meteorology and hydrology of the Ovre Heimdalen catchment

The paper describes abiotic factors of basic importance for the biological research carried out simultaneously in the lake Ovre Heimdalsvatn.

Physical and chemical properties of the waters of Øvre Heimdalen

Ovre Heimdalsvatn is clearly influenced by the geological conditions, and the lake basin and catchment area are determined by the bedrock and the mountain structures. The distribution and characteristics of the loose deposits are decisive for the lake's water budget. The groundwater in the catchment area and the Quaternary deposits near the lake influence the amount and quality of the lake waters.

The geology of the Øvre Heimdalen valley

Two sediment cores, 143 cm and 268 cm in length, have been investigated. The oldest dating is 8240 ± 500 radiocarbon years B.P. The variation in the composition of the sediments is probably caused solely by climatic changes. The organic fraction is small, never exceeding 20%, reflecting the low primary production and rapid decomposition of allochthonous organic matter within the lake. The proportions of inorganic constituents indicate that the mineral fraction consists of clay and silt particles flushed into the lake from the drainage area.

Asbjørn Elias Kloster

Papers

Hypsography , meteorology and hydrology of the Ovre Heimdalen catchment

Physical and chemical properties of the waters of Øvre Heimdalen

The geology of the Øvre Heimdalen valley

The post-glacial sediments of Øvre Heimdalsvatn