Physical and chemical limnological characteristics of 38 lakes and ponds on Bathurst Island, Nunavut, Canadian High Arctic

The limnological features that characterize the shallow ponds (<2 m deep) a nd lakes (>2 m deep) on Bathurst Island. Nunavut, Canada were examined thro ugh chemical analyses and multivariate statistical methods as part of a lar ger on-going survey to document and monitor environmental changes in these remote and sensitive areas. All sites were relatively oligotrophic and alka line. Nutrient ratios indicated that nitrogen could be limiting algal growt h to a greater degree than phosphorus in over 63% of the sites. Principal c omponents analysis (PCA) was used to explore the patterns of variation in t he limnological dataset. The three dominant limnological gradients were: ma jor ion content and dissolved organic carbon (DOC) levels along Axis 1; and pH along Axis 2.