Light climate in an Andean lake: dissolved and particulate fraction contribution to light absorption.

PÉREZ, G. L., MODENUTTI, B. E. Y QUEIMALIÑOS, C.

Melbourne, Australia.

Congreso; XXVII SIL Congress; 2001

Absorption coefficients of photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) in relation to dissolved organic substance and total particulate fractions were estimated in four lakes of the South Andes region near Bariloche (Patagonia, Argentina). Andean lakes presented substantial variation in their optical properties showing distinctive contributions of dissolved and particulates matter and pure water to total spectral absorption. Different absorption curves were estimates and the greatest variance was observed in the blue region of the spectrum. Mucho of the variation was explained by differences in lake DOC concentration. In addition, phototroph vertical distribution was analyzed in relation to the observed optical properties.