Ecological Survey of Muzroll Lake, Northumberland County, New Brunswick:
An Assessment of Factors Influencing Biological Diversity and Productivity
Summary
An extensive ecological survey of Muzroll Lake, located in Northumberland County, New Brunswick, was carried out between May and October, 2007 in order to better understand the nature of the biological communities present, and the physical and chemical factors that influence its ability to support a productive and diverse wildlife community. The results indicate that Muzroll Lake is an atypical wetland distinguished by low biodiversity, low productivity and numerous other features that do not allow it to be easily classified using existing wetland classification systems. It is characterized by an extremely low dissolved salt content, a substrate composed mostly of sand and gravel with low organic content, a paucity of aquatic insects, low nitrogen, but high phosphorus,levels and low diversity of aquatic vegetation. The major factors limiting its productivity and biodiversity are available nitrogen and the lack of suitable over-wintering habitat as a result of Muzroll Lake freezing almost entirely from top to bottom during the winter icecover period.
A number of suggestions are made on management practices that would be expected to result in an increase in both the productivity and biodiversity of Muzroll Lake. These include raising water levels during late fall to provide a more favorable over-wintering habitat during periods of ice cover. Fertilization of Muzroll Lake to increase its productivity is not recommended because its physical characteristics make it especially susceptible to nutrient over-enrichment, the symptoms of which include development of anoxic conditions and a decrease in biodiversity.