Phytoplankton community and isotope data from Sibbald Lake, Alberta, Canada during a unique freeze-thaw event

This data includes phytoplankton taxonomy undertaken on samples from an ice-covered lake in the foothills of the Canadian Rockies (Sibbald Lake). The presence of a liquid water layer between ice layers suggested a unique freeze thaw process. To identify the role that this may play on phytoplankton communities during ice-covered periods, a taxonomic analysis was undertaken. Samples were taken from the underlying, unfrozen water (pelagic), the liquid water layer between the main and surface lake ice layers (interstitial) and from the upper ice layer (in-ice). Samples from pelagic water, interstitial water, and surrounding snow were processed for d2Hydrogen and d18Oxygen isotopes to identify the interstitial water layer source. Data is separated into two files, separating the phytoplankton taxonomy data and isotopic analysis data Principal Investigator David Barrett Site location name Sibbald Lake, Kananaskis area, Alberta, Canada GPS Coordinates 51°02'55.3"N 114°51'59.6"W Phytoplankton taxonomist Ferdous Nawar Isotope analysis lab University of Calgary Isotope Science Lab Collection date February 25, 2024