Glacial lakes are typical examples of?

Glacial lakes are typically characterized by their oligotrophic nature, which means they have low nutrient concentrations, particularly phosphorus and nitrogen. These lakes often form in areas where glaciers have scoured the land, resulting in deep basins that usually collect rainwater or meltwater from the glacier.

Due to the geological composition of glacial areas, the water in oligotrophic lakes is often clear and supports a lower biomass of primary producers like phytoplankton. This clear water allows for significant light penetration, which is essential for the growth of aquatic plants and algae, but the limited nutrients cap the overall productivity. As such, oligotrophic lakes are generally low in biological productivity compared to more nutrient-rich lakes like eutrophic and hypereutrophic lakes, which are characterized by a high level of nutrients and often exhibit signs of over-fertilization.

This oligotrophic characteristic is predominant in glacial lakes, highlighting their unique ecological conditions that shape the types of organisms that inhabit them and their overall biodiversity.