The aim of this study is to examine the role of regulated rivers on bottom ice algal communities and phytoplankton by investigating the following objectives along a salinity gradient:

1. Examine the influence of the river plume on ice algal and phytoplankton production from the estuary to the marine system
2. Examine the variability in ice algal biomass and nutrient availability
3. Investigate the influence of the river output on taxonomic composition