What is special about Scotlands freshwater lochs?
The types of flora and fauna inhabiting Scotland’s lochs depend on the physical dimensions of the basins, but also on the chemistry of the water and sediments of the loch, and the soils and geology of the catchment area. Conditions range from soft, relatively acidic waters with low levels of nutrients, to hard, more alkaline waters with higher nutrient concentrations. Lochs with soft water and low nutrient concentrations tend to be found in the north-west and in upland areas, whereas lochs with higher levels of nutrients are often found in lowland areas to the south and east, where more fertile deposits and shallow basins tend to be found. A special group of lochs, of which Scotland has many, are those which are stained yellow or brown with substances that come from peaty soils. These dystrophic water bodies, also known as dubh lochans, are generally small and shallow. Light penetration is poor due to the colour of the water and commonly, the water is acidic. Nutrient levels are genera
