胶州湾大气活性硅酸盐干沉降特征及其生态效应

大气沉降作为陆源物质输送入海的重要途径之一,已成为国际上大气科学、海洋科学与环境科学交叉研究的热点之一。大气中的生源要素沉降入海后可能会对海洋生态系统产生重要影响。基于此,选择我国北方的一个典型海湾——胶州湾,采集了为期一年(2015年6月至2016年5月)的气溶胶总悬浮颗粒物(TSP, Total Suspended Particulate)和干沉降样品,测定了其中活性硅酸盐(SiO_3-Si, Reactive Silicate)的含量,在此基础上分析了大气中SiO_3-Si的浓度、干沉降通量和干沉降速率(V_d, Dry Deposition Velocity),并初步评估了其沉降入海的生态效应。结果表明:胶州湾大气TSP中SiO_3-Si的年均浓度为(1.98±1.22) nmol/m~3,呈夏秋季低,冬春季高的显著季节分布特征。大气SiO_3-Si浓度由青岛沿岸至黄、东海呈明显下降梯度,结合相关性分析,表明亚洲沙尘的远距离传输和矿物尘土再悬浮是中国东部陆架边缘海大气SiO_3-Si的主要来源。胶州湾气溶胶SiO_3-Si干沉降通量为8.48 mmol m~(-2) a~(-1),沉降负荷达87.8 t/a,显著高于同期湿沉降,可占胶州湾SiO_3-Si外源输入(包括干湿沉降和河流输入)的10.3%,表明干沉降是胶州湾SiO_3-Si的重要输入源之一。干沉降中较低的Si:N摩尔比(0.16±0.22)暗示大气干沉降可能是导致较长时间以来胶州湾水体Si限制的一个重要潜在因素,根据Redfield比值估算干沉降带来的SiO_3-Si输入可以支持674 mg C m~(-2) a~(-1)的新生产力,可占胶州湾新生产力的5.3%,表明大气SiO_3-Si的干沉降会对胶州湾生态系统产生一定影响。本研究系统解析了胶州湾大气SiO_3-Si的干沉降特征,首次评估了气溶胶SiO_3-Si的干沉降负荷在胶州湾外源输入中的重要性,对深入理解近海Si的生物地球化学循环过程具有重要意义。     

胶州湾生源要素的大气沉降及其生态效应研究进展

作为受人类活动影响显著的典型半封闭海湾,胶州湾生源要素的大气沉降研究在揭示人为污染物质排放对海湾生态系统影响方面具有典型性.从大气干/湿沉降生源要素的研究方法、通量及其影响因素、入海生态效应3个方面入手,系统总结了胶州湾生源要素大气干、湿沉降及其生态效应的研究进展:1)与国内外有关海湾、河口和边缘海相比,胶州湾大气干、湿沉降氮的浓度和通量都较高,溶解无机氮(DIN)是其主要组分,溶解有机氮(DON)占总溶解态氮(TDN)含量的22%～31%,而P和Si的浓度和沉降通量都很低.2) (NO₃^--N+NO₂^--N)的大气沉降量比陆源输入量略高,而NH₄⁺-N、PO₄^3--P以及SiO₃^2--Si的大气沉降量所占比例很低.3)大气总悬浮颗粒物(TSP)浓度、排放源强度、降水量以及气象条件是影响胶州湾大气沉降生源要素的主要因素.4)大气沉降的生源要素可促进胶州湾初级生产力的提高和改变表层海水的营养盐结构,进而导致浮游植物群落结构的改变和优势种由硅藻向甲藻的演替,从而对胶州湾生态系统产生重要影响.对今后的研究提出建议:1)建设胶州湾大气干/湿沉降监测网;2)精确量化不同形态和粒径生源要素颗粒的干沉降速率;3)量化大气沉降生源要素入海的生态效应,并深入剖析其生物地球化学机制;4)甄别大气沉降生源要素通过间接方式入海的机制、通量及影响因素.深入研究胶州湾生源要素的大气沉降,对阐明人类活动对海湾生态系统的影响有积极意义,也有助于加深对陆架边缘海生源要素生物地球化学循环过程的理解.     

人类活动影响下唐山湾近岸海域营养盐及其结构变化

根据获取的唐山湾海域1995-2012年25个站位现场观测数据和资料,基于主成分分析(PCA)对人类活动影响下唐山湾海域营养盐及其结构变化进行研究.结果表明:在人类活动影响下,近20年唐山湾海域无机氮(DIN)呈现明显的增长趋势,磷酸盐(PO_4~(3-)-P)、硅酸盐(SiO_3~(2-)-Si)则呈下降趋势;平均N:P由1995年的3.0增长到2012年的26.0,而Si:N则呈下降趋势,海水营养盐结构发生了明显的变化.据此利用主成分分析识别水质变化,共提取了2个主成分,第1主成分以DIN、NO_3~--N、NH_4~+-N、PO_4~(3-)-P和NO_2~--N为代表,解释了71.5%的方差;第2主成分以叶绿素(Chl a)和SiO_3~(2-)-Si为代表,解释了21.8%的方差,说明唐山湾水质变化主要与DIN、PO_4~(3-)-P因子变化关系密切.2个主成分得分揭示了人类活动影响下唐山湾水质年际变化趋势,即由1995-2005年开发前及开发初期的N限制向2007年开发后的P限制转变.人类活动影响下唐山湾海域营养盐及其结构已经发生了明显变化,这种变化尤其是无机氮含量的增加,需要引起高度关注.     

九龙江河口区养虾塘沉积物-水界面营养盐交换通量特征

通过对九龙江河口区陆基养虾塘水样和沉积物样品采集分析及结合室内模拟实验,探讨了虾塘在不同养殖阶段沉积物-水界面营养盐通量时间变化特征及其主要影响因素。虾塘沉积物向上覆水体释放NO_x~--N(NO_2~--N和NO_3~--N)、NH_4~+-N和PO_4~(3-)-P能力均呈现随养殖时间推移而降低的特征。沉积物在养殖中期和后期分别呈现对上覆水体NO_x~--N和PO_4~(3-)-P的吸收现象,但总体表现为释放(平均通量分别为(1.87±1.15)、(1.58±0.52)mg m~(-2)h~(-1)和(1.22±0.62)mg m~(-2)h~(-1))。沉积物-水界面溶解无机氮交换以NH_4~+-N为主(沉积物平均释放通量为(46.18±13.82)mg m~(-2)h~(-1))。沉积物间隙水与上覆水间的营养盐浓度差(梯度)及温度对上述交换通量的时间动态特征具有重要调控作用。研究结果表明养殖初期或中期沉积物较高的无机氮(尤其是NO_2~--N和NH_4~+-N)释放是养殖塘水质恶化的一个极具潜力的污染内源,可能会对虾的健康生长产生负面效应,控制沉积物无机氮释放是养虾塘养殖初期和中期重要的日常管理活动之一。     

长江口地区大气湿沉降中营养盐的初步研究

为了解大气湿沉降对于赤潮发生的影响,2000年5月至2001年4月在嵊泗群岛采集了64个雨水样品,并分析了其中的N、P、Si等营养盐的浓度．结果表明,营养盐月平均浓度之间相差较大,与风向即不同的污染物来源和降水量等因素有关;营养盐季节通量分布不均,季节性明显．除冬季外,其他3个季节均能成为赤潮的诱发因子;NO3--N、NH4+-N、NO2--N、PO4^3-P和SiO3^2-Si的年均浓度依次为20．23、30．14、0．1l、0．045和3．43μmol·L-1,年通量分别为2．67×10^8、3．98×10^9、0．014×10^8、0．0059×10^8和0．45×10^8mol,与河流输入量相比,湿沉降对营养盐的年输入量较小．     

北京东灵山大气氮沉降水平及变化特征

城市人为成因的气态活性氮排放影响空气质量，导致周边的陆地生态系统大气氮输入量持续增加。然而，陆地生态系统大气活性氮特别是溶解态无机氮(DIN)和溶解态有机氮(DON)的同步观测仍然较为缺乏，影响氮沉降生态效应的全面、准确评估。本研究观测了北京东灵山森林生态系统定位研究站2019年6月至2020年1月每周的混合沉降中铵态氮(NH₄⁺-N)、硝态氮(NO₃^--N)和总溶解态氮(TDN)浓度，计算了DON浓度和各形态氮的沉降通量，分析了它们的月际和干湿季差异及其变化机制。结果表明：该站点大气沉降中NH₄⁺-N、NO₃^--N、DON和TDN体积加权平均浓度分别为1.45±0.04、0.70±0.01、1.81±0.66和3.96±0.65 mg N·L^-1,TDN年沉降通量为25.00 kg N·hm^-2·a^-1,NH₄^+<...     

利用~(137)Cs大气沉降通量估算土壤侵蚀速率的可行性研究——以辽东湾地区为例

利用日本东京和秋田地区1957—2008年的~(137)Cs年沉降数据和降水数据,对辽东湾地区~(137)Cs的大气沉降通量进行估算;通过建立模型,对用~(137)Cs大气沉降通量来估算土壤侵蚀速率的可行性进行分析。结果表明:辽东湾地区~(137)Cs的大气总沉降通量为1614 Bq·m~(-2);利用该值估算出该区域的年均土壤侵蚀速率为17.39~38.92 t·hm~(-2)·a~(-1),而采用杨浩等(2000)的质量平衡模型估算出该地区年均土壤侵蚀速率为11.97~44.94 t·hm~(-2)·a~(-1);本文计算结果的变异系数为30.5%,低于杨浩等(2000)估算结果的变异系数49%。本文所采用的方法得出的结果与实测大气沉降通量背景值(1845 Bq·m~(-2))得出的结果进行t检验表明,两种方法估算的结果没有显著性差异,说明采用~(137)Cs大气沉降通量来估算土壤侵蚀速率是可行的,有利于简化估算土壤侵蚀速率的方法并提高其精度。     

亚热带典型流域C、N沉降季节变化特征及其耦合输出过程

大气湿沉降是流域生态系统水体中碳氮的重要来源,对生态系统的健康及稳定性有很大的影响。通过对江西千烟洲典型亚热带流域降雨过程的碳、氮湿沉降和径流过程的季节性动态特征进行监测分析,探讨流域沉降、径流输出的C、N耦合及平衡关系。结果表明:千烟洲香溪流域降雨径流中碳氮浓度明显低于雨水,流域大气降水中DOC浓度和TN浓度呈极显著正相关关系。香溪河流域常规水体C∶N均值为2.81,远低于根据Redfield比率得出的适宜浮游生物生长的C∶N(6.6左右),说明外源性N输入导致该流域水体环境处于N过量的状态,长期输出会提高下游鄱阳湖水系的营养化程度。降雨过程对流域碳输入输出平衡影响较小,对氮输入输出平衡的影响较大。流域湿沉降DOC年输入量为69.41 kg hm~(-2)a~(-1),TN湿沉降通量为77.23 kg hm~(-2)a~(-1),碳氮沉降水平受区域降雨量及空气污染情况控制。香溪流域生态系统截留的沉降TN占当地氮肥年均使用量的33.13%,大气降水对亚热带流域生态系统的大量营养物质输入不容忽视。     

陕北典型农区大气干湿氮沉降季节变化

为了研究大气通过干湿沉降输入到农田土壤的氮通量,2007年6月至2008年5月在陕西榆林和洛川两地进行了为期一年的观测试验.结果表明:榆林和洛川地区大气总无机氮沉降通量分别为22.17和16.95 kg·hm~(-2)·a~(-1),湿沉降分别占95.1%和90.4%,干沉降分别占4.9%和9.6%,两个地区氮沉降均以湿沉降为主.总无机氮沉降中,NO_3~--N分别为12.22和9.24 kg·hm~(-2)·a~(-1),分别占总无机氮沉降量的55.1%和54.5%.由于污染水平、气象条件、下垫面特性等的差异,总无机氮沉降中,湿沉降量和NO_3~--N沉降量均是榆林地区大于洛川地区.     

重庆典型地区大气湿沉降氮的时空变化

验连续3a采集雨样研究了重庆市郊区和林区大气湿沉降氮的时空变化.结果表明,重庆市近郊区、远郊区和林区3个采样点雨水总氮浓度范围为(3.94±0.50)～(4.56±1.01)mg L-1,平均(4.27±0.73)mg L-1.NH+4-N、NO-3-N和DON占TN百分比例分别为44.9%、27.4%和27.5%.降雨中NH+4-N对氮沉降量的贡献率最大.在时间尺度上,不同季节降雨中氮浓度呈现明显的季节性差异,以冬季最高,依次是夏季、春季和秋季.在空间分布上,近郊区、远郊区和林区的TN平均浓度分别为4.56 mg L-1、4.32 mg L-1和3.94 mg L-1,从近郊区到林区有逐渐降低的趋势.降雨中的NH+4-N、NO-3-N、DON和TN浓度与降雨量无显著相关性.但是,降雨量与氮沉降量呈显著正相关.大气氮湿沉降时空差异与降雨量和氮排放直接相关.重庆市随降雨到达地面的氮沉降量较高,远远超过了水体负荷的临界值,可能对三峡库区的水资源产生不利影响.     

Dissolved organic nitrogen budgets for upland, forested ecosystems in New England

Relatively high deposition ofnitrogen (N) in the northeastern United States hascaused concern because sites could become N saturated.In the past, mass-balance studies have been used tomonitor the N status of sites and to investigate theimpact of increased N deposition. Typically, theseefforts have focused on dissolved inorganic forms ofN (DIN = NH₄-N + NO₃-N) and have largelyignored dissolved organic nitrogen (DON) due todifficulties in its analysis. Recent advances in themeasurement of total dissolved nitrogen (TDN) havefacilitated measurement of DON as the residual of TDN– DIN. We calculated DON and DIN budgets using data onprecipitation and streamwater chemistry collected from9 forested watersheds at 4 sites in New England. TDNin precipitation was composed primarily of DIN. Netretention of TDN ranged from 62 to 89% (4.7 to 10 kgha^{minus 1} yr^{minus 1}) of annual inputs. DON made up themajority of TDN in stream exports, suggesting thatinclusion of DON is critical to assessing N dynamicseven in areas with large anthropogenic inputs of DIN.Despite the dominance of DON in streamwater,precipitation inputs of DON were approximately equalto outputs. DON concentrations in streamwater did notappear significantly influenced by seasonal biologicalcontrols, but did increase with discharge on somewatersheds. Streamwater NO₃-N was the onlyfraction of N that exhibited a seasonal pattern, withconcentrations increasing during the winter months andpeaking during snowmelt runoff. Concentrations ofNO₃-N varied considerably among watersheds andare related to DOC:DON ratios in streamwater. AnnualDIN exports were negatively correlated withstreamwater DOC:DON ratios, indicating that theseratios might be a useful index of N status of uplandforests.     

Increased nutrient loads from the Changjiang (Yangtze) River have led to increased Harmful Algal Blooms

Based on observations collected during 15 cruises from 2002 to 2007 and on historical data, annual and seasonal variations in dissolved inorganic nutrients in the Changjiang (Yangtze) River estuary and the adjacent area were investigated. The importance of nutrients and nutrient fluxes to Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs) in the East China Sea (ECS) was also studied. The results showed an increasing trend in dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN) over the past fifty years. The changes in the PO₄-P concentration fluctuated from 1959 to 2000, but the level has been almost stable since then. By contrast, the SiO₃-Si concentrations decreased significantly over the past fifty years. Regarding seasonal variations, nutrients usually exhibited high values during autumn and winter, and the lowest values occurred in mid-summer. A strong positive relationship was observed between the DIN and PO₄-P concentrations and the frequency or scale of HABs, indicating that eutrophication played a crucial role in the occurrence of HABs. As for nutrient fluxes, DIN and PO₄-P fluxes have climbed sharply since 1980. In the ECS, the DIN increased sharply, but PO₄-P concentrations only changed slightly. The increased nutrient discharges, especially DIN, could also have caused the strong increase in the frequency and area of HABs. The areas of hypoxic bottom water off the Changjiang River estuary presented an increasing trend over the past fifty years, which may also be attributable to eutrophication. Changes in the nutrient composition were also investigated in the present study. The N/P ratio increased dramatically over the past fifty years, while the Si/N ratio decreased. The percentage of diatoms decreased from 99% to 73%, while dinoflagellates increased from less than 1% to over 25% during the past fifty years. Therefore, long-term changes in nutrients, especially excess DIN and increasing N/P, could be responsible for the shift in the phytoplankton community structure.     

Bioremediation efficiencies of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Gracilaria verrucosa</Emphasis> cultivated in an enclosed sea area of Hangzhou Bay,China

Due to the discharge of nutrients into the East China Sea, severe eutrophication has appeared in Hangzhou Bay. Therefore, we cultivated Gracilaria verrucosa on a large scale in the Jinshan enclosed sea with an area of 1.72 km² in the northern part of Hangzhou Bay to perform bioremediation. The Fengxian enclosed sea with an area of 2.3 km² and 50 km far from Jinshan was used as the control. The results showed that the Hangzhou Bay was severely eutrophicated before G. verrucosa cultivation. During the period of cultivation between August 2006 and July 2007, the annual growth rate of G. verrucosa was 9.42% day⁻¹, and the sea water quality was improved from worse than grade IV to grades II–III, with the concentration of dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN) and PO₄-P significantly lower than that in the Fengxian enclosed sea (p < 0.01). The concentration of NH₄-N, NO₃-N, NO₂-N, and PO₄-P after G. verrucosa cultivation was decreased by 54.12%, 75.54%, 49.81%, and 49.00%, respectively. The density of phytoplankton in the Jinshan enclosed sea with cultivation of G. verrucosa was 6.90 –126.53 × 10⁴ cells m⁻³, which was significantly lower than that in the Fengxian enclosed sea. In addition, species diversity, richness, and evenness was significantly increased after cultivation of G. verrucosa in the Jinshan enclosed sea compared with that in the Fengxian enclosed sea. The density of Skeletonema costatum, Prorocentrum micans, and Prorocentrum donghaiense, which were the usual species of red tides at the coastal sea of China, in the Jinshan enclosed sea with cultivation of G. verrucosa was significantly lower. Based on these results, if the water quality in the Jinshan enclosed sea were to be maintained at grade I (DIN ≤0.20 mg  L⁻¹) or II (DIN ≤0.30 mg  L⁻¹), 21.8 t or 18.0 t fresh weight of G. verrucosa need to be cultivated, respectively. These results indicated that large-scale cultivation of G. verrucosa could play a significant role in the bioremediation of Hangzhou Bay.     

Impact of atmospheric nitrogen deposition on soil properties and herb-layer diversity in remnant forests along an urban–rural gradient in Guangzhou, southern China

Atmospheric nitrogen (N) deposition in subtropical metropolitan regions has increased greatly because of rapid urbanization, and such increase could lead to N-related changes in soil properties and plant diversity in remnant forests of urban ecosystems. To investigate the pattern of atmospheric N deposition along an urban?Crural gradient in metropolitan Guangzhou, southern China, and to assess the potential influence of N deposition on soil properties and understory plant diversity in remnant forests, precipitation, and soil samples were collected and vegetation was surveyed from four forest sites between March 2010 and March 2011. The atmospheric inorganic nitrogen deposition (DIN) decreased with increasing distance from the urban center: DIN inputs were 43.3, 41.2, 35.2, and 30.1?kg?N?ha^?1?year^?1 in two urban sites, a suburban site and a rural site, respectively. However, forest soil N status (NH₄ ⁺-N, NO₃ ^?-N, and total nitrogen) showed the opposite pattern. Understory herb-layer diversity was negatively correlated to DIN input and positively correlated to soil calcium (Ca) and potassium (K) concentrations and pH; with highest herb-layer diversity found in the rural site receiving the lowest amount of DIN input. These results indicated that higher DIN along with soil acidification and leaching of base cations (Ca and K) might change the current N status and increase nutrients leaching and thereby cause reductions in understory plant diversity. A regional policy linking atmospheric pollution and land protection is needed to protect the most N-sensitive herb species (e.g., forbs and ferns) in these remnant forests.     

Chemical composition and nutrient loading by precipitation in the Trachypogon savannas of the Orinoco llanos, Venezuela

Samples of bulk precipitation were collected in the Trachypogon savanna, Calabozo, Venezuela, during three consecutive years. In the first year, rain samples were taken daily; in the following years the samples were grouped on a monthly basis. In addition, samples of dry deposition were collected during the dry seasons. All samples were analyzed for the following water soluble cations and anions: P0₄-P, S0₄-S, N0₃-N, NH₄-N, Ca⁺², Mg⁺², K⁺, Na⁺ and H⁺. The mean annual input rate of chemical constituents (Kg ha^-1 year^-1) was: PO₄-P (0.42); SO₄-S (2.62); NO₃-N (0.21); NH₄-N (2.03); Ca₊₂ (3.50); Mg⁺² (11.31); K⁺ (3.60); Na⁺ (5.93) and H⁺ (0.03). The total mean input of particulate material to the savanna during the dry season was 2.06 Kg ha^-1 year^-1, with a soluble fraction of 30%. Possible sources of nutrients input were analyzed.     

山西北部农村区域大气活性氮沉降特征

利用DELTA系统、被动采样器和雨量器在山西省北部生态脆弱区朔州的一个监测点通过一整年的监测试验,研究了该地区农村区域大气氮素干湿沉降的月际变化。结果表明:2011年该地区大气氮素湿沉降为12.43kgN hm~(-2)a~(-1),远低于华北平原大气氮素混合沉降的平均值28.0kg N hm~(-2)a~(-1),降水中铵态氮、硝态氮和有机氮平均分别为1.24 mg N/L、1.27 mg N/L、1.26mg N/L。大气氮素湿沉降的年内分布不均,60%的沉降集中在降水较丰沛的4-10月份。试验区干沉降以氧化态氮(HNO_3NO_2和pNO_3~-)的沉降为主,氧化态氮的干沉降量是还原态氮(NH_3和pNH_4~+)的1.37倍,大气氮素干沉降总量为35.43 kg N hm~(-2)a~(-1)。总体来看,作为典型的干旱区,该地区氮的干沉降是湿沉降的3倍,氮素干湿沉降总量达到47.86kg N hm~(-2)a~(-1)。此外,硝态氮和铵态氮在雨水中呈线性相关,而在PM_(10)颗粒物中乘幂正相关;雨水中总碳和总氮呈线性正相关,而PM_(10)颗粒物中二者呈二次多项式关系。鉴于朔州地区古城镇较高的氮沉降数量,应该对该地区输入农田的氮素环境养分引起足够重视。     

海水中藻菌共培养体系对碳氮磷的吸收转化

海洋环境中,细菌和微藻之间的物质交换是生源要素在自然界中迁移转化的重要方式。为进一步了解生源要素的生物地球化学循环,在实验室模拟条件下,研究了共培养体系中营养盐和有机物在细菌和微藻之间的转换。通过纯培养中肋骨条藻(Skeletonema costatum)、东海原甲藻(Prorocentrum donghaiense)、天然海水中的细菌以及藻菌混合培养,分析了营养盐和有机物随藻菌生物量的变化情况,并计算了溶解有机碳(DOC)和溶解有机氮(DON)的浓度比值[(DOC/DON)a]。结果发现,在共培养体系中,细菌对中肋骨条藻的生长有抑制作用,对东海原甲藻影响不明显;中肋骨条藻有利于细菌生长,东海原甲藻抑制细菌生长,这种不同可能与微藻的粒径有关。海洋细菌在2种藻的指数生长均期均会促进微藻吸收氨氮(NH_4-N),但在生长末期NH_4-N以释放为主。硝氮(NO_3-N)的浓度与藻的生长呈负相关,但在衰亡期NO_3-N略有增加,表明NO_3-N再生所需时间较长。细菌对硝氮的吸收量较少,但对其再生有贡献。细菌和中肋骨条藻对磷酸盐(PO_4-P)的吸收存在竞争,但与东海原甲藻的竞争关系不明显。不同培养体系中DOC浓度变化不同,在藻菌共培养体系中增加较快,纯藻培养体系中增加缓慢,在纯菌培养体系中缓慢减少。通过对DOC与DON浓度比值的分析,发现用判断颗粒有机碳(POC)来源的方法可以分析DOC的来源。     

Space–time configurations of solute input and biological uptake in river systems traversing limestone uplands (Yorkshire Dales,northern England)

Solute concentrations, including major plant nutrients, are surveyed from sampling during 1985–89 in river systems variably influenced by upland Dinantian (Carboniferous) limestone. Concentrations of most ions generally increase downstream, but there are widespread dilution effects after rainy periods for major ions and local depletions of mostly biological origin for major plant nutrients. In the upper reaches, these depletions develop mainly under low flow from the influence of benthic algae and macrophytes; they affect inorganic C as HCO₃ ^- plus dissolved gaseous CO₂ and soluble reactive forms of Si, N and P. Inflow – outflow differences of an upland lake result from biological influence on these constituents and also Ca⁺ and K⁺. Experimental injections of NH₄-N, PO₄-P and K⁺were made to an acid headwater of the River Swale, together with Na⁺ and Cl^- as supposed conservative reference ions. Uptake is insignificant for K⁺ but marked for NH₄-N and PO₄-P; the residual percentage decreases exponentially with time. Relative rates of net uptake per unit time are greater for P than for NH₄-N and larger under conditions of higher flow velocity and benthic algal growth. Although limestone is lacking in some headwater regions, where atmospheric inputs appear to predominate, overall its chemical denudation as Ca²⁺ and HCO₃ ^-provides most of the solute flux downstream, as well as in some karstic headwaters where the highest values are limited by CaCO₃ saturation.