Wastewater as a point source of antibiotic-resistance genes in the sediment of a freshwater lake

Antibiotic-resistance genes (ARGs) are currently discussed as emerging environmental contaminants. Hospital and municipal sewage are important sources of ARGs for the receiving freshwater bodies. We investigated the spatial distribution of different ARGs (sul1, sul2, tet(B), tet(M), tet(W) and qnrA) in freshwater lake sediments in the vicinity of a point source of treated wastewater. ARG contamination of Vidy Bay, Lake Geneva, Switzerland was quantified using real-time PCR and compared with total mercury (THg), a frequently particle-bound inorganic contaminant with known natural background levels. Two-dimensional mapping of the investigated contaminants in lake sediments with geostatistical tools revealed total and relative abundance of ARGs in close proximity of the sewage discharge point were up to 200-fold above levels measured at a remote reference site (center of the lake) and decreased exponentially with distance. Similar trends were observed in the spatial distribution of different ARGs, whereas distributions of ARGs and THg were only moderately correlated, indicating differences in the transport and fate of these pollutants or additional sources of ARG contamination. The spatial pattern of ARG contamination and supporting data suggest that deposition of particle-associated wastewater bacteria rather than co-selection by, for example, heavy metals was the main cause of sediment ARG contamination.     

Whole-lake lead burdens in sediments of lakes in southern Ontario,Canada

The anthropogenic stable lead content of the sediments of eight softwater Precambrian lakes in southern Ontario was measured at 34–92 sites per lake. Whole-lake anthropogenic lead burdens varied between only 610 and 770 mg m^–2. There was no relationship between lead burden and either water replenishment time of the lake (T_W) or the ratio of watershed area to lake area (Ad/A₀), which varied by factors of 4 and 12 respectively. These results can be explained if a) the lead deposition in this region is uniform, and b) the only significant input of lead to the lakes is via deposition from the atmosphere directly on the lakes' surfaces. Therefore spatial differences in anthropogenic lead within a lake represent the redistribution or focusing pattern of the sediments.     

Variation and distribution of total mercury in water, sediment and soil from northern Lake Victoria, East Africa

Lake Victoria, the world's largest tropical freshwater lake, is an important resource, ecologically and economically. THg distribution in the northern parts of the lake are not well known, so to answer this gap, patterns in total mercury (THg) in water, soil and two dated sediment cores from northern Lake Victoria were determined. Water THg concentrations ranged from 0.7 to 5.8 ng/L, and there were no apparent differences observed between Napoleon and Winam Gulfs. Two precipitation samples had Hg concentrations of 7 and 31 ng/L. Surface soil samples collected from various agricultural sites around Jinja, Napoleon Gulf, have THg concentrations between 12.7 and 48.4 ng/g dry weight; they were correlated with organic carbon, total phosphorus and % clay. A near-shore core taken in Itome Bay in Napoleon Gulf, and an offshore core collected from the deepest part of the lake had similar THg concentrations and profiles (78 to 458 ng/g dry weight). The increase in THg concentration in the profiles of both cores began around 1960 and peaked around 1980. The similar sedimentary THg profiles and fluxes in the cores suggest that the THg sources to L. Victoria are primarily atmospheric, with some erosion inputs, and that equatorial African ecosystems are not exempt from the global increase in baseline THg concentrations.     

Potential causes of enhanced transfer of mercury to St. Lawrence River Biota: implications for sediment management strategies at Cornwall, Ontario, Canada

We examined factors and pathways involved in the transfer of mercury (Hg) to the food web in St. Lawrence River embayments near Cornwall, Ontario, where natural remediation of contaminated sediments (eventual burial by settling of cleaner sediments) has been adopted as a management strategy. Yellow perch (Perca flavescens) from one of the study zones (Zone 1) along the river by Cornwall contained significantly higher total mercury (THg) concentrations than perch from other equally contaminated zones. While THg concentrations in benthic invertebrates did not vary among contaminated zones, THg concentrations in yellow perch and invertebrate prey recovered from the perch stomachs were 1.5–2.5 times higher in Zone 1 than those from other zones, suggesting that prey selection affects THg accumulation more than habitat location. No significant differences were found in THg concentrations among different prey species within Zone 1, although there were significant differences in THg concentrations in the same prey species within Zone 1. In contrast, THg concentrations among different prey species increased significantly with trophic level in other contaminated and reference zones. The lack of correspondence between trophic position and THg accumulation in Zone 1 suggests two possibilities: (1) yellow perch in Zone 1 are highly mobile and are assimilating THg from a wide range of prey across Zone 1 with variable THg concentrations and (2) there may be an important non-dietary source of THg to the Zone 1 food web. Potential waterborne Hg sources to Zone 1 were investigated. Whereas THg and MeHg values in discharges from a disused canal were similar to Zone 1 surface water values (0.97 and 0.04 ng l^?1, respectively), concentrations in storm sewer and combined sewer overflows discharging in the vicinity of Zone 1 were 19–45-fold (THg) and 2–4-fold (MeHg) higher than upstream river water. Contributions of Hg to the water column from sediment–water diffusion, estimated using a simple, well-mixed reactor model, ranged 0.05–0.1% of the surface water THg concentration and 1–2% of the MeHg concentration measured in summer months in Zone 1. Although not investigated in the other zones, a strong correlation (r ² = 0.82) was found between MeHg in porewater and amphipod concentrations in Zone 1, indicating that the sediment porewater is bioavailable and likely an important pathway for transfer of sediment Hg to the foodweb. Large areas of Zone 1 contain bark deposits and produce high rates of gas ebullition, and may not provide favourable conditions for progressive burial with clean sediments and attenuation of Hg transfer to biota through natural remediation. Careful monitoring of surface sediment concentrations and biota is required in these areas. Failure to reduce concentrations of Hg in these media would indicate alternative or additional management measures are required.     

Are they still viable? Physical conditions and abundance of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Daphnia pulicaria</Emphasis> resting eggs in sediment cores from lakes in the Tatra Mountains

All species of Daphnia (Cladocera) produce, at some stage in their life cycle, diapausing eggs, which can remain viable for decades or centuries forming a “seed bank” in lake sediments. Because of their often good preservation in lake sediment, they are useful in paleolimnology and microevolutionary studies. The focus of this study was the analysis of cladoceran resting eggs stored in the sediment in order to examine the ephippial eggs bank of Daphnia pulicaria Forbes in six mountain lakes in the High Tatra Mountains, the Western Carpathians (northern Slovakia and southern Poland). Firstly, we analyzed distribution, abundance and physical condition of resting eggs in the sediment for their later used in historical reconstruction of Daphnia populations by genetic methods. To assess changes in the genetic composition of the population through time, we used two microsatellite markers. Although DNA from resting eggs preserved in the High Tatra Mountain lake sediments was extracted by various protocols modified for small amounts of ancient DNA, DNA from eggs was not of sufficient quality for microsatellite analyses. Distribution curves of resting eggs from sediment cores correspond to the environmental changes that have occurred in the High Tatra Mountains area during last two centuries (atmospheric acid deposition, fish introduction) and demonstrate their influence on natural populations. Evaluation of ephippia physical condition (the most common category was empty ephippial covers) suggests that the majority of resting eggs hatched to produce a new generation of Daphnia or may be due to failed deposition of resting eggs by Daphnia to the chitinous case. In conclusion, age, low quantity and poor physical condition of resting eggs from these Tatra lake sediments proved to be unsuitable not just for use in genetic analyses, but also the possibilities of autogenous restoration of Daphnia populations from the resting egg banks in the Tatra sediments are negligible.     

The distributions and effects of nutrients in the sediments of a shallow eutrophic Chinese lake

The temporal and spatial distribution of total nitrogen and total phosphate in the sediments of a shallow eutrophic Chinese lake (Lake Chao), and their relationships with the physical and chemical features of sediments, and their effects on the lake water quality and trophic state, are presented in this paper. The following results were obtained: (1) higher concentration of Tot-N and Tot-P in the sediments occurred in the summer and the autumn seasons; (2) higher annual average Tot-N and Tot-P concentrations were observed in the sediments near the various river mouths and in the western part of the lake; (3) Tot-N and Tot-P concentration in the lake sediments generally increased with increase in lake sediment Eh, pH, and Al₂O₃, and declined with decrease in lake sediment size diameters and SiO₂; and, (4) correlations were observed in both the temporal and spatial distributions between the trophic state, Tot-N and Tot-P concentration in the lake water, and the Tot-N and Tot-P concentration found in the lake sediments.     

Laboratory Study of Chemical Speciation of Mercury in Lake Sediment and Water under Aerobic and Anaerobic Conditions

Chemical speciation and partitioning of radiolabeled HgCl₂ were studied in model aquatic systems consisting of undisturbed eutrophic lake sediment and water in plastic cylinders. The cylinders were either gradually made anaerobic by a gentle flow of N₂-CO₂ or kept aerobic by air flow. The proportion of methylated ²⁰³Hg was significantly higher, in both water and sediment, in the anaerobic systems than in the aerobic systems. The composition and total concentration of fatty acids originating from bacterial phospholipids, as well as the concentration of vitamin B₁₂, including related cobalamins, were similar in sediments from the anaerobic and aerobic systems. Bacterial cell numbers were, on average, 3.6 times higher in the anaerobic water columns than in the aerobic ones. Volatilization of ²⁰³Hg occurred in all systems except in an autoclaved control and was of similar magnitudes in the anaerobic and aerobic systems. Incorporation of ²⁰³Hg into the sediment was significantly faster in the aerobic systems than in the anaerobic systems. These results suggest that episodes of anoxia in bottom waters and sediment cause an increase in net mercury methylation and, hence, an increase in bioavailable mercury.     

Benthic transfer and speciation of mercury in wetland sediments downstream from a sewage outfall

In order to evaluate the role of hypoxic conditions of overlying water in the benthic flux and speciation of Hg, we analyzed sediment cores from hypoxic or oxic sites downstream from a sewage outfall in the Damyang Riverine Wetland, Korea. Each core was analyzed for total Hg (THg), monomethylmercury (MMHg), and elemental Hg (Hg⁰) from sediment, and for THg and MMHg from pore water. Hypoxic conditions of the overlying water near the sewage outfall were associated with a peak production of Hg⁰, but the lowest production of MMHg, in the upper 2 cm sediments. The benthic fluxes of THg and MMHg were estimated at 130-2109 ng m⁻² day⁻¹ and −12 to 260 ng m⁻² day⁻¹, respectively. The order of MMHg flux from sediment to overlying water at each site did not follow the order of MMHg concentration in sediment, but was highest in hypoxic water conditions. The results suggest that maintaining oxic conditions in wetland water is important for decreasing the transfer of MMHg from sediment into overlying water.     

Concentration and risk assessments of mercury along the elevation gradient in soils of Langtang Himalayas,Nepal

The fragile Himalayan region could be regarded as the sink for various pollutants transported from urbanized and polluted areas of South Asia. Therefore, in order to understand the concentrations, spatial distribution, pollution, and risk assessments of toxic heavy metal, mercury (Hg), surface soil samples were taken from the central Himalayas in the Langtang region. The average THg concentration in the Langtang Himalayas was 35.75 ± 24.41(ngg^?1), which is comparable to the Tibetan top soil values and slightly lower than world average soil values. In addition, an inverse relationship of THg with elevation were observed (i.e. decrease in concentration with increase in elevation) in the Langtang Himalayan soils. Meanwhile, THg concentrations and TOC% were significantly positively correlated at both the depths (0–10 and 10–20 cm), inferring the sorption capacity of organic carbon for Hg. The results of the geo-accumulation index (I_geo), enrichment factor (EF), and pollution index (PI) indicated limited or no pollution by Hg in the Himalayan soils. Further, surface soils had a low potential ecological risk in the region. Therefore, the Hg value from this study could be used for the further evaluation and calculation of I_geo, EF, and PI for water, soil, and aerosol in the Himalayan region as background reference value. However, Hg pollution from long-range transport and atmospheric deposition (wet/dry) in future could not be ignored in the Himalayan region.     

Estimates of subtropical forest biomass based on airborne LiDAR and Landsat 8 OLI data

 快速、定量、精确地估算区域森林生物量一直是森林生态功能评价以及碳储量研究的重要问题。该研究基于机载激光雷达(LiDAR)点云与Landsat 8 OLI多光谱数据, 借助江苏省常熟市虞山地区55块调查样地数据, 首先提取并分析了87个特征变量(53个OLI特征变量, 34个LiDAR特征变量)与森林地上、地下生物量的Pearson’s相关系数以进行变量优选, 然后利用多元逐步回归法建立森林生物量估算模型(OLI生物量估算模型和LiDAR生物量估算模型), 并与基于两种数据建立的综合生物量估算模型的结果进行比较, 讨论预测结果及其精确性。结果表明: 3种模型(OLI模型、LiDAR模型和综合模型)在所有样地无区分分析时, 地上和地下生物量的估算精度均达到0.4以上, 基于不同森林类型(针叶林、阔叶林、混交林)分析时地上和地下生物量的估算精度均有明显提高, 达到0.67及以上。利用分森林类型模型估算生物量, 综合生物量估算模型精度(地上生物量: R²为0.88; 地下生物量: R²为0.92)优于OLI生物量估算模型(地上生物量: R²为0.73; 地下生物量: R²为0.81)和LiDAR生物量估算模型(地上生物量: R²为0.86; 地下生物量: R²为0.83)。     

Nitrogen mass balances and denitrification rates in central Ontario Lakes

Nitrogen mass balances for seven unproductive lakes and 20 forested catchments in central Ontario were measured between 1977 and 1989. Average annual lake denitrification rates calculated with the N/P ratio method were strongly correlated with summer anoxic factor (extent of surficial sediment anoxia) whereas denitrification rates calculated with a²¹⁰Pb sediment N accumulation method were poorly correlated with the anoxic factor suggesting that the N/P method is superior. Substantial denitrification occurred in all lakes — an average of 36% of TN inputs or 75% of the net gain. On a regional area-weighted basis, 67% of bulk atmospheric TN deposition was stored or denitrified terrestrially, 12% was denitrified in lakes, 4% was stored in lake sediments, and 17% was exported from lakes. N/P ratios were generally less in streams than in precipitation suggesting preferential N retention in catchments, whereas the N/P ratios in lake outputs were slightly higher than lake input ratios, suggesting preferential P retention in lakes. This is consistent with the notion that P-limited lakes can exist adjacent to N-limited forests.     

西藏达则错盐湖沉积背景与有机沉积结构

以西藏拟溞(Daphniopsis tibetana Sars)为优势浮游动物物种的低盐度盐湖是西藏湖泊的一个重要类型,以达则错为代表,分析了其沉积背景及沉积物组成。结果如下:(1)湖泊敞水区无机沉积以内生化学沉积为主,可代表深水盐湖无机沉积物的自然沉积过程。(2)达则错盐湖浮游植物以蓝藻、硅藻、裸藻、绿藻为主,总生物量11.35 mg/L;浮游动物生物量为4.92 mg/L,其中西藏拟溞占 82.30%;浮游植物残体受盐梯度影响在盐梯度层之上聚集,而浮游动物残体及粪粒(Fecal pellets)因外表有碳酸盐附着可穿过盐梯度层沉积湖底,生物残体与浮游动物代谢产物构成了沉积有机物的物质基础。(3)表层沉积物平均含水量为66.70%,粒径0.004-0.02 mm范围内的颗粒物含量最大,占20.42%,其次为<0.004 mm的粘土,占4.53%。(4)表层沉积物总有机碳(TOC)平均含量为27.99 mg/g(干重),其中颗粒有机碳(POC)约为18.11 mg/g,占TOC的64.70%;在POC中,西藏拟溞粪粒贡献最大,约占POC的60.48%,占TOC的39.06%,占沉积物总量的1.12%,其次为西藏拟溞残体,占POC的38.85%。分析结果表明盐湖因其独特的水化学和生物学特征具有较强的沉积能力,以化学沉积为主的无机沉积及以西藏拟溞粪粒和残肢碎屑为主的有机沉积构成了该类型盐湖颗粒物沉降及沉积的主要过程。     

Release rates and potential fates of nitrogen and phosphorus from sediments in a eutrophic reservoir

1. Nutrients released from lake sediments can influence water column nutrient concentrations and planktonic productivity. We examined sediment nutrient release [soluble reactive phosphorus (SRP) and ammonia (NH)] at two sites in a eutrophic reservoir (Acton Lake, OH, U.S.A.) that differed in physical mixing conditions (a thermally stratified and an unstratified site). 2. Sediment nutrient release rates were estimated with three methods: sediment core incubations, seasonal in situ hypolimnetic accumulation and a published regression model that predicted sediment phosphorous (P) release rate from sediment P concentration. All three methods were applied to the deeper stratified site in the reservoir; however, we used only sediment core incubations to estimate SRP and NH release rates at the shallow unstratified site because of the lack of thermal stratification. We also compared the total P concentration (TP_S) of sediments and the concentration of P in various sediment fractions at both sites. 3. Anoxic sediments at the stratified site released SRP at rates more than an order of magnitude greater than oxic sediments at the shallow unstratified site. However, P accumulated in the hypolimnion at much lower rates than predicted by sediment core incubations. In contrast, NH was released at similar rates at both sites and accumulated in the hypolimnion at close to the expected rate, indicating that P was ‘lost’ from the hypolimnion through biogeochemical pathways for P, such as precipitation with inorganic material or biological uptake and sedimentation. 4. TP_S was significantly greater at the deeper stratified site and organically bound P accounted for >50% of TP_S at both sites. 5. We examined the magnitude of SRP fluxes into the study reservoir in 1996 by comparing the mean summer daily SRP fluxes from anaerobic sediments, aerobic sediments, stream inflows and gizzard shad excretion. While the SRP release from anaerobic sediments was high, we hypothesise that little of this SRP gained access to the epilimnion in mid‐summer. SRP flux to the reservoir from aerobic sediments was less than from gizzard shad excretion and streams. Large interannual variability in thermocline stability, gizzard shad biomass and stream discharge volumes, will affect SRP loading rates from different sources in different years. Therefore, construction of P budgets for different years should account for interannual variation in these parameters.     

Factors Controlling the Geochemical Partitioning of Trace Metals in Estuarine Sediments

The geochemical partitioning of trace metals in sediments is of great importance in risk assessment and remedial investigation. Selected factors that may control the partitioning behavior of Cu, Pb and Zn in non-sulfidic, estuarine sediments were examined with the use of combined sorption curve—sequential extraction analysis. This approach, which has not been previously used to examine estuarine sediments, allowed determination of sorption parameters for Cu, Pb and Zn partitioning to individual geochemical fractions. Partitioning behavior in sulfidic sediments was also determined by sequentially extracting Cu, Pb, and Zn from synthetic sulfide minerals and from natural sediment and pure quartz sand after spiking with acid-volatile sulfide (AVS). Trace metal sorption to the “carbonate” fraction (pH 5, NaOAc extraction) increased with metal loading due to saturation of sorption sites associated with the “Fe-oxide” (NH₂OH·HCl extraction) and “organic” (H₂O₂ extraction) fractions in non-sulfidic sediments. Freundlich parameters describing sorption to the “Fe-oxide” and “organic” fractions were controlled by the sediment Fe-oxide and organic carbon content, respectively. Sequential extraction of Cu from pure CuS, AVS-spiked sediment and AVS-spiked quartz sand showed that AVS-bound Cu was quantitatively recovered in association with the “organic” fraction. However, some AVS-bound Pb and Zn were recovered by the NH₂OH·HCl step (which has been previously interpreted as “Fe-oxide” bound metals) in the sequential extraction procedure used in this study. This indicates that the sequential extraction of Pb and Zn in sulfidic sediments may lead to AVS-bound metals being mistaken as Fe-oxide bound species. Caution should therefore be exercised when interpreting sequential extraction results for Pb and Zn in anoxic sediments.     

Factors driving spatial and temporal variation in production and production / biomass ratio of stream‐resident brown trout (Salmo trutta) in Cantabrian streams

1. The objective was to identify the factors driving spatial and temporal variation in annual production (P_A) and turnover (production/biomass) ratio (P/B_A) of resident brown trout Salmo trutta in tributaries of the Rio Esva (Cantabrian Mountains, Asturias, north‐western Spain). We examined annual production (total production of all age‐classes over a year) (P_A) and turnover (P/B_A) ratios, in relation to year‐class production (production over the entire life time of a year‐class) (P_T) and turnover (P/B_T) ratio, over 14 years at a total of 12 sites along the length of four contrasting tributaries. In addition, we explored whether the importance of recruitment and site depth for spatial and temporal variations in year‐class production (P_T), elucidated in previous studies, extends to annual production. 2. Large spatial (among sites) and temporal (among years) variation in annual production (range 1.9–40.3 g m^?2 per year) and P/B_A ratio (range 0.76–2.4 per year) typified these populations, values reported here including all the variation reported globally for salmonids streams inhabited by one or several species. 3. Despite substantial differences among streams and sites in all production attributes, when all data were pooled, annual (P_A) and year‐class production (P_T) and annual (P/B_A) and year‐class P/B_T ratios were tightly linked. Annual (P_A) and year‐class production (P_T) were similar but not identical, i.e. P_T = 0.94 P_A, whereas the P/B_T ratios were 4 + P/B_A ratios. 4. Recruitment (Rc) and mean annual density (N_A) were major density‐dependent drivers of production and their relationships were described by simple mathematical models. While year‐class production (P_T) was determined (R² = 70.1%) by recruitment (Rc), annual production (P_A) was determined (R² = 60.3%) by mean annual density (N_A). In turn, variation in recruitment explained R² = 55.2% of variation in year‐class P/B_T ratios, the latter attaining an asymptote at P/B_T = 6 at progressively higher levels of recruitment. Similarly, variations in mean annual density (N_A) explained R² = 52.1% of variation in annual P/B_A, the latter reaching an asymptote at P/B_A = 2.1. This explained why P/B_T is equal to P/B_A plus the number of year‐classes at high but not at low densities. 5. Site depth was a major determinant of spatial (among sites) variation in production attributes. All these attributes described two‐phase trajectories with site depth, reaching a maximum at sites of intermediate depth and declining at shallower and deeper sites. As a consequence, at sites where recruitment and mean annual density reached minimum or maximum values, annual (P_A) and year‐class production (P_T) and annual (P/B_A) and year‐class P/B_T ratios also reached minimum and maximum values.     

Deposition and transport of radionuclides within an upland drainage basin in mid-Wales

The deposition of radiocaesium from nuclear weapons testing and the Chernobyl accident upon the Llyn Llygad Rheidol catchment in mid-Wales is described. Inventories of soil cores from the catchment support estimates of total atmospheric fallout. The mean inventory of weapons testing ¹³⁷Cs in lake sediment cores is broadly similar to that in soil cores. The inventory of Chernobyl fallout in sediment cores is significantly lower and raises questions concerning the residence time of ¹³⁷Cs in the catchment soils and lake waters. ¹³⁷Cs and ²⁴¹Am activities in a sediment core record the 1963 peak of fallout from nuclear weapons testing. The association of the peak activities of ¹³⁷Cs and ²⁴¹Am in the sediments with the falloot maximum is confirmed by ²¹⁰Pb dating. The ²¹⁰Pb dates also reveal a significant increase in sediment accumulation rates over the past 20 years.     

利用雨养泥炭沼泽及湖泊沉积物重建多氯联苯污染时空变化趋势

为了重建不同历史时期多氯联苯(PCBs)的沉降速率以研究其污染的时空变化趋势,本研究分析了PCBs在泥炭芯和湖泊沉积柱芯中浓度和沉降速率的变化规律,并评估了泥炭芯和湖泊沉积柱芯用于PCBs沉降变化研究的适用性.对采集柱芯进行定年分析发现,泥炭沼泽可以很好地记录PCBs历史沉降变化,并且泥炭中的PCBs没有出现降解情况,...     

Nitrate reduction in marine sediment: Pathways and interactions with iron and sulfur cycling

Abstract

In coastal marine sediments, the interactions between NO₃ ^? reduction and transformations of Fe and S compounds often occur in a strong gradient of electron activity ("redoxcline"). Denitrification activity is observed throughout the NC₃ ^?‐containing surface zone, although the reduction step from N₂O to N₂ can be inhibited by H₂S in the “redoxcline.”; Survival of denitrifiers is generally poor in NO₃ ^?‐free, reduced sediment; such populations are likely to employ Fe³⁺ reduction in their energy metabolism. At depth, the sediments often contain a larger capacity for “nitrate ammonification”; (dissimilatory NO₃ ^? reduction to NH₄ ⁺) than for denitrification. The “nitrate ammonification”; is found commonly among fermenting bacteria, although SO₄ ^2? reducers may also be involved. In situ activities observed in whole sediment cores indicate that “nitrate ammonification”; may account for as much as one‐third of the carbon oxidation in organic‐rich sediments. The control of partitioning between denitrification and “nitrate ammonification”; at low NO₃ ^? concentrations is poorly investigated, but the larger metabolic capacity of fermenting and S O₄ ^2?‐reducing baceria in relatively reduced sediment could be important. In addition to bacterial reduction, chemical NO₃ ^? reduction is possible where significant amounts of Fe²⁺ (or H₂S) accumulate in the “redoxcline.”;     

The effect of a shift from macrophyte to phytoplankton dominance on phosphorus forms and burial in the sediments of a shallow hard-water lake

In shallow lakes, increasing phosphorus (P) loading has often been accompanied by a shift from a clear-water, macrophyte-dominated state to a turbid state featuring phytoplankton dominance. The effect of a regime shift on P burial and P fractions in lake sediments, however, is poorly understood. We used sediment cores from a eutrophic hard-water lake (Lake Gollinsee, Germany) that had undergone a regime shift (in approximately 1917) to investigate the effect on the accumulation rate of P and on changes in P forms. The cores were dated using Hg contents and radioisotopes (²¹⁰Pb, ¹³⁷Cs, and ²⁴¹Am). A combination of total organic carbon to total nitrogen ratios (TOC:TN), δ¹³TOC values, X-ray fluorescence calcium (Ca) counts, and sediment colour clearly distinguished sediment layers that were deposited during periods of macrophyte or phytoplankton dominance. The accumulation rate of total P (TP) in the sediments was 1.8 times higher after the regime shift and was associated with changes in the distribution of P fractions. The proportions of loosely-(NH₄Cl-extracted TP) and Ca-(HCl-extracted TP) bound P decreased significantly, whilst the proportions of biogenic P (NaOH-extracted NRP) and aluminium-bound P (NaOH-extracted SRP) increased significantly. A higher dry mass deposition rate, reduced burial of stable Ca-P complexes, and increased contents and proportions of the mobile iron-bound (BD-extracted TP) and biogenic P fractions in the near-surface sediment layers are assumed to have enhanced the internal cycling of P and hence to have helped to maintain a state of phytoplankton dominance.