Chemical investigations of Loch Etive,Scotland. III. Participate organic carbon and particulate organic nitrogen

The concentration of the suspended matter in Loch Etive varies with river discharge, biological production, and water movement. The contribution from phytoplankton production shows a seasonal trend, with the highest values in the spring and the lowest in winter. The carbon: chlorophyll a and nitrogen: chlorophyll a ratios in the photic zone (1,4–5, and 10 m) during the period of high production ranged from 54.0 to 400.0 and 6.0 to 38.0, respectively, the autumn bloom having higher ratios than the spring bloom. The increase of these ratios in the landward direction indicates the influence of terrestrial material. The C/N ratios in the surface (1 m) of the loch throughout the year fluctuated between 6.5–20.0, being the highest in winter. The C/N ratios in the bottom layers of the Lower Basin (40–50 m), Deep Basin (115–140 m) and the Head of the Loch (25–35 m) during the year ranged between 2.25–14.0, 5.0–38.0, and 3.0–28.5, respectively. The lowest ratios were mainly found in early autumn and associated with high levels of dissolved organic nitrogen and amonium. The accumulation of suspended matter in the deeper layers of the Deep Basin was caused by the input of organic detritus from the Lower Basin and eroded sediment from the basin slope. The lateral distribution of the C/N ratios may be related to the hydrographical features of the loch.     

Soluble fractions of phosphorus compounds and alkaline phosphatase activity in loch creran and loch etive,Scotland

Reactive phosphorus, polyphosphate, monophosphate ester, dissolved organic phosphorus, and alkaline phosphatase activity were measured in Loch Creran and Loch Etive. Argyll, Scotland during the spring outburst of 1976. In addition, data on chlorophyll a, phacopigment, and salinity were obtained on each occasion.The mean levels of reactive phosphorus initially present in Loch Creran and Loch Etive were 0.50 and 0.22 μg-at. PO₄?P/I, respectively. As the diatom bloom progressed, it fell below the limit of detection. The mean values of polyphosphate were between 0.05–0.08 μg-at. PO₄?P/l in Loch Creran and 0.04 μg-at. PO₄?P/l in Loch Etive, and although present at the initiation and decline of the bloom, it was absent when chlorophyll a was high and the reactive phosphorus was low or undetectable. Monophosphate ester, was found in Loch Creran only, and then in the same concentration as that of the polyphosphate fraction. The mean levels of the dissolved organic phosphorus in Loch Creran and Loch Etive ranged between 0.08–0.18 μg-at. PO₄-P/l and 0.05–0.08 μg-at. PO₄?P/l, respectively. Alkaline phosphatase activity was detected when there was no reactive phosphorus in the water: the highest values in Loch Creran and Loch Etive were 0.003 and 0.005 I.U. of enzyme/4 ml of sample, respectively. The highest mean values of chlorophyll a were 8.0 μg/l in Loch Creran, and 6.0 μg/l in Loch Etive. The mean percentages of phaeopigment fluctuated between 20–55% in Loch Creran and 30–65% in Loch Etive. The highest values were found at the end of the bloom. The mean surface salinities ranged from 22.0 to 31.0‰ in Loch Creran and 3.7 to 17.0‰ in Loch Etive. The lowest values were recorded at the end of the bloom. The statistical treatment of the data, suggests a strong relationship between zooplankton grazing and levels of dissolved phosphorus compounds and phaeopigment.     

Dissolved organic matter and nutrient dynamics of a coastal freshwater forested wetland in Winyah Bay, South Carolina

Seasonally flooded, freshwater cypress-tupelo wetlands, dominated by baldcypress (Taxodium distictum), water tupelo (Nyssa aquatica), and swamp tupelo (Nyssa sylvatica var. biflora) are commonly found in coastal regions of the southeastern United States. These wetlands are threatened due to climate change, sea level rise, and coastal urban development. Understanding the natural biogeochemical cycles of nutrients in these forested wetlands as ecosystems services such as carbon sequestration and nitrogen processing can provide important benchmarks to guide conservation plans and restoration goals. In this study, surface water and soil pore water samples were collected weekly from a cypress-tupelo wetland near Winyah Bay, South Carolina and analyzed for dissolved organic carbon (DOC), dissolved organic nitrogen (DON), inorganic nitrogen, and phosphate during its flooding period between October 2010 and May 2011. DOC was further characterized by specific ultra-violet absorbance at 254 nm, spectral slope ratio (S_R) (ratio of two spectral slopes between 275–295 nm and 350–400 nm), E2/E3 ratio (ratio between A254 and A365), and fluorescence excitation-emission matrix. In addition, litterfall was collected on a monthly basis for a year while the biomass of the detritus layer (i.e., decomposed duff lying on the wetland floor) was determined before and after the flooding period. Results of the field study showed that concentrations of DOC, DON, NH₄ ⁺–N, and (NO₂ ^? + NO₃ ^?)–N in the surface water were generally higher during the fall, or peak litterfall season (October to December), than in the spring season (March to May). Highest concentrations of 54.8, 1.48, 0.270, and 0.0205 mg L^?1, for DOC, DON, NH₄ ⁺–N, and (NO₂ ^? + NO₃ ^?)–N respectively, in surface waters were recorded during October. Lower SUVA, but higher S_R and E2/E3 ratios of DOC, were observed at the end of the flooding season comparing to the initial flooding, suggesting the wetland system converts high aromatic and large DOC molecules into smaller and hydrophilic fractions possibly through photochemical oxidation. A similar trend was observed in soil pore water, but the pore water generally had greater and relatively stable concentrations of dissolved nutrients than surface water. No obvious temporal trend in phosphate concentration and total nitrogen to total phosphorus ratio (N:P) were found. Results of the laboratory extraction and mass balance calculation suggested fresh litter was a major source of DOC whereas decomposed duff was the source of dissolved nitrogen in surface water. In summary, the biogeochemistry of this isolated cypress-tupelo wetland is not only driven by the vegetation within the wetland system but also by hydrology and weather conditions such as groundwater table position, precipitation, and temperature.     

The winter and summer partitioning of dissolved nitrogen and phosphorus. Observations across the Irish Sea during 1997 and 1998

Winter and summer water column profiles from a transect co-inciding with the 54° N parallel across the Irish Sea were examined for relationships between the fractions of total dissolved nitrogen and phosphorus. Inorganic nitrogen and phosphorus gave the expected seasonal variation. As inorganic nitrogen concentrations decreased during the summer, dissolved organic nitrogen concentrations increased. Dissolved organic phosphorus showed little seasonal variation and formed a smaller fraction of the total dissolved pool compared to nitrogen. Winter inorganic nitrogen and phosphorus salinity relationships were conservative: winter organic nitrogen and phosphorus salinity relationships were not conservative. In the winter, dissolved organic nitrogen and phosphorus formed a significant fraction of the total dissolved pool.     

不同密度樟子松人工林土壤碳氮磷化学计量特征

以科尔沁沙地不同密度(490、750、1550、1930、2560株·hm-2)樟子松人工林(栽植于1980年)为研究对象,分析林分密度对土壤碳、氮、磷浓度及其计量比的影响,研究林分密度与土壤养分状况的关系。结果表明:随着樟子松林密度增加,各土层(0～10、10～20和20～40 cm)土壤有机碳、全氮、全磷浓度和C∶N呈先增加后降低趋势,而土壤有效磷浓度呈先降低后增加趋势。土壤有机碳浓度在490株·hm-2密度小于其他密度,而有效磷浓度大于其他密度;土壤C∶P和N∶P在2560株·hm-2密度显著大于其他密度。各密度樟子松林土壤有机碳、全氮、全磷和有效磷浓度在0～10 cm土层显著大于10～20和20～40cm土层,樟子松人工林土壤养分具有表聚性。通过典范对应分析发现,密度对樟子松林土壤养分影响的主要因子是土壤有机碳、全氮和全磷,且密度为1550株·hm-2时土壤有机碳、全氮、全磷和碱解氮浓度较高,而C∶P和N∶P较低。因此,当樟子松人工林密度为1550株·hm-2时,土壤养分浓度较高,林木生长较好,为最佳经营密度。     

The Shatt al-Arab River: A nutrient salt and organic matter source to the Arabian Gulf

The distribution of dissolved reactive phosphate, nitrate and nitrite in the waters as well as total organic carbon, total phosphorus and Kjeldahl nitrogen in the sediments of the Shatt al-Arab Estuary and the NW Arabian Gulf were studied from November 1979 to April 1980. The Shatt al-Arab waters contain 0.18 to 0.70 µg-at P-PO _inf4 ^sup3– l^–1, 26.12 to 52.39 µg-at N-N0 _inf3 ^sup– l^–1 and 0.53 to 0.70 µg-at N-NO _inf2 ^sup– l^–1, indicating that this river should be considered a source of nutrients to the Arabian Gulf. It is concluded that most of the nitrate is supplied in dissolved form, while an appreciable amount of phosphate is absorbed to fine suspended particles and released at higher salinities. Total organic carbon in surficial sediments was found to vary between 0.14% and 0.96%. These rather low values are attributed to dilution by dust fallout, which is a major cource of sediments in this area.     

Sediment phosphorus cycling in a large shallow lake: spatio-temporal variation in phosphorus pools and release

Sediment and water column phosphorus fractions were recorded monthly for one year (April 2004–April 2005) in a shallow lake recovering from nutrient pollution (Loch Leven, Scotland). Equilibrium phosphate concentration (EPC0) and gross sediment phosphorus (P) release rates were estimated from laboratory experiments. Pore water and organic P pools were lowest during warm water periods whereas bottom water P was lowest during cold water periods. Reductant-soluble, organic, metal oxide-adsorbed, residual and sediment total phosphorus pools all varied significantly with overlying water depth. Short-term, high magnitude, redox initiated P release events occurred in late summer and winter as a result of anoxic sediment conditions. Lower magnitude long-term release conditions were maintained for most of the year, most likely as a result of organic P cycling and maintenance of high concentration gradients between the pore and bottom water P pools. Estimates of summer P uptake/release rates, across an intact sediment-water interface, suggested that maximum gross internal release was ~12 mg SRP m⁻² lake surface area d⁻¹ with EPC0 values ranging between 180 and 270 μg P L⁻¹. This study highlights the biological mediation of internal loading in shallow eutrophic lakes, and in particular, the role of sediment algae in decreasing, and sediment bacteria in enhancing, sediment P release.     

Can the structure of a riparian forest remnant influence stream water quality? A tropical case study

In rural areas, riparian forest remnants can be very important for the maintenance and improvement of stream water quality. We evaluated if a forest remnant influenced stream water quality, and if these results were influenced by forest structure. We sampled reaches from 140 m upstream of the remnant edge until 600 m within the forest remnant. Electric conductivity (EC) and ammonium concentrations decreased as the stream flowed through the remnant, whereas dissolved oxygen, total phosphorus (P), total dissolved P, organic P, and silicate concentrations increased along the remnant. Variation in forest structure was due to a gradient in forest stratification versus tree height and diameter at breast height, and a gradient in tree density versus basal area. More stratified parts of the forest, with smaller trees, resulted in lower EC values and concentrations of total nitrogen and nitrite, whereas higher density of trees resulted in lower levels of total and dissolved P, creating heterogeneity at very local scales. The overall mean influence of this riparian forest remnant improved stream water quality, suggesting that forest remnants have local effects that can be important when managing stream water quality at larger spatial scales.     

Optical and hydrographic consequences of freshwater run-off during spring phytoplankton growth in a Scottish fjord

A combination of in situ measurements and radiative transfermodelling were used to study optical conditions in the innerbasin of Loch Etive, a Scottish fjord, in March and April 2000.The basin was strongly stratified with three layers separatedby marked pycnoclines. The surface layer averaged 5 m in depthand was heavily stained with coloured dissolved organic matter(CDOM) which reduced the euphotic depth to between 7 and 10m. Approximately 20% of the photosynthetically available radiation(PAR) in the water column was absorbed by phytoplankton, 44%by CDOM and 36% by sea water. Detectable concentrations of themajor inorganic nutrients (nitrate, phosphate and silicate)occurred at all depths, but significant phytoplankton populations(averaging 6 mg chlorophyll a m^–3) were found only inthe reduced-salinity surface layer. The freshwater input thereforeacted both as a source of buoyancy which promoted phytoplanktongrowth near the surface and as an attenuator of visible lightwhich inhibited growth deeper in the water column.     

更新方式对亚热带森林土壤溶液可溶性有机质数量及化学结构的影响

采用负压法对福建省三明市亚热带常绿阔叶林中米槠次生林(BF)、米槠人促更新林(RF)、米槠人工林(CP) 0～15、15～30、30～60 cm土层土壤溶液可溶性有机质(DOM)的浓度及光谱学特征进行研究.结果表明: 土壤溶液可溶性有机碳(DOC)浓度整体趋势为RF>CP>BF,而可溶性有机氮(DON)则为米槠人工林最高;且 DOC 和 DON 在表层(0～15 cm)土壤浓度皆显著高于底层(30～60 cm).芳香化指数大小为RF>CP>BF,且整体为表层较高.米槠人工林表层土壤以荧光强度高的短波峰(320 nm)为特征峰,表明其易分解物质含量高,腐殖化程度较低;而米槠人促更新林表层土壤则以宽平的中长波峰(380 nm)为特征峰,说明其腐殖化程度较高,有助于土壤肥力的储存.此外,30～60 cm深层DOM特性几乎不受森林更新方式的影响.     

Effects of seston on ultraviolet attenuation in Lake Biwa

We examined the attenuation of underwater ultraviolet (UV) radiation and photosynthetically available radiation (PAR) in Lake Biwa, Japan, at offshore and inshore sites and under contrasting stratification and mixing regimes. There were large spatial differences in the water column transparency to both wavebands, despite little change in concentrations of dissolved organic carbon (DOC). The 1% of surface irradiance depth varied from 0.3 to 2.7 m at 305 nm, from 0.8 to 6.3 m at 380 nm, and from 2.3 to 12.8 m for PAR. Both PAR and UV transparency declined abruptly in the South Basin of the lake when a typhoon caused the resuspension of sediments. The water column ratio of UV to PAR increased by 30% at all stations over the course of a 3-week sampling period associated with the general increase in phytoplankton concentrations. At several sites, the diffuse attenuation coefficient for UV radiation deviated substantially from that predicted from UV-DOC models. A significantly positive linear relationship was found between UV attenuation (K _d determined with a profiling UV radiometer) and the beam attenuation coefficient at 660 nm as measured by transmissometer. These results indicate that scattering and absorption by particulate matter can reduce UV transparency to below that inferred from DOC concentrations, and that current UV-exposure models should be modified to incorporate this effect. Received: March 21, 2001 / Accepted: August 17, 2001     

Changes in shallow lake functioning: response to climate change and nutrient reduction

Hydrobiologia - Nutrient, phytoplankton and zooplankton dynamics have been monitored intensively at Loch Leven for 34 years. The data collected reveal a decline in phosphorus concentrations,...     

Ammonium formation in cape timiris (Mauritania) upwelling

Ammonium formation was studied in two consecutive years by following a newly upwelled ammonium-free ‘parcel’ of water with a drogue. High concentrations (> 2 μg-at. NH₄-N l^?1) were found at the end of each study. The relative importance of WP-2 net mesozooplankton excretion on the ammonium values is greater before the phytoplanktonic bloom (35–48%) than during it (10–16%). From carbon grazing estimates, it is shown that other herbivore excretion does not take the place of WP-2 mesozooplankton and because of synchronous variations of chlorophyll with dissolved organic nitrogen, and bacterial activity with ammonium, it is suggested that much of the ammonium is produced from phytoplankton decay or nitrogen excretion during the bloom.     

Light limitation of phytoplankton development in an oligotrophic lake - Loch Ness, Scotland

• 1 The underwater light climate in Loch Ness is described in terms of mixing depth (Z_m) and depth of the euphoric zone (Z_eu). During periods of complete mixing, Z_m equates with the mean depth of the loch (132 m), but even during summer stratification the morphometry of the loch and the strong prevailing winds produce a deep thermocline and an epilimnetic mixed layer of about 30 m or greater. Hence, throughout the year the quotient Z_m/Z_eu is exceptionally high and the underwater light climate particularly unfavourable for phytoplankton production and growth.
• 2 Phytoplankton biomass expressed as chlorophyll a is very low in Loch Ness, with a late summer maximum of less than 1.5 mg chlorophyll a m^-3 in the upper 30 m of the water column. This low biomass and the resulting very low photosynthetic carbon fixation within the water column are evidence that a severe restraint is imposed on the rate at which phytoplankton can grow in the loch.
• 3 The chlorophyll a content per unit of phytoplankton biovolume and the maximum, light-saturated specific rate of photosynthesis are both parameters which might be influenced by the light climate under which the phytoplankton have grown. However, values obtained from Loch Ness for both chlorophyll a content (mean 0.0045 mg mm^-3) and maximum photosynthetic rate (1–4 mg C mg Chla^-1 h^-1) are within the range reported from other lakes.
• 4 Laboratory bioassays with the natural phytoplankton community from Loch Ness on two occasions in late summer when the light climate in the loch is at its most favourable, suggest that even then limitation of phytoplankton growth is finely balanced between light and phosphorus limitation. Hence, for most of the year, when the light climate is less favourable, phytoplankton growth will be light limited.
• 5 Quotients relating mean annual algal biomass as chlorophyll a (c. 0.5 mg Chla m^-3) and the probable annual specific areal loading of total phosphorus (0.4–1.7 g TP m^-2 yr^-1) suggest that the efficiency with which phytoplankton is produced in Loch Ness per unit of TP loading is extremely low when compared with values from other Scottish lochs for which such an index has been calculated. This apparent inefficiency can be attributed to suppression of photosynthetic productivity in the water column due to the unfavourable underwater light climate.
• 6 These several independent sources of evidence lead to the conclusion that phytoplankton development in Loch Ness is constrained by light rather than by nutrients. Loch Ness thus appears to provide an exception to the generally accepted paradigm that phytoplankton development in lakes of an oligotrophic character is constrained by nutrient availability.

     

太湖不同解有机磷菌株胞外碱性磷酸酶活性对蓝藻碎屑的响应

浮游细菌胞外碱性磷酸酶在湖泊磷循环过程中具有关键作用, 但其与生物可利用性磷和颗粒态有机质之间的关系尚未得到充分的研究。研究以从太湖沉积物分离的3 株解有机磷细菌(OPB)和东湖水中OPB菌群为实验对象, 以蓝藻干物质为颗粒态有机质, 系统分析了模拟条件下OPB 的数量、不同大小颗粒所表现的胞外碱性磷酸酶活性(APA)与不同形态磷的浓度及其相互关系。从总体上讲, APA 与OPB 数量显著正相关, 且明显反比于溶解反应性磷(SRP)浓度, 在模拟实验过程中, 不同菌株(群)所对应的SRP 浓度均显著不同, 故其解磷能力各异。从绝对活性及其在总活性中所占的比例来看, 各处理间小颗粒(0.22—3.0 μm)APA亦明显不同, 而大颗粒(>3.0 μm)APA和溶解态(8 CFU/mL), SRP 浓度逐渐增加。实验后期(20—33 d)细菌数量大幅度减少, 且伴随SRP 和溶解态有机磷浓度的显著升高。因此, 在缺磷且富含颗粒态有机质的条件下, OPB 将产生胞外碱性磷酸酶, 分解有机磷, 进而满足其大量生长的需要, 同时有效改变溶解态磷的形态与生物可利用性。       

Dissolved organic carbon chemistry and dynamics in contrasting forest and grassland soils

Seasonal variability in biogeochemical signatures was used to elucidate the dominant pathways of soil microbial metabolism and elemental cycling in an oligotrophic mangrove system. Three interior dwarf mangrove habitats (Twin Cays, Belize) where surface soils were overlain by microbial mats were sampled during wet and dry periods of the year. Porewater equilibration meters and standard biogeochemical methods provided steady-state porewater profiles of pH, chloride, sulfate, sulfide, ammonium, nitrate/nitrite, phosphate, dissolved organic carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus, reduced iron and manganese, dissolved inorganic carbon, methane and nitrous oxide. During the wet season, the salinity of overlying pond water and shallow porewaters decreased. Increased rainwater infiltration through soils combined with higher tidal heights appeared to result in increased organic carbon inventories and more reducing soil porewaters. During the dry season, evaporation increased both surface water and porewater salinities, while lower tidal heights resulted in less reduced soil porewaters. Rainfall strongly influenced inventories of dissolved organic carbon and nitrogen, possibly due to more rapid decay of mangrove litter during the wet season. During both times of year, high concentrations of reduced metabolites accumulated at depth, indicating substantial rates of organic matter mineralization coupled primarily to sulfate reduction. Nitrous oxide and methane concentrations were supersaturated indicating considerable rates of nitrification and/or incomplete denitrification and methanogenesis, respectively. More reducing soil conditions during the wet season promoted the production of reduced manganese. Contemporaneous activity of sulfate reduction and methanogenesis was likely fueled by the presence of noncompetitive substrates. The findings indicate that these interior dwarf areas are unique sites of nutrient and energy regeneration and may be critical to the overall persistence and productivity of mangrove-dominated islands in oligotrophic settings.     

Chemical Characteristics of Particulate, Colloidal, and Dissolved Organic Material in Loch Vale Watershed, Rocky Mountain National Park

The chemical relationships among particulate and colloidal organicmaterial and dissolved fulvic acid were examined in an alpine andsubalpine lake and two streams in Loch Vale Watershed, Rocky MountainNational Park. The alpine lake, Sky Pond, had the lowest dissolved organiccarbon (DOC) (0.37 mgC/L), the highest particulate carbon (POC) (0.13mgC/L), and high algal biomass. The watershed of Sky Pond is primarilytalus slope, and DOC and POC may be autochthonous. Both Andrews Creekand Icy Brook gain DOC as they flow through wet sedge meadows. Thesubalpine lake, The Loch, receives additional organic material from thesurrounding forest and had a higher DOC (0.66 mgC/L). Elemental analysis,stable carbon isotopic compositon, and ¹³C-NMR characterizationshowed that: 1) particulate material had relatively high inorganic contentsand was heterogeneous in compositon, 2) colloidal material was primarilycarbohydrate material with a low inorganic content at all sites; and 3)dissolved fulvic acid varied in compositon among sites. The lowconcentration and carbohydrate-rich character of the colloidal materialsuggests that this fraction is labile to microbial degradation and may beturning over more rapidly than particulate fractions or dissolved fulvic acid.Fulvic acid from Andrews Creek had the lowest N content and aromaticity,whereas Sky Pond fulvic acid had a higher N content and lower aromaticitythan fulvic acid from The Loch. The UV-visible spectra of the fulvic acidsdemonstrate that variation in characteristics with sources of organic carboncan explain to some extent the observed non-linear relationship betweenUV-B extinction coefficients and DOC concentrations in lakes.     

Phosphorus-limited growth dynamics in two Baltic Sea cyanobacteria, Nodularia sp. and Aphanizomenon sp

Rates of carbon (C) specific growth and nitrogen (N2) fixation were monitored in cultures of Baltic Sea Nodularia and Aphanizomenon exposed to gradual limitation by inorganic phosphorus (P). Both cyanobacteria responded by decreased cellular P content followed by lowered rates of growth and N2 fixation. C-specific growth and cellular N content changed faster in Aphanizomenon both when inorganic P was lowered as well as during reintroduction of P. Aphanizomenon also showed a more rapid increase in N-specific N2 fixation associated with increased C-specific growth. When ambient concentrations of inorganic P declined, both cyanobacteria displayed higher rates of alkaline phosphatase (APase) activity. Lower substrate half-saturation constants (KM) and higher Vmax : KM ratio of the APase enzyme associated with Nodularia suggest a higher affinity for dissolved organic P (DOP) substrate than Aphanizomenon. Aphanizomenon, which appears more sensitive to changes in ambient dissolved inorganic P, may be adapted to environments with elevated concentrations of P or repeated intrusions of nutrient-rich water. Nodularia on the other hand, with its higher tolerance to increased P starvation may have an ecological advantage in stratified surface waters of the Baltic Sea during periods of low P availability.     

Spectral intensity in some Scottish freshwater lochs

In the course of investigations on the ecology of submerged aquatic macrophytes a narrow-bandwidth spectroradiometer has been used to measure underwater spectral intensity (390–750 nm) in a series of lochs approaching the extremes in optical and chemical properties of Scottish fresh waters. Cosine response and immersion-effect properties of the collector were determined in the laboratory with a colUmated hght source. Diffuse attenuation coefficients, Ee, ranged from 0·55 in Loch Croispol, a calcareous loch, to 2·9 in Loch Leven, a lowland eutrophic loch. Underwater spectral intensity (1 m) relative to subsurface values show a proportional increase in short-wave radiation in the blue-green water of Loch Croispol, while the converse is true of the peaty brown water of Loch Uanagan. Attenuation coefficients were derived over 25 nm wavebands in Lochs Croispol, Leven and Uanagan. The water in the latter two lochs is optically similar although Leven is rich in phytopiankton and has an extinction peak at 675 nm. Uanagan represents the brown-water type of loch most common in Scotland. Loch Croispol has attenuation coefficients for shorter wave-lengths at least ten times lower than the other two lochs and only approaches their values at 750 nm. Croispol resembles Crater Lake, Oregon. The colour range at the maximum colonizable depths by rooted macrophytes of brown (Uanagan 4 m) to blue-green (Croispol 6 m) water is equivalent to 196·0 and 230·6 kJ/Einstein (48·2 and 55·6 kcal/Einstein). Red/far-red ratios even in plankton-rich water (Leven) were at least three times the value for sunlight (1·3) and within the total photic zone reached three-figure proportions. Possible implications for light-sensitive seeds of aquatic species and for morphogenesis and zonation are discussed.     

Characteristics of oligotrophic hardwater lakes in a postglacial land-rise area in mid-Sweden

1. We describe some remarkable ephemeral, oligotrophic hardwater lakes formed because of land rise in the coastal areas of the Baltic Sea, that are unique in Sweden and probably also worldwide. Two younger, coastal lakes were studied by regular sampling for 1 year and compared with an older (i.e. greater altitude) lake, that passed through the oligotrophic hardwater stage some 3–4000 years ago. 2. Despite some differences in composition of the catchment, the two younger lakes were similar with regard to water chemistry and plankton community composition. The concentration of phosphorus was low while nitrogen was high, resulting in very high N/P quotients (101 and 131). Although water colour was moderate, the concentration of organic carbon was extremely high (average values of ≥ 20 μg TOC L^–1), consisting mainly of dissolved compounds (DOC). 3. While the plankton was poorly developed, sediments in both lakes were covered by a layer of photosynthesising micro‐organisms. This substantial `microbial mat', which has not been described in detail before, was up to 15 cm thick and dominated by cyanobacteria and purple sulphur bacteria. The concentration of sediment phosphorus was extremely low (352 μg g^–1 dw) in one of the lakes and dominated by organic‐bound (residual) phosphorus. 4. Deep sediments in the older lake, representing its oligotrophic hardwater period, differed in phosphorus composition from the currently oligotrophic hardwater lakes by having a strong dominance of HCl‐extractable (Ca‐bound) phosphorus. This indicates that phosphorus, initially organic‐bound within the microbial mat, is subsequently bound to calcium. We hypothesise that this is promoted by the environmental conditions created by the benthic photosynthetic activity, in combination with the prevailing hardwater conditions. 5. The rich and flourishing microbial community on the sediments may also explain the high concentration of DOC in the lake.