Nutrient-phytoplankton relationships in a tropical meromictic soda lake

Seasonal variation through one year in total nitrogen (TN), total phosphorus (TP), phytoplankton biomass, phytoplankton species composition and other environmental factors were examined in Lake Sonachi, a tropical meromictic soda lake. Mean concentrations of TN and TP were 11 000 µg N l^-1 and 100 µg P l^-1, respectively. Maximum concentrations of TN and TP occurred in the monimolimnion. Phytoplankton biomass ranged from 350 to 1260 mg m^-3. Synechococcus bacillaris, a small coccoid cyanophyte, dominated the phytoplankton. The mean chlorophyll a concentration of 37 mg · m^-3 was a modest value when compared with those of other tropical soda lakes. High TN:TP ratios indicated phosphorus limitation in the lake.     

Vertical distribution of planktonic rotifers in a karstic meromictic lake

Vertical distribution of planktonic rotifers is described in relation to temperature and oxygen in Lake La Cruz, a single-doline, closed karstic lake (121 m diameter and 25 m maximum depth) which shows iron meromixis. Samples were taken by peristaltic pumping at 10 cm depth intervals in the oxycline zone from June 1987 to September 1988. A model of rotifer vertical structure in stratified lakes is proposed. Rotifers concentrate their populations at the depths with intense gradients. As stratification develops some rotifer populations show a downward migration following the thermocline and some others show an upward migration following the oxycline. The production-respiration balance in the lake, and so the position of the oxycline with respect to the thermocline and the layer of maximum production, depends on meteorological conditions. A shift in the dominance of congeneric or related species can occur in consecutive years. In Lake La Cruz, mixing conditions and subterranean inflow in spring were much more intense in 1988 than 1987, and the distance between production and decomposition depths was smaller in 1988. Anuraeopsis miraclei, an oxycline-bound species with high abundance in 1987, was displaced by A. fissa in 1988. A. fissa, which was a metalimnetic species during early summer, reached peak densities (3 × 10⁴ ind l^–1) at the oxycline, equaling the abundance of A. miraclei the preceeding year.     

Effects of phytoplankton on the elemental composition (C,N, P) of suspended particulate material in the lower river Rhine

The spatial and temporal distribution of element concentrations were monitored together with chlorophyll a as an indicator of algal density to assess the effect of phytoplankton on the elemental composition (C, N, P) of suspended materials in the lower Rhine. The high concentrations of particulate C, N and P in the river were found to decrease in the delta and to increase again in the estuarine turbidity zone. Phytoplankton blooms increased the concentrations of particulate C, N, and P significantly in the upstream part of the river. In summer 1989, 15–65% of the particulate C and 20–75% of the particulate N were attributable to phytoplankton. Together with published data these observations indicate that in eutrophic rivers, the input of organic materials from the catchment is strongly modified and supplemented by in situ growth of phytoplankton. During seaward transport the phytoplankton and the particulate elements disappeared from the river water concomitantly with the suspended matter, indicating an increased retention of these elements due to sedimentation. In contrast, soluble ammonia, nitrite and phosphate increased in the tidal reaches of the river because of local input in the harbour and city of Rotterdam and because of mineralization. Therefore the total nutrient load of the Rhine estimated at the German/Dutch border does not reflect the actual input into the sea.     

The origin and recycling of sedimented biogenic debris in a subalphine eutrophic lake (Lake Bled, Slovenia)

The areal distribution of organic C contents, ¹³C values, total N and P and biogenic Si contents in surficial sediments were used to study the distribution, origin and diagenetic transformations of sedimented biogenic debris in the eutrophic subalpine Lake Bled (Slovenia), which for most of the yearhas an anoxic hypolimnion. The influence of an allochthonous input, restricted to the western basin, was clearly traced by higher organic C and total N and P contents, higher ¹³C values, and higher sedimentation rate in comparison to the eastern basin. The low ¹³C values of sedimentary organic matter in the major part of the lake, lower than the ¹³C values of different types of organic matter, suggest that this sedimentary organic matter is most probably the product of a microbial community and not a residue of primary production.The temporal variation of benthic diffusive fluxes of NH₄, Si and PO₄, derived from modelling the pore water profiles, was related to sedimentation of phytoplanktonic blooms, while the PO₄ fluxes were also dependent on changing redox conditions at the sediment-water interface in the period of the winter-spring overtum. The removal of PO₄ in pore waters is probably due to the adsorption of phosphate and precipitation of apatite and vivianite. The budget of C, N and P at the sediment-water interface revealed a high recycling efficiency (>70%), also confirmed by the rather uniform (or only slightly decreasing) vertical profiles of organic C, total N and P in sediment cores and C/N and C/P ratios. The percentage of biogenic Si recycling is low (<10%), suggesting its removal in sediments.     

Vernal microstratification patterns in a meromictic saline lake: their causes and biological significance

Periodic high spring runoff, in addition to lake surface snow and ice melt, is shown to be a major cause of sharp secondary chemocline formation in a small (20 ha) lake arid and south-central British Columbia. Initially detected in 1982 at about 1 m and enhanced by high inflow of low salinity meltwater in spring 1983, the secondary chemocline gradually deepened and broke down over four subsequent years. Associated microstratification layers (major changes within a few cm of depth), exhibited very high temperatures (> 30 °C), and very high dissolved oxygen (> 200% saturation) as well as very low (close to 0% saturation) levels. Oxygen supersaturation resulted from photosynthetic production at the microstratification boundaries. In the springs of 1982 and 1983, formation of an anoxic layer between regions of high oxygen concentration, separated the phytoplankton and zooplankton communities into two layers above the primary chemocline. The several year persistence of the secondary chemoclines and associated interface processes (concentration of particulate organic matter, bacterial decomposition, nutrient regeneration, phytoplanktonic production) attest to their functional importance in this meromictic lake.     

Consequences of redox conditions on the distribution of cations in a meromictic oligotrophic lake

The cations Ca, Mg, Zn, Na, K, Mn and Fe were measured during the year 1977 in the mixolimnion and in the monimolimnion of lake Pavin. The great difference between the residence time for Ca, Mg, Na, K (15 years) and for Mn and Fe (> 90 years) is due to the redox reactions in the chemocline. The overturn conditions and their influence on cation accumulation are studied.     

Silicon supply modifies C:N:P stoichiometry and growth of Phragmites australis

Silicon is a non-essential element for plant growth. Nevertheless, it affects plant stress resistance and in some plants, such as grasses, it may substitute carbon (C) compounds in cell walls, thereby influencing C allocation patterns and biomass production. How variation in silicon supply over a narrow range affects nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) uptake by plants has also been investigated in some detail. However, little is known about effects on the stoichiometric relationships between C, N and P when silicon supply varies over a broader range. Here, we assessed the effect of silicon on aboveground biomass production and C:N:P stoichiometry of common reed, Phragmites australis, in a pot experiment in which three widely differing levels of silicon were supplied. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) showed that elevated silicon supply promoted silica deposition in the epidermis of Phragmites leaves. This resulted in altered N:P ratios, whereas C:N ratios changed only slightly. Plant growth was slightly (but not significantly) enhanced at intermediate silicon supply levels but significantly decreased at high levels. These findings point to the potential of silicon to impact plant growth and elemental stoichiometry and, by extension, to affect biogeochemical cycles in ecosystems dominated by Phragmites and other grasses and sedges.     

C, N, P concentrations and requirements of flowering Posidonia oceanica

The carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus contents in flowering and nonflowering shoots were compared after an important flowering event occurred in the Posidonia meadow of the Bay of Calvi. The flower formation caused a significant increase of C and a significant decrease of N concentrations in intermediate and adult leaves. Minimum daily requirements in mgshoot^-1day^-1 of 3.4 and 4.8 of C, 0.09 and 0.09 N, 0.01 and 0.02 of P respectively for nonflowering and flowering shoots were calculated. It shows that additional quantities of C and P are required for the inflorescence elaboration. The unchanged quantity of N required by the shoot for the inflorescence elaboration and the significant modification of N concentration in intermediate and adult leaves suggests that N is limited in the environment and that an efficient resorption of N occurs from leaves to ensure the inflorescence formation.     

Temporal changes in C,P and N concentrations in soil solution following application of synthetic sheep urine to a soil under grass

We have determined the temporal changes in the concentration of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) and P and N components in soil solution following application of synthetic sheep urine (500 kg N ha^-1) to a brown forest soil in boxes sown with Agrostis capillaris. Three contrasting defoliation treatments (no cutting, single cut before urine application and regular cutting twice per week) plus a fallow soil were studied. The synthetic urine contained ¹⁵N labelled urea and was P-free. Intact soil cores were taken after 2, 7, 14, 21 and 56 d and centrifuged to obtain soil solution. The urea in the synthetic urine was rapidly hydrolysed in the soil, increasing soil solution pH, DOC and total dissolved phosphorus (TDP) concentrations. For the regularly defoliated sward, DOC and P reached maximum concentrations (4000 mg DOC L^-1 and 59 mg TDP L^-1) on day 7. From their peak values, pH and DOC and P concentrations generally decreased with time and at day 56 were near those of the control. Concentrations of NH₄ ⁺ and NO₃ ^- in the no-urine treatments fluctuated and the greatest treatment differences were between the fallow soil and the soil sown with grass. Adding synthetic urine increased NH₄ ⁺ concentrations during the first week, but NO₃ ^- concentrations decreased. This was consistent with the ¹⁵N labelling of the NO₃ ^- pool which required 3 weeks to reach that of ¹⁵NH₄ ⁺. Dissolved organic nitrogen (DON) reached a maximum value at day 7 with a concentration of 409 mg N L^-1. The DON in soil solution contained no detectable amounts of ¹⁵N label indicating that it was derived from sources in the soil. Differences in soil solution composition related to the effect of the other cutting treatments and the fallow treatment were small compared to the effect of synthetic urine addition. This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Dynamics of C,N, P and S in grassland soils: a model

We have developed a model to simulate the dynamics of C, N, P, and S in cultivated and uncultivated grassland soils. The model uses a monthly time step and can simulate the dynamics of soil organic matter over long time periods (100 to 10,000 years). It was used to simulate the impact of cultivation (100 years) on soil organic matter dynamics, nutrient mineralization, and plant production and to simulate soil formation during a 10,000 year run. The model was validated by comparing the simulated impact of cultivation on soil organic matter C, N, P, and S dynamics with observed data from sites in the northern Great Plains. The model correctly predicted that N and P are the primary limiting nutrients for plant production and simulated the response of the system to inorganic N, P, and S fertilizer. Simulation results indicate that controlling the C:P and C:S ratios of soil organic matter fractions as functions of the labile P and S levels respectively, allows the model to correctly simulate the observed changes in C:P and C:S ratios in the soil and to simulate the impact of varying the labile P and S levels on soil P and S net mineralization rates.     

The importance of avian-contributed nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) to Lake Grand-Lieu,France

The largest natural lake in France, Grand-Lieu, has suffered eutrophication. The objective of the study was to estimate the annual input of nutrients (N, P) resulting from avian excrement, deposited by birds feeding out of the lake and returning to its waters for breeding or roosting, as compared to the input by the rivers that enter in the lake. Two years are compared: 1981–82 and 1990–91. About 1600–2000 breeding herons and cormorants, 20 000–33 000 wintering ducks, gulls and cormorants and 1–2.4 million starlings deposited about 5800 kg total N in 1981–82 and 7640 kg in 1990–91. Respectively, 2000 and 2530 kg total P were deposited over the same time periods. These represent 0.7% and 0.4% of the total N input of the lake and 2.4 and 6.6% of the total P input in 1981–82 and 1990–91. Starlings account for 74% of the N and mallards most of the rest. P input by starlings (36% in 1981–82, 41% in 1990–91), and by mallards and herons (35% and 27% in 1981–82 and 22% and 24% in 1990–91 respectively) plays an appreciable role among birds. During the plant growing period (April–September), the contribution by birds can increase to 37% of total P input of the lake. Piscivorous bird colonies concentrate Phosphorus 42 times more within the colony than outside the colony. Overall, the role birds play in total N and P input is relatively small due to very high inputs from human sewage and agriculture run off. The monthly mean concentration of the water of the two rivers reaches currently 10 mg l^–1 of N (to 23 mg during peak floods) and 394 mg m^–3 of P (to 468 mg during peak floods). Earlier, for example in the 1960's, water in Brittany only contained 0.1 to 1.1 mg 1^–1 of N and 1 to 5 mg m^–3 of P during the maximum flow period. At this time, birds could probably have represented annually up to 37% of the N input and up to 95% of the P input to the lake.     

Phylogenetic diversity of archaea and bacteria in the anoxic zone of a meromictic lake (Lake Pavin, France)

The compositions of archaeal and bacterial populations at different depths (60 m [mixolimnion-chemocline interface], 70 m [chemocline-subchemocline interface], 90 m, and 92 m [the water-sediment interface]) in the anoxic zone of the water column in Lake Pavin, a freshwater permanently stratified mountain lake in France, were determined. Phylogenetic trees were constructed from sequences to assess archaeal and bacterial diversity at the four sites.     

Trophic relationships between bacteria and protozoa in the hypolimnion of a meromictic mesostrophic lake

The development of ciliated protozoan biomass in the hypolimnion of Piburger See, a small subalpine lake, was demonstrated to depend mainly on two factors. Firstly, the availability of oxygen or nitrate as electron acceptors determines the depth profiles of ciliates. Large quantities of ciliates and even maximum numbers were found at depths where no oxygen could be detected. If nitrate also disappeared during the summer stagnation period, the biomass of protozoa was strongly reduced. Nitrite peaks generally corresponded with ciliate peaks. An extension of Finlay's findings (dissimilatory nitrate reductase within the inner mitochondrial membrane) to other ciliate groups is hypothesized.Secondly, the biomass development of hypolimnetic ciliates was strongly correlated with the bacterial biomass registered approx. 2 weeks before (r² = 0.891, n = 14). The biomass of bacteria, on the other hand, was dependent upon the sedimentation rate of organic carbon (r² = 0.850, n = 15), if a time lag of approx. 2 weeks was taken into account. Therefore a total time lag of approx. 4 weeks was assumed to take place between sedimentation of organic substance and the corresponding increase in ciliate biomass (r² = 0.853, n = 14). Bacteria were shown to be an important intermediate link in the food chain of the hypolimnion. They appear to represent the principal energy source for pelagic ciliates. Sedimentation of organic carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus is the driving force for the establishment of the hypolimnetic microbial community.     

Variability of C,N and P content of a tropical semiarid soil as affected by soil genesis,erosion and land clearing

Several transects of topsoil samples were taken immediately after land clearing and one year later from a savannah soil in the semiarid NE of Brazil. Natural spatial variability of key fertility indicators (C, N, P) was large with coefficients of variation >50%. This variability was related to heterogeneity of the soil parent material, and to relative slope position which affected deposition and removal of erodible materials. The distribution of gravel and different particle size fractions was an indicator of the variability as related to soil formation and erosional resorting. One year after the site was cleared and planted to trees, the decrease in C, N and resin-extractable P was in the same range as the initial spatial variability. Treatment effects were therefore difficult to observe but became more obvious when regression analysis on soil textural components was used to reduce data variability.     

尤溪天然米槠林植物碳氮磷的化学计量特征及其分配格局

以福建尤溪的天然米槠[Castanopsis carlesii(Hemsl.) Hayata]林乔木层、灌木层和草本层的26个主要优势种为研究对象,分析了植物不同器官的C、N和P含量及其比值的差异及相关性,并对不同器官C、N和P含量在不同层次间的分布特征进行了研究.结果显示:同一器官中均为C平均含量最高、P平均含量最低;其中,叶片中C、N和P含量分别为344.95 ～ 486.15、6.26 ～ 19.50和0.18 ～0.62 mg·g-1,C/N、C/P和N/P比分别为22.52 ～61.21、696.64～2 589.72和11.38 ～58.94;根系中的C、N和P含量分别为277.95 ～458.30、1.41 ～12.73和0.13 ～0.44mg·g-1,C/N、C/P和N/P比分别为34.63 ～296.17、731.45 ～3 372.69和8.81 ～34.41;乔木层和灌木层植物枝条中C、N和P含量分别为407.75 ～473.75、3.10 ～7.39和0.09～0.61 mg·g-1,C/N、C/P和N/P比分别为57.43 ～148.15、776.64～5 054.44和7.05 ～48.11;乔木层植物树干中的C、N和P含量分别为432.56 ～463.32、2.67 ～6.35和0.16 ～0.31 mg·g-1,C/N、C/P和N/P比分别为68.12 ～167.73、1 494.58 ～2 860.63和11.35 ～29.06.乔木层植物的不同器官按C含量由高至低依次排序为叶片、枝条、树干、根系,按N和P含量由高至低依次排序为叶片、枝条、根系、树干;灌木层植物的C含量在枝条中最高、根系中最低,N和P含量在叶片中最高、枝条中最低;而草本层植物地上部分的C、N和P含量均高于地下部分.除根系中的N含量与P含量呈极显著正相关外,同一器官的C、N和P含量间均无显著相关性,但与C/N、C/P和N/P比值间大多有极显著的相关性.不同器官的C、N和P含量也因植物所处层次的不同而异,其中乔木层植物叶片中均最高、草本层植物叶片中均最低;乔木层植物全株的C含量最高、N含量最低,草本层植物全株的N含量最高、C含量最低,各层植物全株的P含量比较接近.研究结果表明:尤溪天然米槠林内植物叶片的C、N和P含量均偏低,P缺乏很可能是限制该林分植物生产力的最重要元素.     

Anoxic degradation of biogenic debris in sediments of eutrophic subalpine Lake Bled (Slovenia)

Anoxic degradation of sedimentary biogenic debris using closed sediment incubation experiments was studied in eutrophic subalpine Lake Bled (NW Slovenia) which, for most of the year, has an anoxic hypolimnion. Production rates of dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC), NH₄ ⁺, PO₄ ^3- and dissolved Si, and reduction rates of SO₄ ^2- were measured and anoxic mineralization rates were modelled using G-model. The depth profiles indicated major mineralization of biogenic debris and SO₄ ^2- reduction near the sediment surface. A comparison between depth integrated anoxic mineralization rates and diffusive benthic fluxes of DIC, NH₄ ⁺ and PO₄ ^3- showed that the anoxic incubation experiments provide a good estimate of N degradation of biogenic debris. The contributions of SO₄ ^2- reduction and acetate fermentation in NH₄ ⁺ production are about 30 and 70%, respectively. The DIC production accounted for only 15% of DIC benthic flux, indicating that methanogenesis and oxidation of methane provides 80% of this flux. Only about 30% of PO₄ ^3- was released because phosphate precipitated in the closed incubation experiments. The depth integrated production of Si accounts for 70–80% of Si benthic fluxes indicating intense dissolution of biogenic Si in the surficial lake sediment.     

An early meromictic stage in Lobsigensee (Switzerland) as evidenced by ostracods and Chaoborus

Lobsigensee is a small kettle on the western Swiss Plateau in a tectonic depression of the tertiary Molasse. At present its maximum depth is 2.7 m. Analysis of ostracods and other organisms (Chaoborus) from a 13 m core indicates that the lake became meromictic during the Bølling and returned again to a holomictic stage during the Boreal when the lake was approximately 10 m deep. The meromictic period is characterized by the disappearance of ostracods — especially of Cytherissa lacustris and Limnocythere sanctipatricii — and the appearance of Chaoborus, whereas the onset of the second holomictic stage is marked by the recolonization of the profundal zone by ostracods not present before in the lake (Metacypris cordata, Darwinula stevensoni). A very similar case of fossil meromixis has been found in Kleinsee in Carinthia.     

Inter- and intra-annual variability in the phytoplankton community of a high mountain lake: the influence of external (atmospheric) and internal (recycled) sources of phosphorus

1. The inter‐ and intra‐annual changes in the biomass, elemental (carbon (C), nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P)) and taxonomical composition of the phytoplankton in a high mountain lake in Spain were studied during 3 years with different physical (fluctuating hydrological regime) and chemical conditions. The importance of internal and external sources of P to the phytoplankton was estimated as the amount of P supplied via zooplankton recycling (internal) or through ice‐melting and atmospheric deposition (external). 2. Inter‐annual differences in phytoplankton biomass were associated with temperature and total dissolved phosphorus. In 1995, phytoplankton biomass was positively correlated with total dissolved phosphorus. In contrast, the negative relationship between zooplankton and seston biomass (direct predatory effects) and the positive relationship between zooplankton P excretion and phytoplankton biomass in 1997 (indirect P‐recycling effects), reinforces the primary role of zooplankton in regulating the total biomass of phytoplankton but, at the same time, encouraging its growth via P‐recycling. 3. Year‐to‐year variations in seston C : P and N : P ratios exceeded intra‐annual variations. The C : P and N : P ratios were high in 1995, indicating strong P limitation. In contrast, in 1996 and 1997, these ratios were low during ice‐out (C : P < 100 and N : P < 10) and increased markedly as the season progressed. Atmospheric P load to the lake was responsible for the decline in C : P and N : P ratios. 4. Intra‐annual variations in zooplankton stoichiometry were more pronounced than the overall differences between 1995 and 1996. Thus, the zooplankton N : P ratio ranged from 6.9 to 40.1 (mean 21.4) in 1995, and from 10.4 to 42.2 (mean 24.9) in 1996. The zooplankton N : P ratio tended to be low after ice‐out, when the zooplankton community was dominated by copepod nauplii, and high towards mid‐ and late‐season, when these were replaced by copepodites and adults. 5. In 1995, the minimum demands for P of phytoplankton were satisfied by ice‐melting, atmospheric loading and zooplankton recycling over 100%. In order of importance, atmospheric inputs (> 1000%), zooplankton recycling (9–542%), and ice‐melting processes (0.37–5.16%) satisfied the minimum demand for P of phytoplankton during 1996 and 1997. Although the effect of external forces was rather sporadic and unpredictable in comparison with biologically driven recycle processes, both may affect phytoplankton structure and elemental composition. 6. We identified three conceptual models representing the seasonal phosphorus flux among the major compartments of the pelagic zone. While ice‐melting processes dominated the nutrient flow at the thaw, biologically driven processes such as zooplankton recycling became relevant as the season and zooplankton ontogeny progressed. The stochastic nature of P inputs associated with atmospheric events can promote rapid transitional changes between a community limited by internal recycling and one regulated by external load. 7. The elemental composition of the zooplankton explains changes in phytoplankton taxonomic and elemental composition. The elemental negative balance (seston N : P < zooplankton N : P, low N : P recycled) during the thaw, would promote a community dominated by species with a high demand for P (Cryptophyceae). The shift to an elemental positive balance (seston N : P > zooplankton N : P, high N : P recycled) in mid‐season would skew the N : P ratio of the recycled nutrients, favouring dominance by chrysophytes. The return to negative balance, as a consequence of the ontogenetic increase in zooplankton N : P ratio and the external P inputs towards the end of the ice‐free season, could alleviate the limitation of P and account for the appearance of other phytoplankton classes (Chlorophyceae or Dinophyceae).     

Nutrient (N,P, Si) fluxes between marine sediments and water column in coastal and open Adriatic

Nutrient benthic fluxes, as well as sediment phosphorus concentration at the open sea and coastal water stations of the Central and South Adriatic were studied during 1997–98. The fluxes were in the ranges: 0.16–2.67 mmol m^–2 d^–1 (silicate); –0.031–0.164 mmol m^–2 d^–1 (phosphate); –0.51–2.03 mmol m^–2 d^–1 (ammonia); and –1.32–1.62 mmol m^–2 d^–1 (nitrate + nitrite). Silicate flux showed a gradient from the coastal area to the open sea. Ammonia was the main nitrogen species in the flux at the estuary and bay stations, while the sum of nitrate and nitrite was predominant at the open sea stations. Relationships between phosphate and ammonia fluxes (r = 0.699, p<0.01) as well as phosphate and silicate (r = 0.529, p<0.01) were established.     

Microbial transformations of C and N in a boreal forest floor as affected by temperature

The effects of temperature on N mineralization were studied in two organic surface horizons (LF and H) of soil from a boreal forest. The soil was incubated at 5 °C and 15 °C after adding ¹⁵ N and gross N fluxes were calculated using a numerical simulation model. The model was calibrated on microbial C and N, basal respiration, and KCl-extractable NH₄ ⁺, NO₃ ⁻, ¹⁵NH₄ ⁺ and ¹⁵ NO₃ ⁻. In the LF layer, increased temperature resulted in a faster turnover of all N pools. In both layers net N mineralization did not increase at elevated temperature because both gross NH₄ ⁺ mineralization and NH₄ ⁺ immobilization increased. In the H layer, however, both gross NH₄ ⁺ mineralization and NH₄ ⁺ immobilization were lower at 15 °C than at 5 °C and the model predicted a decrease in microbial turnover rate at higher temperature although measured microbial activity was higher. The decrease in gross N fluxes in spite of increased microbial activity in the H layer at elevated temperature may have been caused by uptake of organic N. The model predicted a decrease in pool size of labile organic matter and microbial biomass at elevated temperature whereas the amount of refractory organic matter increased. Temperature averaged microbial C/N ratio was 14.7 in the LF layer suggesting a fungi-dominated decomposer community whereas it was 7.3 in the H layer, probably due to predominance of bacteria. Respiration and microbial C were difficult to fit using the model if the microbial C/N ratio was kept constant with time. A separate ¹⁵N-enrichment study with the addition of glucose showed that glucose was metabolized faster in the LF than in the H layer. In both layers, decomposition of organic matter appeared to be limited by C availability. This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.