A preliminary organic carbon budget for a small dystrophic lake in Maritime Canada

The results of a preliminary organic budget for a small (1.13 h) dystrophic lake in Maritime Canada are presented. Wood's Pond is moderately autotrophically productive (395 mg C m^-2 day^-1). Allochthonous inputs overwhelmed autochthonous production by an approximate ratio of 9.7:1. Seepage through the surrounding Sphagnum mosses accounted for 89.9% of all organic carbon entering the lake while fluvial transport was responsible for over 90% of losses. The yearly balance was a net loss of approximately 1820 kg C. The marked dominance of allochthonous inputs over autochthonous production obviously influences the physico-chemical limnology of Wood's Pond but it does not necessarily follow that this system is heterotrophic. The yearly autotrophic production, approximately 1466 kg C, essentially balances an annual community respiration and insect emergence of 1481 kg C. This suggests that, at least in theory, the biological functioning of this dystrophic lake system could be driven almost entirely by autotrophic production.