Premium
Surface nitrogen and plankton in Skaha Lake, British Columbia (Canada)
Author(s) -
FINDLEY DAVIS L.,
FINDLEY DIANE I.,
STEIN JANET R.
Publication year - 1973
Publication title -
freshwater biology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.297
H-Index - 156
eISSN - 1365-2427
pISSN - 0046-5070
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2427.1973.tb00066.x
Subject(s) - nitrogen fixation , plankton , bloom , nitrogenase , nitrogen , nitrate , environmental science , phytoplankton , environmental chemistry , nutrient , ecology , biology , chemistry , organic chemistry
Summary This study (1970–71) of an oligotrophic lake subject to cultural enrichment indicates the presence of complex interrelations between plankton and nitrogen levels in surface waters. Generally inorganic nitrogen was high in the winter (0.4–0.5 ppm) and Iow in summer (less than 0‐1 ppm). However, in late July and August a large increase in nitrogen (1.5 ppm) was recorded. This correlated with the Gloeotrichia echinulata J. E. Smith ex P. Richt. bloom (Cyanophyceae) and the increase in nitrogen fixation, or nitrogenase activity (measured as acetylene reduction). It was calculated that the cyanophyte bloom could have contributed a minimum of 2350 kg nitrogen to the lake in August 1970 which is c. 62% of the nitrate‐nitrogen occurring at any time.