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Comparison of lake phytoplankton models and loading plots 1
Author(s) -
Thomann Robert V.
Publication year - 1977
Publication title -
limnology and oceanography
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.7
H-Index - 197
eISSN - 1939-5590
pISSN - 0024-3590
DOI - 10.4319/lo.1977.22.2.0370
Subject(s) - eutrophication , phytoplankton , biomass (ecology) , environmental science , nutrient , phosphorus , ecology , biology , chemistry , organic chemistry
The log‐log plot of areal nutrient loading rates and depth of lakes is derived from dynamic phytoplankton model equations. When phytoplankton biomass is the relevant variable, it is not possible to predict biomass directly from the plots. The intercept of such plots is a complex interaction of biomass, detention time, total phosphorus, and sinking rate. Only under an assumption of constant ratio between biomass and total nutrient can the biomass be extracted from the intercept. Simplified plots of lake eutrophication should be used for predictive purposes with caution.