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Coprecipitation of phosphate with calcite in a naturally eutrophic lake
Author(s) -
Murphy T. P.,
Hall K. J.,
Yesaki I.
Publication year - 1983
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.1983.28.1.0058
Subject(s) - calcite , eutrophication , alkalinity , precipitation , phosphorus , photic zone , aphanizomenon , phosphate , geology , environmental chemistry , oceanography , environmental science , mineralogy , chemistry , cyanobacteria , ecology , nutrient , phytoplankton , biology , anabaena , physics , paleontology , organic chemistry , meteorology , bacteria
Phosphorus‐rich deposits of Eocene volcanic rock have caused some lakes in the interior of British Columbia to become eutrophic without direct human influence. In Black Lake the soluble reactive phosphorus (SRP) usually exceeds 250 µ g P · liter −1 . When calcite precipitation occurred during blooms of Aphanizomenon, SRP was completely removed from the photic zone. In blooms with no calcite formation, SRP changed little. These observations were replicated by splitting the lake with a curtain. Calcite precipitation was also observed several times in four large enclosures (limnocorrals). The subsequent disappearance of phosphate was correlated with an increase in pH and a reduction of Ca and alkalinity and not necessarily with primary production or algal biomass.