Skip to main content
Log in

Sulfate control of phosphorus availability in lakes

A test and re-evaluation of Hasler and Einsele's model

  • Published:
Hydrobiologia Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

During summer stratification large amounts of phosphorus (P) accumulate in anoxic bottom waters of many lakes due to release of P from underlying sediments. The availability to phytoplankton of this P is inversely related to the Fe:P ratio in bottom waters. Using data from 51 lakes, we tested the hypothesis that sulfate concentration in lake water may be critical in controlling the Fe:P ratio in anoxic bottom waters. Results showed that Fe:P ratios in bottom waters of lakes were significantly (p<0.001) related to surface water sulfate concentrations. The higher Fe:P ratios in low sulfate systems is due not only to higher iron concentrations in anoxic bottom waters but also to lower P concentrations in anoxic waters. Thus, our results suggest that anthropogenically induced increases in sulfate concentrations of waters (e.g. from fossil fuel burning) may have a double effect on P cycling in lakes. Higher sulfate concentrations can both increase the magnitude of P release from sediments as well as increase the availability of P released from sediments into anoxic bottom waters.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Baccini, P., 1985. Phosphate interaction at sediment-water interfaces. In W. Stumm (ed.), Chemical Processes in Lakes. Wiley, New York: 189–205.

    Google Scholar 

  • Berner, E. K. & R. A. Berner, 1987. The global water cycle: Geochemistry and environment, Prentice-Hall, Englewood Cliffs, 1–397.

    Google Scholar 

  • Caraco, N. F., J. J. Cole & G. E. Likens, 1989. Evidence for sulphate-controlled phosphorus release from sediments of aquatic systems. Nature 341: 316–318.

    Google Scholar 

  • Caraco, N. F., J. J. Cole & G. E. Likens, 1991. A cross-system study of phosphorus release from lake sediments. In J. J. Cole, G. Lovett & S. Findlay (eds), Comparative Analysis of Ecosystems. Springer-Verlag, New York: 241–258.

    Google Scholar 

  • Carignan, R. & A. Tessier, 1988. The co-diagenesis of sulfur and iron in acid lake sediments of southwestern Quebec. Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta 52: 1179–1188.

    Google Scholar 

  • Comeau, Y., K. Y. Hall, R. E. W. Hancock & W. K. Oldham, 1986. Biochemical model for enhanced biological phosphorus removal. Wat. Res. 20: 1511–1521.

    Google Scholar 

  • Curtis, P. J., 1989. Effects of hydrogen ion and sulphate on the phosphorus cycle of a Precambrian Shield Lake. Nature 337: 156–158.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fonselius, S. H., 1970. On the stagnation and recent turnover of the water in the Baltic. Tellus 22: 533–544.

    Google Scholar 

  • Giblin, A. E., G. E. Likens, D. White & R. W. Howarth, 1990. Sulfur storage and alkalinity generation in New England lake sediments. Limnol. Oceanogr. 35: 852–869.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gilboa-Garber, N., 1971. Direct Spectrophotometric determination of inorganic sulfide in biologic material and in other complex mixtures. Anal. Biochem. 43: 129–133.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hasler, A. C. & W. G. Einsele, 1948. Fertilization for increasing productivity of natural inland waters. Trans. North. Amer. Wildr. Conf. 13: 527–555.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kelly, C. A., J. N. M. Rudd, R. B. Cook & D. W. Schindler, 1982. The potential importance of bacterial processes in regulating rate of lake acidification. Limnol. Oceanogr. 27: 868–882.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lawacz, W., 1985. Factors affecting nutrient budget in lakes of the Jorka River watershed Masurian Lakeland Poland XI. Nutrient budget with special consideration to phosphorus retention. Ekol. Pol. 33: 357–382.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lean, D. R. S., D. J. McQueen & V. A. Story, 1986. Phosphate transport during hypolimnetic aeration. Arch. Hydrobiol. 108: 269–280.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lewis, G.. J. & E. D. Goldberg, 1954. Iron in marine waters. J. Mar Res. 13: 183–197.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mortimer, C. H., 1941. The exchange of dissolved substances between mud and water in lakes (Parts I and II). J. Ecol. 29: 280–329.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mortimer, C. H., 1942. The exchange of dissolved substances between mud and water in lakes (Parts III and IV). J. Ecol. 30: 147–201.

    Google Scholar 

  • Murphy, J. & J. P. Riley, 1962. A modified single solution method for the determination of phosphate in natural waters. Analyt. chim. Acta 27: 31–36.

    Google Scholar 

  • Nurnberg, G. K., 1987. A comparison of internal phosphorus loads in lakes with anoxic hypolimnia.: Laboratory incubation hypolimnetic phosphorus accumulation. Limnol. Oceanogr. 32: 1160–1164.

    Google Scholar 

  • Riley, E. T. & E. E. Prepas, 1984. Role of internal phosphorus loading in two shallow, productive lakes in Alberta, Canada. Can. J. Fish. - aquat. Sci. 41: 845–855.

    Google Scholar 

  • Schindler, D. W., 1985. Coupling of elemental cycles by organisms: evidence from whole-lake chemical perturbations. In W. Stumm (ed.), Chemical Processes in Lakes. Wiley & Sons, New York: 225–250.

    Google Scholar 

  • Schindler, D. W., T. Ruszcynski & E. J. Fee, 1980. Hypolimnion injection of nutrient effluents as a method for reducing eutrophication. Can. J. Fish. aquat. Sci. 37: 320–327.

    Google Scholar 

  • Stainton, M. P., 1973. A syringe gas-stripping procedure for gas-chromatographic determination of dissolved inorganic and organic carbon in freshwater and carbonates in sediments. J. Fish. Res. Bd Can. 50: 1441–1445.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tessenow, V U., 1974. Solution, diffusion and sorption in the upper layer of lake sediments. IV. Reaction mechanisms and equilibria in the system iron-manganese-phosphate with regard to the accumulation of vivianite in Lake Ursee. Arch. Hydrobiol. Suppl. 47: 1–79.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Caraco, N.F., Cole, J.J. & Likens, G.E. Sulfate control of phosphorus availability in lakes. Hydrobiologia 253, 275–280 (1993). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00050748

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00050748

Key words

Navigation