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Transformation of phosphorus species in settling seston and during early sediment diagenesis

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Abstract

Sequential P extraction was combined with electron microscop and X-ray spectroscopy to characterise various P species and to study their transformation in settling seston and in recent sediment. During early diagenesis most of the particulate P formed in the water was redissolved. No net transformation into species that would resist dissolution was observed.

It was shown that

  • • the phosphorus (P) content and the P flux of settling particles varied seasonally over one order of magnitude

  • • particles became enriched with reductant soluble P (BD-P) while settling through the hypolimnion

  • • changes in BD-P were highly significantly correlated with changes in reductant soluble iron (BD-Fe)

  • • bacteria oxidising Fe and Mn seemed to be mainly responsible for this increase in P concentration

  • • other fractions including organic P did not change during sedimentation

  • • most of the organic P and of the Fe bound P and 70% of TP was released from the sediment during early diagenesis

  • • the sediment surface did not act as a trap for P migrating upwards from deeper sediment layers

  • • CaCO3 sedimentation contributed little to P sedimentation but significantly to the permanent burial of P.

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Author notes

  1. M. Hupfer

    Present address: Department of Inland Water Research Magdeburg, Center of Environmental Research Leipzig-Halle, Am Biederitzer Busch 12, D-39114, Magdeburg, Germany

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Limnological Research Center, Swiss Federal Institute for Environmental Science and Technology (EAWAG), CH-6047, Kastanienbaum, Switzerland

    M. Hupfer & R. Gächter

  2. Laboratory for Electron Microscopy, University of Bern, CH-3000, Bern 9, Freiestrasse 3, Switzerland

    R. Giovanoli

Authors
  1. M. Hupfer
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  2. R. Gächter
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  3. R. Giovanoli
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Hupfer, M., Gächter, R. & Giovanoli, R. Transformation of phosphorus species in settling seston and during early sediment diagenesis. Aquatic Science 57, 305–324 (1995). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00878395

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00878395

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