Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Nutrient ratios, differential retention, and the effect on nutrient limitation in a deep oligotrophic lake

  • Primary Research Paper
  • Published:
Hydrobiologia Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Nutrient ratios have been related to nutrient limitation of algal growth in lakes. Retention of nutrients in lakes, by sedimentation and by denitrification, reduces the nutrient concentrations in the water column, thereby enhancing nutrient limitation. Differential retention of nitrogen and phosphorus alters their ratios in lakes and thereby contributes to determine whether nitrogen or phosphorus limits algal growth. We examined the relationships between differential nutrient retention, nutrient ratios, and nutrient limitation in Lake Brunner, a deep oligotrophic lake. The observed retention of nitrogen (20%) and phosphorus (47%) agreed with predictions by empirical equations from literature. As a result of differential retention with a much larger proportion of phosphorus retained than that of nitrogen, the nitrogen:phosphorus ratio was higher in the lake (69) than in the inflows (46). While the mean ratio in the inflows suggested no or only moderate phosphorus limitation, the lake appeared to be severely phosphorus limited. Combining empirical equations from literature that predict nitrogen and phosphorus retention suggests that the nitrogen:phosphorus ratio is enhanced by greater retention of phosphorus compared to nitrogen only in deep lakes with relatively short residence times, such as Lake Brunner. In contrast, in most lakes differential retention is expected to result in lower nitrogen:phosphorus ratios.

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

Access this article

Log in via an institution

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

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Ahlgren, I., T. Frisk & L. Kamp-Nielsen, 1988. Empirical and theoretical models of phosphorus loading, retention and concentration vs. lake trophic state. Hydrobiologia 170: 285–303.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Canfield, D. E. & R. W. Bachmann, 1981. Prediction of total phosphorus concentrations, chlorophyll a, and Secchi depths in natural and artificial lakes. Canadian Journal of Fishery and Aquatic Science 38: 414–423.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Collier, K. J., 1987. Spectrophotometric determination of dissolved organic carbon in some South Island streams and rivers. New Zealand Journal of Marine and Freshwater Research 21: 349–351.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Davies-Colley, R. J. & J. W. Nagels, 2008. Predicting light penetration into river waters. Journal of Geophysics Research 113: G03028. doi:10.1029/2008JG000722.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Davies-Colley, R. J. & W. N. Vant, 1987. Absorption of light by yellow substance in freshwater lakes. Limnology and Oceanography 32: 416–425.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Guildford, S. J. & R. E. Hecky, 2000. Total nitrogen, total phosphorus, and nutrient limitation in lakes and oceans: is there a common relationship? Limnology and Oceanography 45: 1213–1223.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Harrison, J. A., R. J. Maranger, R. B. Alexander, A. E. Giblin, P. A. Jacinthe, E. Mayorga, S. P. Seitzinger, D. J. Sobota & W. M. Wollheim, 2009. The regional and global significance of nitrogen removal in lakes and reservoirs. Biogeochemistry 93: 143–157.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Healey, F. P. & L. L. Hendzel, 1980. Physiological indicators of nutrient deficiency in lake phytoplankton. Canadian Journal of Fishery and Aquatic Science 37: 442–453.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hecky, R. E., P. Campbell & L. L. Hendzel, 1993. The stoichiometry of carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus in particulate matter of lakes and oceans. Limnology and Oceanography 38: 709–724.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Morris, D. P. & W. M. Lewis Jr., 1988. Phytoplankton nutrient limitation in Colorado mountain lakes. Freshwater Biology 20(3): 15–327.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nichol, S. E., M. J. Harvey & I. Boyd, 1997. Ten years of rainfall chemistry in New Zealand. Clean Air 31: 30–37.

    Google Scholar 

  • Nurnberg, G. K., 1984. The prediction of internal phosphorus load in lakes with anoxic hypolimnia. Limnology and Oceanography 29: 111–124.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • OECD, 1982. Eutrophication of Waters: Monitoring, Assessment and Control. Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development report, Organisation for Economics, Paris, 154 pp.

  • Paerl, H. W., G. W. Payne, A. L. Mackenzie, P. E. Kellar & M. T. Downes, 1979. Limnology of nine Westland beech forest lakes. New Zealand Journal of Marine and Freshwater Research 13: 47–57.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Saunders, D. L. & J. Kalff, 2001. Nitrogen retention in wetlands, lakes and rivers. Hydrobiologia 443: 205–212.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Schouten, C. J., 1983. Budget of water and its constituents for Lake Taupo (New Zealand). In: Dissolved Loads of Rivers and Surface Water Quantity/Quality Relationships, Vol. 141. International Association of Hydrological Science: 277–297

  • Seitzinger, S., 1988. Denitrification in freshwater and coastal marine ecosystems: ecological and geochemical significance. Limnology and Oceanography 33: 702–724.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Smith, V. H., 1983. Low nitrogen to phosphorus ratios favor dominance by blue-green algae in lake phytoplankton. Science 221: 669–671.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Verburg, P., 2011. Disentangling effects of eutrophication and CDOM on visual water clarity in Lake Brunner: Preliminary data and methods. NIWA Report HAM2011-009, 36 pp.

  • Verburg, P., J. Horrox, E. Chaney, J. C. Rutherford, J. M. Quinn, R. J. Wilcock & C. W. Howard-Williams, 2013. Effects of nutrient loading on the trophic state of Lake Brunner. Marine and Freshwater Research 64: 436–446.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Verhoeven, W., R. Hermann, R. Eiden & O. Klemm, 1987. A comparison of the chemical composition of fog and rainwater collected in the Fichtelgebirge, Federal republic of Germany, and from the South Island of New Zealand. Theoretical Applications in Climatology 38: 210–221.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Vincent, W. F., 1983. Phytoplankton production and winter mixing: contrasting effects in two oligotrophic lakes. Journal of Ecology 71: 1–20.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Vollenweider, R. A., 1976. Advances on defining critical loading levels for phosphorus in lake eutrophication. Memorie dell’Istituto Italiano di Idrobiologia 33: 53–83.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wetzel, R. G., 2001. Limnology, Lake and River Ecosystems, 3rd edition. Academic Press.

  • White, E., K. Law, G. Payne & S. Pickmere, 1985. Nutrient demand and availability among planktonic communities – an attempt to assess nutrient limitation to plant growth in 12 central volcanic plateau lakes. New Zealand Journal of Marine and Freshwater Research 19: 49–62.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wilcock, R. J., R. M. Monaghan, R. W. McDowell, P. Verburg, J. Horrox, C. Chagué-Goff, M. J. Duncan, A. Rutherford, G. Zemansky, M. R. Scarsbrook, A. E. Wright-Stow, C. Howard-Williams & S. Cotton, 2013. Managing inputs of nitrogen and phosphorus from pastoral dairy farming to maintain the oligotrophic state of a lake in a high-rainfall catchment. Marine and Freshwater Research 64: 447–459.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Windolf, J., E. Jeppesen, J. P. Jensen & P. Kristensen, 1996. Modelling of seasonal variation in nitrogen retention and in-lake concentration: a four-year mass balance study in 16 shallow Danish lakes. Biogeochemistry 33: 25–44.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

This study was funded by two Envirolink Grants from the Ministry of Environment (748-WCRC66 and 886-WCRC776) and by Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MOBIE) program C01X1005. We thank Brent Beadle, Jack Grinstead, Casey Beel, and Steffi Henkel for help with data collection. Water samples were analyzed by NIWA water quality laboratory in Christchurch until 2006 and by NIWA Hamilton since then.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research Ltd., Gate 10, Silverdale Road, PO Box 11115, Hamilton, New Zealand

    P. Verburg, J. C. Rutherford, J. M. Quinn & R. J. Wilcock

  2. West Coast Regional Council, PO Box 66, Greymouth, 7840, New Zealand

    J. Horrox & E. Chaney

  3. National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research Ltd., Christchurch, New Zealand

    C. W. Howard-Williams

Authors
  1. P. Verburg
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. J. Horrox
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. E. Chaney
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. J. C. Rutherford
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. J. M. Quinn
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. R. J. Wilcock
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. C. W. Howard-Williams
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to P. Verburg.

Additional information

Handling editor: P. Nõges

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Verburg, P., Horrox, J., Chaney, E. et al. Nutrient ratios, differential retention, and the effect on nutrient limitation in a deep oligotrophic lake. Hydrobiologia 718, 119–130 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10750-013-1609-3

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10750-013-1609-3

Keywords

Search

Navigation