Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Biogenic silica as an estimate of siliceous microfossil abundance in Great Lakes sediments

  • Published:
Biogeochemistry Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Biogenic silica concentration (BSi) in sediment cores from the Great Lakes is evaluated as an estimate of siliceous microfossil abundance. A significant linear relationship was found between measured BSi and diatom valve abundance for sediment cores from the Bay of Quinte, Lake Ontario, Lake Erie, Lake Michigan and Lake Superior and between measured BSi and diatom biovolume for Lake Erie, Lake Michigan, and Lake Superior but not for Lake Ontario. Diatom silica predicted from diatom species abundance and an estimated silica content per cell in the Lake Erie cores accounted for 117% and 103% of measured BSi, respectively. By contrast, predicted diatom silica could only account for 28% of measured BSi in the Lake Michigan core and only 25% in the Lake Superior core. A few large diatoms with a large silica content per cell comprised a major portion of predicted diatom silica in all cores. The discrepancy between chemically measured BSi and the silica predicted from diatoms in the Lake Michigan and Lake Superior cores was partially due to the inability of the regression model, used to estimate diatom silica content, to account for different degrees of silicification in the diatom asemblages from the more dissolved silica rich Lake Michigan and Lake Superior.

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

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Bailey-Watts, A.E. 1976. Planktonic diatoms and some diatom-silica relations in a shallow eutrophic Scottish Loch. Freshwater Biology 6: 69–80

    Google Scholar 

  • Battarbee, R.W. 1973. A new method for estimating absolute microfossil numbers with special reference to diatoms. Limnology and Oceanography 18: 647–653.

    Google Scholar 

  • Berner, R.A. 1971. Principles of Chemical Sedimentology, McGraw-Hill

  • Boucher, J.M. 1984. Silica dissolution and reaction kinetics in Southern California Borderland sediments. M.S. thesis, University Southern California, USA

    Google Scholar 

  • Cheng, D.M.H. & P.A. Tyler 1973. The effect of diatom populations on silica concentrations of Lakes Sorell and Crescent, Tasmania, and the utilisation of tripton as a source of silica. British Phycological Journal 8: 249–256

    Google Scholar 

  • Conley, D.J., S.S. Kilham & E.C. Theriot. Differences in silica content between marine and freshwater diatoms. Limnology and Oceanography (Submitted)

  • DeMaster, D.J. 1981. The supply and accumulation of silica in the marine environment. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta 45: 1715–1732

    Google Scholar 

  • Digerfeldt, G. 1972. The post-glacial development of Lake Trummen. Regional vegetation history, water level changes and paleolimnology. Folia Limnologica Scandinavia 16: 1–104

    Google Scholar 

  • Einsele, W. & J. Grim. 1938. Über den Kielsäuregehalt planktischer Diatomeen und dessen Bedeutung für einige Fragen ihrer Ökologie. Zeitschrift für Botanik 32: 545–590

    Google Scholar 

  • Eggimann, D.W., F.T. Manheim & P.R. Betzer. 1980. Dissolution and analysis of amorphous silica in marine sediments. Journal Sediment Petrology 50: 215–225

    Google Scholar 

  • Engstrom, D.R. & H.E. Wright. 1984. Chemical stratigraphy of lake sediments as a record of environmental change. In: E.Y. Haworth & J.W.G. Lund (Eds) Lake Sediments and Environmental History (pp. 11–67). University of Minnesota Press, Minneapolis, Minnesota USA

    Google Scholar 

  • Flower, R. 1980. A study of sediment formation, transport and deposition in Lough Neagh, Northern Ireland, with special reference to diatoms. Ph.D. dissertation, New University of Ulster

  • Gibson, C.E. 1981. Silica budgets and the ecology of planktonic diatoms in an unstratified lake (Lough Neagh, N. Ireland). Internationale Revue der Gesamten Hydrobiologie 66: 641–664

    Google Scholar 

  • Gibson, C.E., R.B. Wood, E.L. Dickson, and D.H. Jewson. 1971. The succession of phytoplankton in L. Neagh 1968–70. Internationale Vereinigung für theoretische und angewandte Limnologie 19: 146–160

    Google Scholar 

  • Glover, R.M. 1982. Diatom fragmentation in Grand Traverse Bay, Lake Michigan and its implications for silica cycling. Ph.D. dissertation, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, U.S.A

    Google Scholar 

  • Haworth, E.Y. 1980. Comparison of continuous phytoplankton records with the diatom stratigraphy in the recent sediments of Blelham Tarn. Limnology and Oceanography 25: 1093–1103

    Google Scholar 

  • Hurd, D.C. 1972. Factors affecting solution rate of biogenic opal in seawater. Earth and Planetary Science Letters 15: 411–417

    Google Scholar 

  • Johnson, T.C., and S.J. Eisenreich. 1979. Silica in Lake Superior: mass-balance considerations and a model for dynamic response to eutrophication. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta 43: 77–91

    Google Scholar 

  • Kilham, P. 1971. A hypothesis concerning silica and the freshwater planktonic diatoms. Limnology and Oceanography 16: 10–18

    Google Scholar 

  • Leinen, M. 1985. Techniques for determining opal in deep-sea sediments: a comparison of radiolarian counts and X-ray diffraction data. Marine Micropalentology 9: 375–383

    Google Scholar 

  • Lisitsyn, A.P. 1971. Basic relationships in distribution of modern siliceous sediments and their connection with climatic zonations. International Geology Review 9: 631–652, 842–865, 980–1004, 114–1130

    Google Scholar 

  • Lund, J.W.G. 1950. Studies onAsterionella formosa Hass. II. Nutrient depletion and the spring maximum. Journal of Ecology 38: 1–14

    Google Scholar 

  • Mackin, J.E. and R.C. Aller. 1984a. Dissolved Al in sediments and waters of the East China Sea: Implications for authigenic mineral formation. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta 48: 281–297

    Google Scholar 

  • Mackin, J.E. and R.C. Aller. 1984b. Diagenesis of dissolved aluminum in organic-rich estuarine sediments. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta 48: 299–213

    Google Scholar 

  • MacKenzie, F.T. and R.M. Garrels. 1966. Chemical mass balance between rivers and oceans. American Journal of Science 264: 507–525

    Google Scholar 

  • Newberry, T.L. and C.L. Schelske. 1986. Biogenic silica record in the sediments of Little Round Lake. Hydrobiologia 143, 293–300

    Google Scholar 

  • Nriagu, J.O. 1978. Dissolved silica in pore waters of Lakes Ontario, Erie, and Superior sediments. Limnology and Oceanography 23: 53–67

    Google Scholar 

  • Parker, J.I., and D.N. Edginton. 1976. Concentration of diatom frustules in Lake Michigan sediment cores. Limnology and Oceanography 21: 887–893

    Google Scholar 

  • Renberg, I. 1976. Paleolimnological investigations in Lake Prästsjon. Early Norrland 9: 113–159

    Google Scholar 

  • Robbins, J.A., D.N. Edginton, and J.I. Parker. 1975. Distribution of amorphous, diatom frustule, and dissolved silica in a lead-210 dated core from southern Lake Michigan. In: Radiological and Environmental Research Division Annual Report, Ecology. Argonne National Laboratory, ANL-75-3

  • Schelske, C.L. and E.F. Stoermer. 1971. Eutrophication, silica and predicted changes in algal quality in Lake Michigan. Science 173: 423–424

    Google Scholar 

  • Schelske, C.L. and J.C. Roth. 1973. Limnological survey of Lakes Michigan, Superior, Huron and Erie. University of Michigan, Great Lakes Research Division Publication Number 17, 108 pp.

  • Schelske, C.L., E.F. Stoermer, D.J. Conley, J.A. Robbins, and R.M. Glover. 1983. Early eutrophication in the lower Great Lakes: new evidence from biogenic silica in sediments. Science 222: 320–322

    Google Scholar 

  • Schelske, C.L., D.J. Conley, and W.F. Warwick. 1985. Historical relationships between phosphorus loading and biogenic silica accumulation in Bay of Quinte sediments. Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Science 42: 1401–1409

    Google Scholar 

  • Schelske, C.L., D.J. Conley, E.F. Stoermer, T.L. Newberry, and C.D. Campbell. 1986. Biogenic silica and phosphorus accumulation in sediments as indices of eutrophication in the Laurentian Great Lakes. Hydrobiologia 143: 79–86

    Google Scholar 

  • Sicko-Goad, L.M., C.L. Schelske and E.F. Stoermer. 1984. Estimation of intracellular carbon and silica content of diatoms from natural assemblages using morphometric techniques. Limnology and Oceanography 29: 1170–1178

    Google Scholar 

  • Sommer, U. and H.-H. Stabel. 1983. Silicon consumption and population density changes of dominant planktonic diatoms in Lake Constance. Journal of Ecology 71: 119–130

    Google Scholar 

  • Stoermer, E.F., J.A. Wolin, C.L. Schelske, and D.J. Conley. 1985a. Postsettlement diatom succession in the Bay of Quinte, Lake Ontario. Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Science 42: 754–767

    Google Scholar 

  • Stoermer, E.F., J.A. Wolin, C.L. Schelske, and D.J. Conley. 1985b. An assessment of ecological changes during the recent history of Lake Ontario based on siliceous algal microfossils preserved in the sediments. Journal of Phycology 21: 257–276

    Google Scholar 

  • Stoermer, E.F., J.P. Kociolek, C.L. Schelske, and D.J. Conley. 1985c. Siliceous microfossil succession in the recent history of Lake Superior. Proceedings of the Academy of Natural Science Philadelphia 137: 106–118

    Google Scholar 

  • Stoermer, E.F., J.P. Kociolek, C.L. Schelske, and D.J. Conley. 1987. Quantitative analysis of siliceous microfossils in the sediment of Lake Erie's central basin. Diatom Res. 2: 113–134

    Google Scholar 

  • Strathmann, R.R. 1967. Estimating the organic carbon content of phytoplankton from cell volume or plasma volume. Limnology and Oceanography 12: 411–418

    Google Scholar 

  • Theriot, E.C. and E.F. Stoermer. 1984. Principle component analysis of Stephanodiscus: Observations on two new species from theStephanodiscus niagarae complex. Bacillaria 7: 37–58

    Google Scholar 

  • Thomas, R.L. 1981. Sediments of the North American Great Lakes. Internationale Vereinigung für theoretische und angewandte Limnologie 21: 1666–1680

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Author notes

  1. Daniel J. Conley

    Present address: Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture, University of Florida, 7922 NW 71st Street, Gainesville, FL, 32606, USA

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Great Lakes Research Division, The University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA

    Daniel J. Conley

Authors
  1. Daniel J. Conley
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Conley, D.J. Biogenic silica as an estimate of siliceous microfossil abundance in Great Lakes sediments. Biogeochemistry 6, 161–179 (1988). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02182994

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02182994

Key words

Search

Navigation