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The carbon pump supports high primary production in a shallow lake

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A Correction to this article was published on 07 February 2019

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Abstract

Aquatic research on primary production and carbon dynamics often ignores calcification that supports photosynthesis by producing protons and forming CO2. Calcification prevents detrimental pH rise, but causes greater decrease of dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC). Concurrent DIC replenishment is therefore essential to maintain high photosynthesis. Here we show a mean daily DIC loss of 40% (26% to photosynthesis and 14% to calcification) in surface waters during summer periods in a shallow charophyte-lake and replenishment of the DIC pool by respiration and carbonate dissolution in the bottom waters followed by nocturnal mixing. The daytime DIC assimilation in organic matter relative to oxygen production in surface waters was close to 1.0 (molar ratio), while total DIC loss markedly exceeded oxygen production because of calcification. Our results suggest that photosynthesis would rapidly become carbon limited if permanent stratification prevented transfer of DIC from bottom waters to surface waters or if permanent mixing prevented CO2 accumulation conducive to carbonate dissolution in bottom waters. This vertical transport of DIC effectively functions as a physical and biological pump supporting high metabolism in charophyte-dominated shallow lakes with recurring daily stratification and mixing.

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Change history

  • 07 February 2019

    In the original publication, the subscript number 2 were incorrectly added without the subscript format as ‘CO2’ and ‘O2’ in Figs. 4 and 5 legends.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Centre for Freshwater and Environmental Studies, Dundalk institute of Technology, Dundalk, Ireland

    Mikkel René Andersen

  2. Freshwater Biological Section, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark

    Theis Kragh, Kenneth Thorø Martinsen, Emil Kristensen & Kaj Sand-Jensen

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  1. Mikkel René Andersen
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  2. Theis Kragh
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  3. Kenneth Thorø Martinsen
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  4. Emil Kristensen
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  5. Kaj Sand-Jensen
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Correspondence to Mikkel René Andersen.

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Andersen, M.R., Kragh, T., Martinsen, K.T. et al. The carbon pump supports high primary production in a shallow lake. Aquat Sci 81, 24 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00027-019-0622-7

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