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The nitrogen and phosphorus dependence of algal biomass in lakes: an empirical and theoretical analysis (1982)
| Venue: | Limnol. Oceanogr |
| Citations: | 62 - 5 self |
BibTeX
@ARTICLE{Smith82thenitrogen,
author = {Val H. Smith},
title = {The nitrogen and phosphorus dependence of algal biomass in lakes: an empirical and theoretical analysis},
journal = {Limnol. Oceanogr},
year = {1982},
pages = {478--486}
}
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Abstract
An analysis of mean growing season concentrations of chlorophyll, total phosphorus (TP), and total nitrogen (TN) in 228 north latitude lakes confirms previous observations that chlo-rophyll yield is dependent both on the phosphorus concentration and on the TN:TP ratio. Of two modified chlorophyll models which depend explicitly on both nitrogen and phosphorus developed and tested, one, a multiple regression model, appears to greatly reduce the error of chlorophyll prediction in lakes. A theoretical framework is presented which provides an explanation for the observed effects of N:P ratios. The input-output phosphorus models of Dillon and Rigler (1975) and Vollen-weidcr (1975, 1976) have been used ex-tensively to predict phytoplankton bio-mass (expressed as Chl n) in lakes for which restoration measures are planned or are in progress; however, the confi-dence limits for the predictions from these models are extremely broad, ranging over an order of magnitude and making accu-rate prediction difficult. Although there have been attempts to quantify the un-certainty associated with phosphorus-loading models (e.g. Reckhow 1977, 1979; Walker 1977; Chapra and Reckhow 1979), we still have little understanding of the factors contributing to this uncertainty. The only systematic evaluation of sources of variability in phosphorus-chlorophyll regressions seems to be that of Nicholls and Dillon (1978). An important factor which has been relatively neglected since its discussion by Vollenweider (1968) is the role of ni-trogen in lake eutrophication. Sakamoto (1966) noted that the chlorophyll yield in Japanese lakes was a logarithmic func-tion of both total phosphorus (TP) and to-
Keyphrases
phosphorus dependence theoretical analysis algal biomass total phosphorus chlo-rophyll yield phosphorus concentration tp ratio input-output phosphorus model chlorophyll prediction restoration measure logarithmic func-tion phosphorus-loading model north latitude lake little understanding phosphorus-chlorophyll regression phytoplankton bio-mass important factor lake eutrophication systematic evaluation previous observation season concentration total nitrogen confi-dence limit observed effect multiple regression model theoretical framework accu-rate prediction modified chlorophyll model japanese lake chlorophyll yield
