CARBON FLUX BETWEEN SEDIMENT AND WATER COLUMN OF A SHALLOW, SUBTROPICAL, HYPEREUTROPHIC LAKE

Field and laboratory experiments were conducted to measure forms, stor ages, and flux of C in the water-sediment column of a shallow, subtrop ical, hypereutrophic lake. High gross primary productivity in the lake (1.4 +/- 0.3 kg C m-2 yr-1) was not significantly correlated with any water chemistry parameters measured. This suggested that the phytopla nkton community was functioning at maximum levels and under nutrient n onlimiting conditions. Major C input to the lake is through gross prim ary productivity, of which 90% is lost through heterotrophic and micro bial respiration processes within the water column. Resuspension of th e bottom sediments was a major input of C into the water column, contr ibuting 720 g C m-2 yr-1. In comparison, diffusive flux of dissolved o rganic C from the sediment was minimal (1.2 g C m-2 yr-1), as were ext ernal inputs into the water column (20 g C m-2 yr-1). High productivit y of this system was resulted in a net accumulation of C (as sediments ) of 118 g C m-2 yr-1.