Planktonic production and respiration in oligotrophic Shield lakes

A precise oxygen method was used to measure primary production, community r espiration and to determine the importance of exogenous organic carbon as a n energy source to planktonic communities in the epilimnion of 12 oligotrop hic to mesotrophic Shield lakes. Median photosynthetic parameters observed with the oxygen method were up to twice as high as those measured with C-14 in other oligotrophic Shield lakes. Gross photosynthesis was almost always larger than community respiration, with a median P: R ratio of 1.7. We obs erved strong relationships between respiration and gross photosynthesis, bu t could not detect any significant trend between respiration or the P: R ra tio and the concentration of disserved organic carbon (DOC). DOC appeared t o depress both photosynthesis and respiration. These results argue against the importance of exogenous organic carbon supply as a significant energy s ource to freshwater planktonic communities. Previously low P: R ratios repo rted for oligotrophic fresh waters may be due to the uncertain meaning of C -14 production data.