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The importance of nitrogen in Pyramid Lake (Nevada, USA), a saline, desert lake

  • Conference paper
Saline Lakes V

Part of the book series: Developments in Hydrobiology ((DIHY,volume 87))

Abstract

The increase in human development in the downstream portion of the Pyramid Lake drainage basin has resulted in increased nutrient loading to the lake. Since this is a deep, terminal lake, concern over nutrient build up and change in trophic status exists. On the basis of lake chemistry which shows consistently high concentrations of total reactive-P (mean = 55 μg P 1-1) relative to dissolved inorganic-N (DIN) (mean = 15 μg N 1-1), it has been hypothesized that Pyramid is N-limited. However, no systematic study of nutrient limitation had been undertaken. Nutrient enrichment bioassays conducted throughout an entire year clearly showed that additions of DIN resulted in a 350–600% stimulation of chlorophyll production. Phosphate, when added singly or in combination with DIN, had no effect. This positive response to N-addition was significant at all times of the year except, (1) immediately after complete lake mixing in February when a large pool of hypolimnetic nitrate was injected into the euphotic zone, and (2) during a fall bloom of the nitrogen fixing species Nodularia spumigena. The positive response to N-addition in the bioassay experiments was strong between March and November. However, the seston exhibited only a gradual depletion of nitrogen relative to carbon over this same period. PN:PC ratios suggested no N-deficiency in phytoplankton biomass in February, March and April, moderate N-deficiency in May, June and July and, severe N-deficiency from August until winter turnover. The appearance of nitrogen fixing blue-green algae in September supports the hypothesis of N-limitation in the summer-autumn. In evaluating the nutrient status of a lake, the concepts of nutrient stimulation versus nutrient deficiency versus nutrient limitation must clearly be defined.

This paper is dedicated to G. Evelyn Hutchinson who first visited Pyramid Lake in 1933.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Ecology and Division of Environmental Studies, University of California-Davis, Davis, California, 95616, USA

    John E. Reuter, Cathryn L. Rhodes, Martin E. Lebo, Mandy Kotzman & Charles R. Goldman

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  1. John E. Reuter
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  2. Cathryn L. Rhodes
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  3. Martin E. Lebo
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  4. Mandy Kotzman
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  5. Charles R. Goldman
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Stuart H. Hurlbert

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© 1993 Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht

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Reuter, J.E., Rhodes, C.L., Lebo, M.E., Kotzman, M., Goldman, C.R. (1993). The importance of nitrogen in Pyramid Lake (Nevada, USA), a saline, desert lake. In: Hurlbert, S.H. (eds) Saline Lakes V. Developments in Hydrobiology, vol 87. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-011-2076-0_14

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-011-2076-0_14

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