Abstract
This chapter investigates phosphorus (P), nitrogen (N), and silica (Si) cycling in tropical Lake Kivu. Its deep water is characterised by high concentrations of nutrients, which are slowly released to the surface mixed layer by an upward advective transport. The nutrient inputs (rivers, internal recycling and subaquatic springs) and outputs (outflow, sedimentation) are quantified to determine each nutrient cycle. Our analyses revealed that N and P cycles are dominated by internal processes, which are internal recycling and burial. P and N external inputs supply only about 15% (P) to 20% (N) of the total inputs to the epilimnion. In contrast, riverine inflows and internal recycling contribute equally to Si inputs.
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Acknowledgments
This work was supported by the Swiss National Science Foundation and the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation under grant 207021-109710 (Nutrient cycling and methane production in Lake Kivu).
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Pasche, N., Muvundja, F.A., Schmid, M., Wüest, A., Müller, B. (2012). Nutrient Cycling in Lake Kivu. In: Descy, JP., Darchambeau, F., Schmid, M. (eds) Lake Kivu. Aquatic Ecology Series, vol 5. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-4243-7_3
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-4243-7_3
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