Concentrations and Kinetics of Phosphorus Fractions Along the Trophic Gradient of Lake Memphremagog

Abstract

Published relationships between chlorophyll and total phosphorus concentrations show that the amount of chlorophyll developed per unit of total P increases as total P increases. If the availability of phosphorus changes with lake trophy, this should be reflected in the proportion of total P found in different analytical fractions. From June 1975 to September 1976, the concentrations of total phosphorus, soluble phosphorus, orthophosphate, large molecular weight phosphorus (> 5000 mol wt) and small molecular weight phosphorus (< 400 mol wt) were measured at six sites along the phosphorus-production gradient of Lake Memphremagog; 32P-PO4 was used to follow short-term exchanges between available orthophosphate and other fractions. Total P declined threefold among sites but the proportion of different fractions remained relatively constant which suggests that any disproportionate loss from one compartment is made good by exchanges with the others. On average, soluble P formed\of total P, soluble reactive phosphorus formed 14%, and PO4 8%; gel filtration showed that ~40% of soluble P was associated with large molecular weight phosphorus and ~40% with small molecular weight phosphorus. Within this basic similarity, was a trend to decreased PO4 concentrations and increased concentrations of soluble P and soluble unreactive phosphorus at more oligotrophic sites. Tracer experiments showed that all fractions exchanged some P with 32P-PO4, although soluble fractions, especially large molecular weight phosphorus, interacted more slowly with orthophosphate than did particulate P. Faster orthophosphate turnover suggested greater P deficiency in more oligotrophic sites. This deficiency may promote the formation of a refractory soluble P which may explain a part of the reduced ratio of chlorophyll to phosphorus when total P is reduced. Key words: orthophosphate, phosphorus, turnover, availability, lakes, gel fitration, soluble organic P