Abstract
We estimated the net P transport by Gammarus lacustris from the benthic to pelagic regions of a fishless alpine lake and compared it with P regeneration by the entire plankton community. Gammarus lacustris released between 5.2 and 18.1 ng P·L-1·h-1 (adults only and adults plus immatures, respectively) in the pelagic region during nighttime vertical migration. Additional P released into and removed from the water column due to predation on zooplankton was estimated at 1.87 and 2.3 ng P·L-1·h-1, respectively. The net daily regeneration of 52.2-181.4 ng P·L-1·day-1 by the G. lacustris population represented 9.5-32.9% of the total P regenerated by the planktonic community. The majority of the P released by G. lacustris represents "new" P to the pelagic zone because it originated in sediments. We conclude that G. lacustris can represent an important link in benthic-pelagic coupling in oligotrophic mountain lakes.
Published Version
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