Abstract
We studied bacterial production and respiration in acidic, carbon-rich waters originating from natural, drained, and restored mires during dry and rainy summers. In addition, we tested how mixing of these waters with oligotrophic lake water affected short-term microbial activity and decomposition of dissolved organic carbon (DOC). After mire restoration, concentrations of DOC, nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), ammonium (NH4-N), and phosphate (PO4-P) increased in mire waters. Concentrations of DOC and organic N also increased after a rainy period in waters running from drained and natural mires. Bacterial production and respiration were strongly correlated with the concentrations of DOC, N, and P. Microbial activity in lake water was stimulated by these compounds in the mire waters. Bacterial growth efficiency was strongly related to the availability of NH4-N. Mixing of lake water with mire waters caused no additional stimulation of DOC decomposition; thus, our results do not support the “priming effect” hypothesis that lake-originated DOC would promote decomposition of recalcitrant mire-originated DOC in oligotrophic headwater lakes.
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