Abstract
Abstract The sediments from an acidic lake, a slightly acidic lake and a non-acidic lake were studied to determine the effect of lake acidification on organic biodegradation rates and bacterial numbers. Organic biodegradation was determined by mano-metric respirometry and mineralization of 14C-labeled compounds. All measurements were normalized to the same temperature (20°C). The oxygen consumption rate and bacterial numbers (based on spread plate counts) were greater in the non-acidic lake sediment throughout the study period. The oxygen consumption rates in the other lake sediments were 18-20 times lower and the bacterial numbers were 15 times lower than the non-acidic lake. In contrast, the results from experiment s using 14C-labeled glucose and glutamic acid often showed that the acidic sediments had twice the heterotrophic potential of the non-acidic sediments. 14C-labeled compounds should be used cautiously when measuring the acidification effects on organic matter decomposition.
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