Stable isotope (δ13C and δ15N) values of sediment organic matter in subtropical lakes of different trophic status

Abstract

Lake sediments contain archives of past environmental conditions in and around water bodies and stable isotope analyses (δ13C and δ15N) of sediment cores have been used to infer past environmental changes in aquatic ecosystems. In this study, we analyzed organic matter (OM), carbon (C), nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and δ13C and δ15N values in sediment cores from three subtropical lakes that span a broad range of trophic state. Our principal objectives were to: (1) evaluate whether nutrient concentrations and stable isotope values in surface deposits reflect modern trophic state conditions in the lakes, and (2) assess whether stratigraphic changes in the measured variables yield information about shifts in trophic status through time, or alternatively, diagenetic changes in sediment OM. Three Florida (USA) lakes of very different trophic status were selected for this study. Results showed that both δ13C and δ15N values in surface sediments of the oligo-mesotrophic lake were relatively low compared to values in surface sediments of the other lakes, and were progressively lower with depth in the sediment core. Sediments of the eutrophic lake had δ13C values that declined upcore, whereas δ15N values increased toward the sediment surface. The eutrophic lake displayed δ13C values intermediate between those in the oligo-mesotrophic and hypereutrophic lakes. Sediments of the hypereutrophic lake had relatively higher δ13C and δ15N values. In general, we found greater δ13C and δ15N values with increasing lake trophic state.