The Proportion of Empneuston and Total Atmospheric Inputs of Carbon, Nitrogen and Phosphorus in the Nutrient Budget of a Small Mesotrophic Lake (Piburger See, Austria)

Abstract

AbstractLitter and wet traps were employed to determine the inputs of coarse organic matter (empneuston), total organic carbon, total nitrogen and phosphorus through dry fallout and precipitation to a soft‐water, mesotrophic lake. The dispersal of airborne material over the lake surface was investigated, and a method for the calculation of total input was developed. The component of the particulate matter larger than 1 mm contained the largest proportion of organic carbon, while the dissolved and the fine particle (smaller than 1 mm) fractions made greater contributions to the inputs of nitrogen and phosphorus compounds. The importance of the large particle fraction of the airborne organic matter in the lake's nutrient budget during the autumnal fall of litter was confirmed. However, the maximum total airborne input seems to occur during spring and summer. The input of phosphorus compounds through the atmosphere to small forest lakes is large compared to that from other sources. Airborne material accounts for 39% of the total phosphorus loading.