Profundal Sediments Research Articles

Distribution of putative denitrifying methane oxidizing bacteria in sediment of a freshwater lake, Lake Biwa

Methane oxidation coupled to denitrification is mediated by ‘Candidatus Methylomirabilis oxyfera’, which belongs to the candidate phylum NC10. The distribution of putative denitrifying methane-oxidizing bacteria related to “M. oxyfera” was investigated in a freshwater lake, Lake Biwa, Japan. In the surface layer of the sediment from a profundal site, a phylotype closely related to “M. oxyfera” was most frequently detected among NC10 bacteria in PCR analysis of the 16S rRNA gene. In the sediment, sequences related to “M. oxyfera” were also detected in a pmoA gene library. The presence of NC10 bacteria was also confirmed by catalyzed reporter deposition fluorescence in situ hybridization (CARD-FISH). Denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) and quantitative real-time PCR indicated that the abundance of the “M. oxyfera”-related phylotype was higher in the upper layers of the profundal sediment. The horizontal distribution of the putative methanotrophs in lake sediment was also analyzed by DGGE, which revealed that their occurrence was restricted to deep water areas. These results agreed with those in a previous study of another freshwater lake, and suggested that the upper layer of the profundal sediments is the main habitat for denitrifying methanotrophs.

Bathymetry and Sediment Geochemistry of Lake Hazen (Quttinirpaaq National Park, Ellesmere Island, Nunavut)

Arctic lakes can provide a long-term perspective on environmental change, including trends in long-range atmospheric transport and deposition of contaminants, inferred from studies of sediment cores. In this study, we conducted the first detailed bathymetric survey of Lake Hazen (Quttinirpaaq National Park, Ellesmere Island, Nunavut), the world’s largest lake north of 74˚ latitude. With these data we were able to determine optimal locations for sediment coring and to collect and analyze profundal sediment cores. A bathymetric map of Lake Hazen was developed on the basis of 362 spot soundings obtained with GPS-coupled sounding equipment placed directly on the ice combined with additional soundings from a small boat. The deepest point in the lake (81˚49.5 ʹ N; 70˚42.8 ʹ W) was found to be 267 m deep. The lake volume was estimated to be 5.14 × 10 10 m 3 , about 10% larger than previous estimates. Using estimates of the discharge of Lake Hazen from the Water Survey of Canada, we estimated the water retention time to be 89 years. Sediment cores were dated using 210 Pb and 137 Cs. Sedimentation rates at the deep point, estimated using the Constant Rate of Supply model for excess 210 Pb, were relatively high (1260 g m -2 yr -1 ) in the period 2005 – 1963 and lower (650 ± 100 g m -2 yr -1 ) in horizons dated to 1950 – 1880. The majority of elements measured in sediment (24 of 29 consistently above detection limits), as well as organic carbon, showed less than 20% variation in concentrations in the top 10 cm (compacted depth), which represent deposition over approximately 140 years. Geochemical characteristics of the sediment suggest that erosional inputs from annual glacial melting are the major source of essentially all elements and that anthropogenic inputs from long-range transport of toxic metals such as mercury and lead are very low.

Methanobacterium lacus sp. nov., isolated from the profundal sediment of a freshwater meromictic lake

An autotrophic, hydrogenotrophic methanogen, designated strain 17A1(T), was isolated from the profundal sediment of the meromictic Lake Pavin, France. The cells of the novel strain, which were non-motile, Gram-staining-negative rods that measured 2-15 µm in length and 0.2-0.4 µm in width, grew as filaments. Strain 17A1(T) grew in a mineral medium and its growth was stimulated by the addition of yeast extract, vitamins, acetate or rumen fluid. Penicillin, vancomycin and kanamycin reduced growth but did not completely inhibit it. Growth occurred at 14-41 °C (optimum 30 °C), at pH 5.0-8.5 (optimum pH 6.5) and with 0-0.4 M NaCl (optimum 0.1 M). The novel strain utilized H(2)/CO(2) and methanol/H(2) as substrates but not formate, acetate, methylamine/H(2), isobutanol or 2-propanol. Its genomic DNA G+C content was 37.0 mol%. In phylogenetic analyses based on 16S rRNA gene sequences, strain 17A1(T) appeared to be a member of the genus Methanobacterium, with Methanobacterium beijingense 8-2(T) (96.3% sequence similarity) identified as the most closely related established species. Based on phenotypic and phylogenetic data, strain 17A1(T) represents a novel species of methanogen within the genus Methanobacterium, for which the name Methanobacterium lacus sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is 17A1(T) (=DSM 24406(T)=JCM 17760(T)).

Spatial and temporal variation in denitrification and in the denitrifier community in a boreal lake

We investigated the spatial and temporal variation in denitrification rates (isotopepairing technique, IPT) and in the denitrifier community (examination of gene nirK by denaturinggradient gel electrophoresis [DGGE] of microbial DNA) in the sediments of a boreal, clear-water, eutrophic lake using samples collected from shallow littoral, deep littoral and shallow profundal sediments during early summer, mid-summer, autumn and winter. The measured denitrification rates (44 to 613 μmol N m−2 d−1) are among the lowest ever reported from lacustrine sediments. Denitri fi cation rates varied both spatially and temporally, being highest in the profundal zone during midsummer and in the littoral zones during winter. Correlation analyses indicated that these variations were due to variations in the concentrations of nitrate and oxygen in the water overlying the sediment. The structure of the denitrifier community was temporally extremely stable and differed only slightly between the sites. Distance-based linear model (DISTLM) analysis indicated that the observed variation was probably due mainly to variations in the content of organic matter, and in the porosity, of the sediment. The structure of the denitrifier community and the denitrifying activities were uncoupled.

Distribution of subfossil ostracod assemblages in lacustrine profundal sediments of north-eastern Poland

The distribution of ostracod valves was studied in seven short (< 50 cm) sediment cores collected from the sublittoral-profundal zones (depth > 12 m) of four lowland, dimictic lakes (Kameduł, Szelment Mały, Szelment Wielki and Szurpiły) situated in the Eastern Suwałki Lakeland of NE Poland. These postglacial channel lakes are still moderate in trophy level, but to some extent, they differ from each other in the increase of anthropogenic alterations, especially in their hypolimnion. The studied sediment sequences, corresponding roughly to the period of the last ca. 300 years, yielded ca. 5500 valves of 20 ostracod species, out of which only seven are here considered as the autochthonous profundal component of the fossil assemblages: Candona candida, C. neglecta, Fabaeformiscandona protzi, F. tricicatricosa, Bentocypria curvifurcata, Cytherissa lacustris and Limnocytherina sanctipatricii. Valves of the remaining species were most probably subjected to postmortem transport from shallow water deposits or from lakeside and/or subaqueous springs, and thus were not deposited in situ at the deep bottom. By clustering classification and multi-dimensional scaling ordination, three major assemblage types were recognised in the moderately eutrophicated parts of the studied lakes: (a) assemblage dominated by C. candida, (b) assemblage dominated by C. lacustris and (c) the most diverse assemblage, in which four species (C. lacustris, C. candida, F. protzi and C. neglecta) occur in more or less equal percentages. On the other hand, sediments of the most eutrophic basins of the lakes (especially in Kameduł and Szelment Mały) are characterised by the decline of total valve abundances and complete extinction of C. lacustris, a species indicative of low trophy, so that, in extreme cases, a few valves (if any) of more eurytopic or only allochthonous species could be found in some of the uppermost layers. Successional transitions of the recognised assemblage types are discussed according to the generalised model of the deep lacustrine ostracod succession previously established for the Polish lakes on the country scale. The recorded assemblages correspond well with the trophic diversity of the studied lakes, confirming inferences based on previously published data on other trophy indices from this area. Finally, additional data on modern profundal ostracod fauna from dredge samples of the studied lakes are also provided.

Activity and Diversity of Methanotrophic Bacteria at Methane Seeps in Eastern Lake Constance Sediments

The activity and community structure of aerobic methanotrophic communities were investigated at methane seeps (pockmarks) in the littoral and profundal zones of an oligotrophic freshwater lake (Lake Constance, Germany). Measurements of potential methane oxidation rates showed that sediments inside littoral pockmarks are hot spots of methane oxidation. Potential methane oxidation rates at littoral pockmark sites exceeded the rates of the surrounding sediment by 2 orders of magnitude. Terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism (T-RFLP) analysis of the pmoA gene revealed major differences in the methanotrophic community composition between littoral pockmarks and the surrounding sediments. Clone library analysis confirmed that one distinct Methylobacter-related group dominates the community at littoral pockmarks. In profundal sediments, the differences between pockmarks and surrounding sediments were found to be less pronounced.

Phosphorus balance of Lake Tiefwarensee during and after restoration by hypolimnetic treatment with aluminum and calcium salts

Between 2001 and 2005, the recovery of Lake Tiefwarensee from eutrophic to mesotrophic state was successfully accelerated by the stepwise hypolimnetic addition of 137 g aluminum and 154 g calcium per square meter of profundal sediment. In response to the treatment, an 8-cm sediment cover was formed, which almost completely suppressed the phosphorus (P) release from the sediments, and is still present. The spatial variability of the sediments was analyzed at eight sampling points at different lake depths. With increasing lake depth, soluble reactive phosphorus decreased in the pore water, whereas the total phosphorus (TP) increased in treated sediment. Total P in the upper sediment layer (0–10 cm) increased by about 3 tons during the treatment period, consistent with the simultaneous decrease in the water from 0.223 mg/L in 1998 to 0.013 mg/L in 2005 (annual mean values for the whole water body). After initial settling, the drastic TP decrease in the water column can be attributed to an increase in the sediment P-binding capacity, which is related to a decrease of the mobile P pool (NH4Cl-TP) and a strong increase in the Al:P ratio in sediment. In the 3 years after completion of the treatment, the lake TP concentration was well described by the Vollenweider model, indicating that a sustainable state of nutrient equilibrium was achieved.

Characterization of stable isotope fractionation during methane production in the sediment of a eutrophic lake, Lake Dagow, Germany

We measured δ13C of CO2, CH4, and acetate‐methyl in profundal sediment of eutrophic Lake Dagow by incubation experiments in the presence and absence of methanogenic inhibitors chloroform, bromoethane sulfonate (BES), and methyl fluoride, which have different specificities. Methyl fluoride predominantly inhibits acetoclastic methanogenesis and affects hydrogenotrophic methanogenesis relatively little. Optimization of methyl fluoride concentrations resulted in complete inhibition of acetoclastic methanogenesis. Methane was then exclusively produced by hydrogenotrophic methanogenesis and thus allowed determination of the fractionation factors specific for this methanogenic pathway. Acetate, which was then no longer consumed, accumulated and allowed determination of the isotopic signatures of the fermentatively produced acetate. BES and chloroform also inhibited CH4 production and resulted in accumulation of acetate. The fractionation factor for hydrogenotrophic methanogenesis exhibited variability, e.g., it changed with sediment depth. The δ13C of the methyl group of the accumulated acetate was similar to the δ13C of sedimentary organic carbon, while that of the carboxyl group was by about 12% higher. However, the δ13C of the acetate was by about 5% lower in samples with uninhibited compared with inhibited acetoclastic methanogenesis, indicating unusual isotopic fractionation. The isotope data were used for calculation of the relative contribution of hydrogenotrophic vs. acetoclastic methanogenesis to total CH4 production. Contribution of hydrogenotrophic methanogenesis increased with sediment depth from about 35% to 60%, indicating that organic matter was only partially oxidized in deeper sediment layers.

Abundance and Activity of Methanotrophic Bacteria in Littoral and Profundal Sediments of Lake Constance (Germany)

The abundances and activities of aerobic methane-oxidizing bacteria (MOB) were compared in depth profiles of littoral and profundal sediments of Lake Constance, Germany. Abundances were determined by quantitative PCR (qPCR) targeting the pmoA gene and by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH), and data were compared to methane oxidation rates calculated from high-resolution concentration profiles. qPCR using type I MOB-specific pmoA primers indicated that type I MOB represented a major proportion in both sediments at all depths. FISH indicated that in both sediments, type I MOB outnumbered type II MOB at least fourfold. Results obtained with both techniques indicated that in the littoral sediment, the highest numbers of methanotrophs were found at a depth of 2 to 3 cm, corresponding to the zone of highest methane oxidation activity, although no oxygen could be detected in this zone. In the profundal sediment, highest methane oxidation activities were found at a depth of 1 to 2 cm, while MOB abundance decreased gradually with sediment depth. In both sediments, MOB were also present at high numbers in deeper sediment layers where no methane oxidation activity could be observed.

Bioturbation as Driver of Zooplankton Recruitment, Biodiversity and Community Composition in Aquatic Ecosystems

In an experimental study we assessed if benthic bioturbating invertebrates affect the recruitment (hatching) of zooplankton from the sediment, and if this effect persists as differences in the zooplankton community in the water column, that is, if bioturbation quantitatively stimulates benthic-pelagic coupling. We investigated the effects of four different benthic invertebrates (Asellus aquaticus, Chironomus plumosus, Tubifex tubifex in the presence or absence of the predator Sialis lutaria). In total, 45 zooplankton taxa hatched from the sediment and the hatching success of some of these was dependent on the species identity of the bioturbating invertebrate. The predator Sialis reduced the abundance of all three invertebrate species, but tended to positively influence the zooplankton recruitment rates, possibly through increasing the activity of the bioturbating invertebrates. The most striking effect of bioturbation on the hatching and pelagic zooplankton community properties was that, on average, 11% more species hatched in the Asellus treatment than in any other treatment. This was also mirrored in the zooplankton water column community where, on average, 7% more species established a viable population in treatments with Asellus as bioturbator. In a complementary field survey, Asellus was more common in littoral than in profundal sediments. Because Asellus strongly affected recruitment of zooplankton in our experiment, we argue that bioturbation may partly explain why recruitment of resting stages of both phyto- and zooplankton is generally higher in littoral than in profundal areas.

Nitrate uptake rate in anoxic profundal sediments from a eutrophic reservoir

There is renewed interest in the use of nitrate to treat the profundal zone of lakes to inhibit anaerobic biogeochemical processes that result in the degradation of bottom water quality (e.g., sediment phosphorus release, mercury methylation). In this study we used experimental sediment–water interface chambers to quantify the rate of sediment nitrate uptake (SNU) in profundal sediments from Lake Perris, a eutrophic raw water reservoir in Southern California. Deoxygenated chamber water was spiked with nitrate, and nitrate concentration was monitored over time under quiescent conditions, followed by mixed conditions with average water velocities of 1 cm/s. Key findings included: (1) SNU decreased with decreasing nitrate concentration, (2) SNU was higher under mixed versus quiescent conditions by nearly 50%, and (3) nitrate uptake as a function of nitrate concentration followed a conventional sediment oxygen demand model in which nitrate uptake was proportional to the square root of nitrate concentration. The probable mechanism for elevated SNU under mixed conditions was an increased diffusional concentration gradient combined with a decrease in the diffusional boundary layer at the sediment–water interface, both of which enhanced the flux of nitrate from overlaying water into sediment. Managers planning to implement lake nitrate addition should account for induced nitrate demand when determining dosing rates. For example, based on our modeling efforts from this data set, SNU in Lake Perris could range by an order of magnitude, from around 12 mg N/m2/d under quiescent, low nitrate conditions (0.1 mg N/l) to around 120 mg N/m2/d under mixed, high nitrate conditions (5 mg N/l).

Effects of oxygen and nitrate on nutrient release from profundal sediments of a large, oligo-mesotrophic reservoir, Lake Mathews, California

Lake Mathews is a large, oligo-mesotrophic reservoir located in Southern California. The reservoir has elevated levels of nitrate and periodically experiences hypolimnetic anoxia. Experimental sediment-water chamber incubations and reservoir water quality monitoring were conducted to evaluate how oxygen and nitrate in overlaying water affect nutrient release from profundal sediments and internal nutrient loading. In experimental incubations, under nitrate-free anoxic conditions, sediment nutrient release rates were 3.4 ± 0.8 mg-P/m2 ·d for phosphate and 2.8 ± 1.2 mg-N/m2 ·d for ammonia (average ± standard deviation; n = 6). Oxygen repressed phosphate release and greatly diminished ammonia release from sediments in experimental incubations while nitrate only repressed phosphate release. Similar nutrient release dynamics were observed in the reservoir. Nutrient release rates estimated from seasonal nutrient profiles collected from the reservoir were 3.4 mg-P/m2 ·d for phosphate and 2.5 mg-N/m2 ·d for ammonia. Ammonia accumulation in the hypolimnion commenced with the onset of anoxic conditions, but phosphate accumulation did not start until nitrate disappeared from bottom waters approximately 6 weeks later. The time lag decreased total internal phosphorus loading by approximately 25% relative to hypothetical nitrate-free conditions. Laboratory and field data show that both oxygen and nitrate repress sediment phosphate release, likely via the maintenance of an oxidized surficial sediment layer that retains phosphate in iron-oxide complexes. However, only oxygen and not nitrate was effective in decreasing sediment ammonia release, likely by enhancing biological nitrification and assimilation in surficial sediments under oxic conditions. A number of in-lake management strategies have been developed to inhibit internal nutrient loading including calcium nitrate addition, aluminum sulfate addition, and oxygenation. In our view, the deliberate addition of nitrate to lakes and reservoirs poses several risks that must be carefully considered when evaluating strategies to control sediment phosphorus release.

Dominant sugar utilizers in sediment of Lake Constance depend on syntrophic cooperation with methanogenic partner organisms

Six strains of novel bacteria were isolated from profundal sediment of Lake Constance, a deep freshwater lake in Germany, by direct dilution of the sediment in mineral agar medium containing a background lawn of the hydrogen-scavenging Methanospirillum hungatei as a syntrophic partner. The numbers of colony-forming units obtained after incubation for more than 2 months were in the same range as those of total bacterial counts determined by DAPI staining (up to 10(8) cells per millilitre) suggesting that these organisms were dominant members of the community. Identical dilution series in the absence of methanogenic partners yielded numbers that were lower by two to three orders of magnitude. The dominant bacteria were isolated in defined co-culture with M. hungatei, and were further characterized. Growth was slow, with doubling times of 22-28 h at 28 degrees C. Cells were small, 0.5 x 5 microm in size, Gram-positive, and formed terminal oval spores. At 20 degrees C, glucose was fermented by the co-culture strain BoGlc83 nearly stoichiometrically to 2 mol of acetate and 1 mol of methane plus CO(2). At higher temperatures, also lactate and traces of succinate were formed. Anaerobic growth depended strictly on the presence of a hydrogen-scavenging partner organism and was inhibited by bromoethane sulfonate, which together indicate the need for a syntrophic partnership for this process. Strain BoGlc83 grew also aerobically in the absence of a partner organism. All enzymes involved in ATP formation via glycolysis and acetyl CoA were found, most of them at activities equivalent to the physiological substrate turnover rate. This new type of sugar-fermenting bacterium appears be the predominant sugar utilizer in this environment. The results show that syntrophic relationships can play an important role also for the utilization of substrates which otherwise can be degraded in pure culture.

Response of the methanogenic microbial community of a profundal lake sediment (Lake Kinneret, Israel) to algal deposition

An algal bloom of Peridinium gatunenese generally precedes the annual maximum of methane release from the profundal sediment of Lake Kinneret. Therefore, we investigated the response of the sediment methanogenic microbial community to simulated algal deposition. Addition of algal biomass on top of sediment cores resulted in increased CH4 production rates and concentrations of the fermentation products acetate and propionate in the upper 4‐cm layers with maximum values at 1‐cm depth. Addition of algae to sediment slurries also resulted in increased CH4 production rates and a transient increase of H2, propionate, and acetate concentrations within the first 10 d after addition. The composition of the active microbial community was determined by analysis of terminal restriction fragment polymorphism (T‐RFLP) targeting ribosomal RNA and cloning and sequencing of reverse‐transcribed 16S rRNA. Analysis of the sediment in the presence and absence of algae indicated that among the Bacteria, members of Deltaproteobacteria and Clostridiales responded by synthesis of ribosomes after 1 d of incubation and those of Bacteroidetes after 6 d. Among the Archaea, ribosomal RNA of the Methanosaetaceae (i.e., acetate‐utilizing methanogens) slightly increased after 6 d. Algal deposition apparently stimulated ribosomal synthesis in these sediment microorganisms, thus resulting in increased activity. We conclude that these microorganisms were involved in degradation of the algal biomass resulting in transient release of acetate and other fermentation products and increased production of CH4.

Effects of aerobic and anaerobic conditions on P, N, Fe, Mn, and Hg accumulation in waters overlaying profundal sediments of an oligo-mesotrophic lake

Concentrations of key nutrients and metals in water overlaying profundal sediments were evaluated in replicate experimental chambers containing undisturbed sediment–water interface samples from Deer Lake, an oligo-mesotrophic lake in eastern Washington. Chambers were incubated under three sequential phases: aerobic (21 d), anaerobic (27 d), and second aerobic (14 d). In general, nutrients and metals in chamber water were lower under aerobic versus anaerobic conditions. However, in some cases compounds anticipated to appear only under anaerobic conditions, including ammonia, phosphate, and manganese, were observed during aerobic conditions. Correlation analysis elucidated a number of interactions between compounds. Phosphate correlated significantly ( p<0.05) with iron during all incubation phases, suggesting that phosphorus cycling was controlled by iron. Cycling of nitrate and ammonia was tightly and significantly coupled under aerobic conditions. During both aerobic phases, nitrate increased while ammonia decreased, likely as a result of biological nitrification. Finally, mercury appeared during mildly reducing conditions and showed a significant correlation with manganese during the anaerobic phase, suggesting that Mn oxide reduction was the source of Hg in chamber water.

Lithology of the Profundal Sediments in Słupiańska Bay (Wigry Lake, NE Poland) - Introduction to Interdisciplinary Study

In this paper, a lithological study taking into account trace metals of the profundal sediments from Słupiańska Bay in Wigry Lake is presented. A profile 5.26 m long has sandy muds at the bottom and moving upwards layers of calcareous gyttja, lacustrine chalk, and again calcareous gyttja are present. The profile is continuous, typical for the sediments of NE Poland formed from Allerøde to recent time. The results of the lithological analysis were correlated with results of high-resolution seismic survey. The results together with radiocarbon dating are part of interdisciplinary complex research comprising paleobiological study of pollen, Cladocera, diatom successions and human activity, which will be published in successive papers.

Characterization of methanogenic Archaea and stable isotope fractionation during methane production in the profundal sediment of an oligotrophic lake (Lake Stechlin, Germany)

The methanogenic archaeal community, methane production, and carbon isotopic fractionation were studied in the profundal sediments of oligotrophic Lake Stechlin. Because the water column of oligotrophic lakes is usually oxic, CH4 is normally not produced in the sediment surface layers. Nevertheless, 16S rRNA gene sequences of both acetoclastic Methanosaeta spp. and hydrogenotrophic Methanomicrobiales were detected, and potential CH4 production (assayed at 30°C) was much higher at the surface (0‐5 cm) than in the deeper (20‐ 25 cm) sediment layers, albeit starting only after sulfate was reduced. Copy numbers of the bacterial 16S rRNA genes were also higher in the surface than in the deeper sediment layers, but those of archaeal 16S rRNA genes were similar. Hydrogenotrophic and acetoclastic methanogenesis contributed equally to methane production, as quantified by a comprehensive analysis of δ13C in organic carbon, acetate, CO2, and CH4 and by determination of the isotopic enrichment factor for conversion of CO2 to CH4. This value (≈−78‰) indicates that the Gibbs free energy of hydrogenotrophic methanogenesis was more negative, implying the energetic conditions in situ were more favorable, than suggested by measured H2 partial pressures. The fermentatively produced acetate‐methyl was by about 10% lighter than the δ13C of sediment organic carbon, indicating an unusual fractionation during fermentative production of acetate. Homoacetogenesis from CO2 probably played only a minor role because the intramolecular difference between the δ13C of the carboxyl and the methyl groups of acetate was only on the order of 20‰. A remarkable microbial community is able to produce methane from organic matter in the oxidized surface layer of oligotrophic lake sediments in which methane normally is not produced, so that the ecological relevance of this potential is presently unclear.

Comparison of Aerobic Methanotrophic Communities in Littoral and Profundal Sediments of Lake Constance by a Molecular Approach

Analysis of pmoA and 16S rRNA gene clone libraries of methanotrophic bacteria in Lake Constance revealed an overall dominance of type I methanotrophs in both littoral and profundal sediments. The sediments exhibited minor differences in their methanotrophic community structures. Type X methanotrophs made up a significant part of the clone libraries only in the profundal sediment and were also found only there as a prominent peak by T-RFLP analyses.

An assessment of toxicity in profundal lake sediment due to deposition of heavy metals and persistent organic pollutants from the atmosphere

A Tier I Sediment Ecological Risk Assessment of profundal lake sediment contaminated by diffuse pollution of heavy metals and POPs deposited from the atmosphere was completed. The concentrations of seven heavy metals and four groups of POPs (OCs, PCBs, PAHs, PBDEs) were determined in the profundal sediment of ten lakes in the United Kingdom and two sediment toxicity tests completed (chironomid survival and emergence and cladoceran survival and reproduction). The results showed that around half the lakes are at least moderately contaminated by Pb, Zn, Cd, As and PAHs deposited from the atmosphere and the toxicity quotient suggests that the contaminants of concern are Pb, As and PAHs, and not the other metals nor OCs and PCBs. There was toxicity in the sediment of four of the lakes. The Probable Effect Concentration Quotient values indicated that metals in the sediments of Scoat Tarn, Agden Reservoir and Llyn Llagi were likely to be responsible for the laboratory toxicity found in these lakes, with PAHs also contributing in Agden Reservoir.

Seasonal dynamics of pelagic and benthic (littoral and profundal) bacterial abundances and activities in a deep prealpine lake (L. Constance)

In order to obtain a first insight into the characteristics of pelagic, littoral and profundal bacterial communities and their potential role for the degradation of organic matter in the deep prealpine Lake Constance, we compared the seasonal dynamics of bacterial abundances and activities during the annual cycle in the epilim- netic water of a central station as well as in surface layers of sediments at a central pro- fundal and a littoral site. For this purpose, bacterial abundances (DAPI counts), rates of leucine incorporation, respiration of 14 C-labeled substrates (glucose, phenol) and ectoenzymatic activities were measured biweekly-monthly at the different sampling sites. Bacterial densities in lake sediments generally exceeded those of epilimnetic waters by at least two orders of magnitude with higher values in profundal sediments. A seasonal pattern was well expressed for bacterioplankton, less pronounced for ben- thic littoral bacteria and hardly visible for profundal bacteria. Compared to pelagic bacteria, benthic bacteria exhibited lower specific rates of leucine incorporation, espe- cially during the warmer periods. For profundal benthic communities specific rates of glucose respiration and of enzyme activities were permanently low with little seasonal fluctuation. In contrast, littoral benthic communities showed the highest values for these specific metabolic activities among the three sites tested. Additionally, the capac- ity of metabolism of phenol (used here as a representative of more recalcitrant aro- matic substances) was by far highest respired for littoral communities, and almost lacking for pelagic communities. Evidence from the literature suggests that the qualita- tively and quantitatively enhanced level of degradation capacities observed for littoral bacteriobenthos may be predominantly a result of the combined effect of increased supply of additional organic matter (e. g. allochthonous matter and macrophytes), an enriched bacterial gene reservoir in sediments, and frequent resuspension. Littoral ben- thic communities showed the highest specific metabolic activities exceeding those of bacterioplankton and profundal bacteriobenthos by an order of magnitude. As a whole,