Water column nutrient concentrations are related to excretion by benthic invertebrates in Lake Taihu, China.
Internal release of nutrients is an important contributor to the nutrient dynamics in shallow eutrophic lakes. Zoobenthic organisms may contribute to this release by excreting nutrients to the overlaying water. Based on experiments and using results from previous experimental studies as well as field monitoring density data from 2007 to 2017, we calculated the annual and seasonal nutrient excretions of the two most common macroinvertebrates (Corbicula fluminea and Limnodrilus hoffmeisteri) in Lake Taihu, China. We compared these rates with the concentrations of NH4-N, total nitrogen (TN), PO4-P and total phosphorus (TP) in the lake water as well as with previous results of release rates from undisturbed sediments collected in the lake. The spatial distribution of nutrient excretion by the two invertebrate species varied markedly among sites and years. Regression analyses revealed significant relationships between total nutrient excretions by these two species and the concentrations of NH4-N, TN, PO4-P and TP in the lake, but with seasonal differences. The relationship was overall strongest in winter, followed by spring, and weakest in summer and autumn. The flux of NH4-N and PO4-P released by the two macroinvertebrate species were equivalent to as much as 50% and 66%, respectively, of the sediment release recorded in lab experiments under undisturbed conditions; however, the percentages would be somewhat lower under field conditions where the sediment is subjected to frequent wind-induced resuspension and fish disturbance, enhancing the release rates. The release declined during the study period due to a reduction in the density of macroinvertebrates, perhaps indicating increasing stocking of fish since 2007. Our results indicate that benthic invertebrates are important contributor to the internal loading in shallow eutrophic lakes.
['Peng|Kai|K|', 'Qin|Boqiang|B|', 'Cai|Yongjiu|Y|', 'Gong|Zhijun|Z|', 'Jeppesen|Erik|E|']
D000818:Animals D002681:China D004784:Environmental Monitoring D005068:Eutrophication D019015:Geologic Sediments D007448:Invertebrates D060106:Lakes D009584:Nitrogen D000078622:Nutrients D010758:Phosphorus D014867:Water
Nutrient concentrations Internal release Macroinvertebrates excretion