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Coupling of phytoplankton and detritus in a shallow, eutrophic lake (Lake Loosdrecht, The Netherlands)

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Abstract

An oscillating steady state is described of phytoplankton, dominated by Prochlorothrix hollandica and Oscillatoria limnetica, and sestonic detritus in shallow, eutrophic Lake Loosdrecht (The Netherlands). A steady-state model for the coupling of the phytoplankton and detritus is discussed in relation to field and experimental data on phytoplankton growth and decomposition. According to model predictions, the phytoplankton to detritus ratio decreases hyperbolically at increasing phytoplankton growth rate and is independent of a lake's trophic state. The seston in L. Loosdrecht contains more detritus than phytoplankton as will apply to many other lakes. The model provides a basis for estimating the loss rate of the detritus, including decomposition, sedimentation and hydraulic loss. In a shallow lake like L. Loosdrecht detritus will continue to influence the water quality for years.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Limnological Institute, ‘Vijverhof’ Laboratory, Rijksstraatweg 6, 3631 AC, Nieuwersluis, The Netherlands

    Herman J. Gons, Jerko H. Otten & Machteld Rijkeboer

  2. Laboratory for Microbiology, University of Amsterdam, Nieuwe Achtergracht 127, 018 WS018, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

    Tineke Burger-Wiersma

Authors
  1. Herman J. Gons
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  2. Tineke Burger-Wiersma
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  3. Jerko H. Otten
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  4. Machteld Rijkeboer
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Gons, H.J., Burger-Wiersma, T., Otten, J.H. et al. Coupling of phytoplankton and detritus in a shallow, eutrophic lake (Lake Loosdrecht, The Netherlands). Hydrobiologia 233, 51–59 (1992). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00016095

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