Article ID | Journal | Published Year | Pages | File Type |
---|---|---|---|---|
4485149 | Water Research | 2009 | 13 Pages |
The exchange of phosphorus (P) during the resuspension of sediments into shallow (oxic) waters of deep stratified lakes is regulated by equilibrium dynamics. In this study, we compared the P-sorption characteristics of sediments from 17 shallow and deep littoral sites in an oligo-mesotrophic lake. Zero Equilibrium P Concentration (EPC0) ranged from 0.2 to 5 μg P L−1. EPC0 did not vary with sediment characteristics, but increased with increasing sediment-to-water ratios (SWR). Buffering capacity also increased with increasing SWR up to 1 g L−1, at which point P concentrations were buffered almost perfectly. Therefore, internal P loading in littoral areas may depend primarily on the intensity and duration of sediment resuspension instead of sediment composition, and is expected to be spatially and temporally patchy. Maximum P-sorption capacity (Smax) varied with chemical composition of the sediments, but was generally low, indicating a limited capacity of littoral sediments to retain external inputs of P.