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Why ’very shallow‘ lakes are more successful opposing reduced nutrient loads

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Abstract

There are different approaches for classifying deep andshallowwaters using physically and ecologically derived parameters.Nevertheless, transition states make it difficult to definebordercrossing points between the two types of limnetic ecosystemsand todistinguish more precisely between different types of shallow,especially highly eutrophicated lakes. We contribute adetailedanalysis of different characteristics of shallow waters fromlakesin the Berlin/Brandenburg-region. In the catchment area of theriver Dahme in Eastern Brandenburg (Scharmützelsee-region)wefind mainly shallow and highly eutrophicated lakes, dominatedbyCyanobacteria. ’Very shallow‘ lakes of different morphometry andtopography are compared with ’medium shallow‘ or deeper lakesinthe region with similar loading characteristics for thefollowingproperties: morphometry, topography, theoretical retentiontime,mixing intensity, nutrient dynamics, external and internalloading,underwater light climate, zeu/zmix,phytoplankton development and oxygen budget. We found that’veryshallow‘ lakes in the region are more efficient in convertingtheavailable phosphorus into phytoplankton biomass because of theconstant and sufficient underwater light climate due to thefavourable relation of zeu and zmix. Weconclude that the regular mixing regime guarantees a stableandnear optimum light/dark rhythm as well as higher heterotrophicactivities, stimulating primary production up to the upperlimit ofalgal development.

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  1. Faculty Environmental Sciences, Water Protection, Technical University Cottbus, D-15526, Bad Saarow, Seestr. 45, Germany

    Brigitte Nixdorf & Rainer Deneke

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  1. Brigitte Nixdorf
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  2. Rainer Deneke
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Nixdorf, B., Deneke, R. Why ’very shallow‘ lakes are more successful opposing reduced nutrient loads. Hydrobiologia 342, 269–284 (1997). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1017012012099

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