The carbon pump supports high primary production in a shallow lake

Aquatic research on primary production and carbon dynamics often ignores calcification that supports photosynthesis by producing protons and forming CO 2 . Calcification prevents detrimental pH rise, but causes greater decrease of dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC). Concurrent DIC replenishment is the...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Aquatic sciences 2019-04, Vol.81 (2), p.1-11, Article 24
Main Authors: Andersen, Mikkel René, Kragh, Theis, Martinsen, Kenneth Thorø, Kristensen, Emil, Sand-Jensen, Kaj
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Biomedical and Life Sciences
Calcification
Carbon
Carbon dioxide
Carbonates
Density stratification
Dissolution
Dissolved inorganic carbon
Dissolving
Dynamics
Ecology
Freshwater & Marine Ecology
Lakes
Life Sciences
Marine & Freshwater Sciences
Metabolism
Oceanography
Organic matter
Oxygen
Oxygen production
Photosynthesis
Primary production
Protons
Replenishment
Research Article
Stratification
Surface water
Vertical advection
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Summary:Aquatic research on primary production and carbon dynamics often ignores calcification that supports photosynthesis by producing protons and forming CO 2 . Calcification prevents detrimental pH rise, but causes greater decrease of dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC). Concurrent DIC replenishment is therefore essential to maintain high photosynthesis. Here we show a mean daily DIC loss of 40% (26% to photosynthesis and 14% to calcification) in surface waters during summer periods in a shallow charophyte-lake and replenishment of the DIC pool by respiration and carbonate dissolution in the bottom waters followed by nocturnal mixing. The daytime DIC assimilation in organic matter relative to oxygen production in surface waters was close to 1.0 (molar ratio), while total DIC loss markedly exceeded oxygen production because of calcification. Our results suggest that photosynthesis would rapidly become carbon limited if permanent stratification prevented transfer of DIC from bottom waters to surface waters or if permanent mixing prevented CO 2 accumulation conducive to carbonate dissolution in bottom waters. This vertical transport of DIC effectively functions as a physical and biological pump supporting high metabolism in charophyte-dominated shallow lakes with recurring daily stratification and mixing.
ISSN:1015-1621
1420-9055
DOI:10.1007/s00027-019-0622-7