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The importance of nitrogen in Pyramid Lake (Nevada, USA), a saline, desert lake

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Abstract

The increase in human development in the downstream portion of the Pyramid Lake drainage basin has resulted in increased nutrient loading to the lake. Since this is a deep, terminal lake, concern over nutrient build up and change in trophic status exists. On the basis of lake chemistry which shows consistently high concentrations of total reactive-P (mean = 55 µg P l−1) relative to dissolved inorganic-N (DIN) (mean = 15 µg N 1−1), it has been hypothesized that Pyramid is N-limited. However, no systematic study of nutrient limitation had been undertaken. Nutrient enrichment bioassays conducted throughout an entire year clearly showed that additions of DIN resulted in a 350–600% stimulation of chlorophyll production. Phosphate, when added singly or in combination with DIN, had no effect. This positive response to N-addition was significant at all times of the year except, (1) immediately after complete lake mixing in February when a large pool of hypolimnetic nitrate was injected into the euphotic zone, and (2) during a fall bloom of the nitrogen fixing species Nodularia spumigena. The positive response to N-addition in the bioassay experiments was strong between March and November. However, the seston exhibited only a gradual depletion of nitrogen relative to carbon over this same period. PN:PC ratios suggested no N-deficiency in phytoplankton biomass in February, March and April, moderate N-deficiency in May, June and July and, severe N-deficiency from August until winter turnover. The appearance of nitrogen fixing blue-green algae in September supports the hypothesis of N-limitation in the summer-autumn. In evaluating the nutrient status of a lake, the concepts of nutrient stimulation versus nutrient deficiency versus nutrient limitation must clearly be defined.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Ecology and Division of Environmental Studies, University of California-Davis, Davis, California, 95616, USA

    John E. Reuter, Cathryn L. Rhodes, Martin E. Lebo, Mandy Kotzman & Charles R. Goldman

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  1. John E. Reuter
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  2. Cathryn L. Rhodes
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  3. Martin E. Lebo
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  4. Mandy Kotzman
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  5. Charles R. Goldman
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This paper is dedicated to G. Evelyn Hutchinson who first visited Pyramid Lake in 1933.

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Reuter, J.E., Rhodes, C.L., Lebo, M.E. et al. The importance of nitrogen in Pyramid Lake (Nevada, USA), a saline, desert lake. Hydrobiologia 267, 179–189 (1993). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00018800

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