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

Seventy-six percent of the 1972–86 variability in remotely sensed maximum surface water biomass of Nodularia spumigena blooms in Pyramid Lake, Nevada, was explained by concentrations of surface water total nitrogen (TN) during the preceding winter circulation. Very large summer–autumn Nodularia blooms were recorded by Landsat subsequent to low early winter surface water TN concentrations, very low fluvial discharge, and fluvial TN loads as predicted, but contrary to predictions, also when fluvial discharge and TN loads were very high. The observed cause of large Nodularia blooms following high fluvial nitrogen influx was temporary meromixis produced by the large volume of freshwater transporting this nitrogen. Incomplete winter lake circulation reduced internal transport of hypolimnetic nitrogen to surface waters. Meromixis resulted in early stable summer thermal stratification and early depletion of epilimnetic inorganic nitrogen, followed by early and large Nodularia blooms. Variations in magnitude of historic Nodularia blooms in a saline desert lake support the generality of blue-green algal dominance in lakes with low nitrogen and high phosphorus concentrations (i.e. low N:P ratios). However, climatic forcing of fluvial discharge and lake mixing patterns were also shown to be important determinants of seasonal succession of phytoplankton to blue-greens.

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Nitrogen fixation in an oligotrophic, saline desert lake: Pyramid Lake, Nevada

Limnology and Oceanography ◽

10.4319/lo.1985.30.6.1229 ◽

1985 ◽

Vol 30 (6) ◽

pp. 1229-1239 ◽

Cited By ~ 40

Author(s):

A. J. Horne ◽

D. L. Galat

Keyword(s):

Nitrogen Fixation ◽

Pyramid Lake ◽

Saline Desert ◽

Desert Lake

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Historical changes in sediments of Pyramid Lake, Nevada, USA: consequences of changes in the water balance of a terminal desert lake

Journal of Paleolimnology ◽

10.1007/bf00678089 ◽

1994 ◽

Vol 12 (2) ◽

pp. 87-101 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Martin E. Lebo ◽

John E. Reuter ◽

Philip A. Meyers

Keyword(s):

Water Balance ◽

Historical Changes ◽

Pyramid Lake ◽

Desert Lake

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Interannual Variability of Nitrogen Limitation in a Desert Lake: Influence of Regional Climate

Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences ◽

10.1139/f94-085 ◽

1994 ◽

Vol 51 (4) ◽

pp. 862-872 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Martin E. Lebo ◽

John E. Reuter ◽

Charles R. Goldman ◽

Cathryn L. Rhodes

Keyword(s):

Regional Climate ◽

Nutrient Status ◽

Weather Data ◽

Systematic Evaluation ◽

Nutrient Ratios ◽

N Availability ◽

Pyramid Lake ◽

N Limitation ◽

Climatic Variations ◽

Desert Lake

A systematic evaluation of limnological and experimental indicators of nutrient limitation in Pyramid Lake during 1989–92 clearly show that N is the nutrient most limiting to phytoplankton. This conclusion is supported by dissolved inorganic nutrient ratios, seston elemental composition, nutrient enrichment bioassay experiments, and blooms of N2-fixing algae. However, the degree of N limitation expressed during the three years varied considerably. A comparison of interannual patterns of N limitation with weather data collected at the lake suggests that differences among years can be attributed to climatic variations. Our study indicates that climatic variations affect N availability by altering the timing of winter deep mixing, varying the potential for upwelling during spring, and varying the rate of spring warming of surface waters. Summer wind patterns also appear to be an integral factor controlling initiation, development, and collapse of the annual bloom of Nodularia spumigena, a N2-fixing blue-green alga. The results of this study emphasize the need to consider climatic variations in assessing the general nutrient status of lakes.

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