Magnitudes and patterns in the deposition of chlorophyll (Chl), organic carbon, particulate phosphorus (PP), and suspended solids are documented for seven New York reservoirs based on analyses of metalimnetic and near-bottom sediment trap collections. Inorganic material dominated the trap collections and caused a decoupling of the downward fluxes of Chl and PP because of major contributions of inorganic components to P deposition. These contributions were manifested in the stoichiometry of trap collections, the much higher estimates of settling velocity (SV) for PP compared with Chl, and differences in patterns of Chl and PP deposition within individual reservoirs and among these systems. Most of the deposited phosphorus in these reservoirs (7198%) was associated with nonphytoplankton particles. In contrast to the other constituents, the estimates of SV for Chl were lower and more uniform; nearly 50% of the individual estimates (n = 188) were between 0.15 and 0.25 m·day1. Longitudinal gradients in sediment deposition occurred as a result of gradients in both overlying water concentrations and settling characteristics of the particles. Seasonal and vertical patterns in trap collections and budget calculations indicate that resuspension contributed to deposition, to varying extents, in all of the reservoir basins.
Organic–Inorganic Hybrid Materials
