Changes in Sedimentary Phosphorus Burial Following Artificial Eutrophication of Lake 227, Experimental Lakes Area, Ontario, Canada. Issue 8 (9th August 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: O'Connell, D. W.; Ansems, N.; Kukkadapu, R. K.; Jaisi, D.; Orihel, D. M.; Cade‐Menun, B. J.; Hu, Y.; Wiklund, J.; Hall, R. I.; Chessell, H.; Behrends, T.; Van Cappellen, P.
• Is Part Of: Journal of geophysical research. Volume 125:Issue 8(2020)
• Page Start: n/a
• Page End: n/a
• Publication Date: 2020-08-09
• Subjects: eutrophication -- phosphorus cycle -- legacy phosphorus -- water quality -- phosphorus speciation -- advanced spectroscopy; Geobiology -- Periodicals; Biogeochemistry -- Periodicals; Biotic communities -- Periodicals; Geophysics -- Periodicals; 577.14
• DOI: 10.1029/2020JG005713
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2169-8953

Abstract

Abstract: Lake 227 of the Experimental Lakes Area (ELA) in Ontario, Canada, has been fertilized with phosphorus (P) since 1969, which resulted in a rapid transition from oligotrophic to eutrophic conditions. Sediment cores collected from the oxygenated epilimnion, and the mostly anoxic hypolimnion of this unique lake contain a historical record of the changes in sediment P speciation and burial rates across the trophic transition. To elucidate these changes, results of chemical extractions were combined with 210 Pb sediment dating, and with 31 P NMR, Mössbauer, and XANES spectroscopies. Prior to 1969, organic P (POrg ) was the major sedimentary P sink in Lake 227. Eutrophication of the lake coincided with marked increases in the burial rate of total P (TP), as well as in the relative contribution of the NaHCO3 ‐extractable P pool (humic‐bound P, PHum ). Together, PHum and POrg account for ≥70% of total P burial in the sediments deposited since artificial fertilization started. The PHum fraction likely comprises phosphate complexes with humic substances. The strong linear correlation between P and iron (Fe) extracted by NaHCO3 implies a close association of the two elements in the humic fraction. Mössbauer and XANES spectra further indicate that most Fe in the post‐1969 sediments remained in the Fe (III) oxidation state, which is attributed to the stabilization of reducible Fe by organic matter, in part via the formation of phosphate‐Fe (III)‐humic complexes. Importantly, our results show that the eutrophication experimentation of Lake 227 caused the accumulation of a large reservoir of reactive sediment P, which may continue to fuel internal P loading to the water column once artificial fertilization is terminated. Key Points: Since 1969, phosphorus (P) has been continuously added to Lake 227, causing large increases in the sediment accumulations of organic (POrg ) and NaHCO3 ‐extractable P (PHum ) PHum comprises ternary phosphate‐metal‐humic complexes with Fe (III) as one of the bridging metal cations Sediments of Lake 227 harbor a large legacy of reactive P, which may fuel internal P loading to the water column once artificial fertilization is terminated