Decreased nitrogen loading controls summer cyanobacterial blooms without promoting nitrogen-fixing taxa: Long-term response of a shallow lake

Abstract

The effectiveness of controlling nitrogen (N) to manage lake eutrophication is debated. Long-term, whole-lake case studies are required to determine whether diazotrophic cyanobacteria can fix sufficient N to offset a reduction of N-inputs. We document the recovery of shallow, productive Lake Müggelsee (Germany) over 37 yr (sampling interval 1–2 weeks) during a decrease of N and phosphorus (P) loading of 79% and 69%, respectively. Nitrogen concentrations in the lake responded immediately to loading reduction whereas P concentrations remained elevated for about 20 yr. Total nitrogen (TN) in the lake was always lower than TN in the inflow. Accordingly, estimated denitrification and N-burial rates substantially exceeded N 2 fixation rates in the long term. Phosphorus was growth limiting in spring whereas N was clearly limiting in summer due to high sediment P-release. TN : TP ratios, normalized to phytoplankton biovolume by regression, were 25.5 (weight) in spring and 3.3 in summer. During the study period, dissolved inorganic N (DIN) concentrations in summer decreased and the duration of low DIN concentrations increased by ca. 100 d. The biovolume of cyanobacteria and total phytoplankton decreased by 89% and 76%, respectively. The proportion of N 2 -fixing cyanobacteria during summer decreased from 36% to 14% of the total phytoplankton biovolume. The total concentration of heterocysts and estimated total N 2 fixation did not change over time. In the long term, decreasing N-inputs effectively controlled summer cyanobacteria including N 2 -fixing taxa, which did not compensate for the N-deficit. A P-only control strategy would not have been as successful.