Hypolimnetic redox and phosphorus cycling in hypereutrophic Lake Sebasticook, Maine

The vertical distribution of reduced species and phosphate was monitored throughout a summer stagnation period in hypereutrophic Lake Sebasticook, Maine. The oxygen demand of reduced species released from hypolimnetic sediments was dominated by methane, followed by ammonium, and included minor contributions from Fe²⁺, Mn²⁺ and sulfide. Release of iron and manganese from the sediments was apparently controlled by dissolution of siderite and rhodochrosite, with the requisite acidity for the dissolution provided by methanogenesis. Redox recycling of these two metals occurs in two vertically displaced “wheels”, which enhance oxidant delivery to the hypolimnion beyond that provided by oxygen diffusion alone. Phosphorus is tightly coupled to the “ferrous wheel”, in the absence of wind events, and is scavenged with a stoichiometry consistent with Tessenow's (Tessenow U., Arch. Hydrobiol.Suppl. 47, 1–79, 1974) laboratory studies.