Variation in transparent exopolymer particles in relation to biological and chemical factors in two contrasting lake districts

In inland waters, transparent exopolymer particles (TEP) can affect carbon export and sequestration in sediments with consequences for lake C budgets. We measured TEP concentration in 32 lakes from two contrasting lake districts covering wide ranges in biological and chemical characteristics. North temperate lakes, located in a wet region, have low to moderate ionic strength and low to high dissolved organic carbon with corresponding variation in color (light absorbance). Mediterranean lakes located in a semiarid region were characterized by high ionic strength and high concentrations of dissolved organic carbon but low color. TEP concentrations were large relative to the living portion of the particulate organic carbon pool in both Mediterranean (36%) and north temperate (33%) lakes. TEP concentrations ranged from 36 to 1,462 μg [as Gum Xanthan equivalents (GX eq)] L⁻¹ in north temperate lakes. In the Mediterranean lakes, concentrations were higher that previously reported for other systems and ranged from 66 to 9,038 μg GX eq L⁻¹. TEP concentration was positive and significantly related to chlorophyll a (chl a) in north temperate lakes and in the entire data set. Although a significant and positive relationship between TEP and chl a was also detected in the Mediterranean lakes, bacterial abundance was most strongly related to TEP. In contrast with the positive influence of phytoplankton and bacteria on TEP, there were weaker relationships between TEP and the chemical variables tested. We observed a significant and positive relationship between pH and TEP (for all lakes) but this relationship was indirectly driven by a co-variation of pH with phytoplankton biomass based on multiple regression analysis. For the Mediterranean lakes, the negative (but not significant) trends between TEP and both conductivity and divalent cations suggest thresholds above which TEP will likely be destabilized. Under these conditions, TEP may flocculate or disperse in the water column.     

Organic matter governs N and P balance in Danube Delta lakes

The transformation of dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN) and soluble reactive phosphorous (SRP), and the release of dissolved organic and particulate N and P, were analyzed in two lake complexes (Uzlina–Isac and Puiu–Rosu–Rosulet) of the Danube Delta wetland during flood conditions in May and at low water level in September 2006. The Uzlina–Isac complex was hydrologically tightly-connected with the Danube River and was flushed with river-borne nutrients and organic matter. These lakes acted as effective transformers for nutrients and produced large amounts of fresh biomass, that promoted the excretion of dissolved organic N and P during active growth. Biomass breakdown created particulate matter (<0.45 μm), which was widely liberated during low flow in the fall. The Puiu–Rosu–Rosulet complex was characterized by a more distant position to the Danube and proximity to the Black Sea, and received dominantly transformed organic compounds from the flow-through water and vast vegetation cover. Due to reduced nutrient input, the internal production of organic biomass also was reduced in these more remote lakes. Total N and P export from the lake nearest to the shelf was governed by dominantly dissolved organic and particulate compounds (mean 58 and 82%, respectively). Overall, this survey found that these highly productive wetlands efficiently transform nutrients into a large pool of dissolved organic and particulate N and P. Hence, wetland lakes may behave widely as net sources of organic N and P to downstream waters and coastal marine systems.     

Phytoplankton abundance and contributions to suspended particulate matter in the Ohio,Upper Mississippi and Missouri Rivers

Main channel habitats of the Ohio, Missouri, and Upper Mississippi Rivers were surveyed during the summers of 2004, 2005 and 2006 using a probability-based sampling design to characterize inter-annual and inter-river variation in suspended chlorophyll a (CHLa) and related variables. Large (fivefold) differences in CHLa were observed with highest concentrations in the Upper Mississippi (32.3 ± 1.8 μg L⁻¹), intermediate values in the Missouri (19.7 ± 1.1 μg L⁻¹) and lowest concentrations in the Ohio (6.8 ± 0.5 μg L⁻¹). Inter-annual variation was small in comparison to inter-river differences suggesting that basin-specific factors exert greater control over river-wide CHLa than regional-scale processes influencing climate and discharge. The rivers were characterized by variable but generally low light conditions as indicated by depth-averaged underwater irradiance <4 E m⁻² day⁻¹ and high ratios of channel depth to euphotic depth (>3). Despite poor light conditions, regression analyses revealed that TP was the best single predictor of CHLa (R ² = 0.40), though models incorporating both light and TP performed better (R ² = 0.60). Light and nutrient conditions varied widely within rivers and were inversely related, suggesting that riverine phytoplankton may experience shifts in resource limitation during transport. Inferred grazing and sedimentation losses were large yet CHLa concentrations did not decline downriver indicating that growth and loss processes were closely coupled. The contribution by algae to suspended particulate organic matter in these rivers (mean = 41%) was similar to that of lakes (39%) but lower relative to reservoirs (61%).     

Pelagic food web interactions and hypolimnetic oxygen depletion: Results from experimental enclosures and lakes

Large lakes enclosures were used to examine the influence of nutrient (P, N) enrichment and planktivorous fish (1 + yellow perch) predation on hypolimnetic oxygen depletion. Results were compared to similar data for lakes with high (Lake St. George) and low (Haynes Lake) abundances of planktivorous fish. In both the unfertilized and fertilized enclosures, fish predation on large cladocerans increased the biomasses of pico- and nanoplankton (0.2–20 µm), phytoplankton (chlorophyll a) and total phosphorus (TP), reduced sedimentation, water clarity, and hypolimnetic oxygen concentrations (AHO). Fertilized enclosures without fish had highest TP and sedimentation rates, but the AHO were low. The high planktivore lake had higher pico- and nanoplankton, higher chlorophyll a, reduced water clarity, and lower AHO than the low planktivore lake. Areal hypolimnetic oxygen depletion (AHOD) rates were strongly related with Secchi depth and plankton size-distribution (r ² = 0.77, and 0.79, respectively), but not as strongly with TP, chlorophyll a, and sedimentation rates (r ² = 0.25, 0.53, and 0.02, respectively). Such observations are useful in forming a generalized hypothesis that lakes with low planktivory and high water clarity have lower oxygen depletion because 1) plankton that are settling are larger and spend less time in the hypolimnetic water column before reaching the sediment, and therefore undergo less decomposition, and 2) the euphotic depth extends into the hypolimnion and production of oxygen can take place.     

Allochthonous subsidies of organic matter across a lake–river–fjord landscape in the Chilean Patagonia: Implications for marine zooplankton in inner fjord areas

Ecosystems can act as both sources and sinks of allochthonous nutrients and organic matter. In this sense, fjord ecosystems are a typical interface and buffer zone between freshwater systems, glaciated continents, and the coastal ocean. In order to evaluate the potential sources and composition of organic matter across fjord ecosystems, we characterized particulate organic matter along a lake–river–fjord corridor in the Chilean Patagonia using stable isotope (δ¹³C) and lipid (fatty acid composition) biomarker analyses. Furthermore, estimates of zooplankton carbon ingestion rates and measurements of δ¹³C and δ¹⁵N in zooplankton (copepods) were used to evaluate the implications of allochthonous subsidies for copepods inhabiting inner fjord areas. Our results showed that riverine freshwater flows contributed an important amount of dissolved silicon but, scarce nitrate and phosphate to the brackish surface layer of the fjord ecosystem. Isotopic signatures of particulate organic matter from lakes and rivers were distinct from their counterparts in oceanic influenced stations. Terrestrial allochthonous sources could support around 68–86% of the particulate organic carbon in the river plume and glacier melting areas, whereas fatty acid concentrations were maximal in the surface waters of the Pascua and Baker river plumes. Estimates of carbon ingestion rates and δ¹³C in copepods from the river plume areas indicated that terrestrial carbon could account for a significant percentage of the copepod body carbon (20–50%) during periods of food limitation. Particulate organic matter from the Pascua River showed a greater allochthonous contribution of terrigenous/vascular plant sources. Rivers may provide fjord ecosystems with allochthonous contributions from different sources because of the distinct vegetation coverage and land use along each river’s watershed. These observations have significant implications for the management of local riverine areas in the context of any human project that may modify terrestrial habitats as well as the productivity, food webs, and community structure of rivers, lakes, fjords, and the coastal ocean in the Chilean Patagonia.     

Effects of pollen leaching and microbial degradation on organic carbon and nutrient availability in lake water

Nutrient fluxes across terrestrial-aquatic boundaries and their subsequent integration into lake nutrient cycles are currently a major topic of aquatic research. Although pollen represents a good substrate for microorganisms, it has been neglected as a terrestrial source of organic matter in lakes. In laboratory experiments, we incubated pollen grains of Pinus sylvestris in water of lakes with different trophy and pH to estimate effects of pollen input and its subsequent microbial degradation on nutrient dynamics. In this ex situ experiment, we measured concentrations of organic carbon, phosphorus and nitrogen in the surrounding water as well as microbial dynamics (bacteria and fungal sporangia) at well-controlled conditions. Besides leaching, chemical and microbial decomposition of pollen was strongest within the first week of incubation. This led to a marked increase of soluble reactive phosphorus and total dissolved nitrogen (up to 0.04 and 1.5 mg L⁻¹, respectively, after 5 days of incubation) in the ambient water. In parallel, pollen grains were rapidly colonized by heterotrophic bacteria and aquatic fungi. Leaching and microbial degradation of pollen accounted for ≥80, ≥40, ≥50% for organic C, N and P, respectively, and did not significantly differ among water samples from the studied lakes. Thus, pollen introduces high amounts of bio-available terrestrial organic matter and nutrients into surface waters within a short time. A rough calculation on P input into oligotrophic Lake Stechlin indicates that pollen plays an important ecological role in nutrient cycling of temperate lakes. This requires further attention in aquatic ecology.     

1988-2018年滇池氮磷比的时空演变特征与原因解析

氮、磷浓度是制约湖泊营养状态和生产力水平的重要环境因子,而氮磷化学计量比是湖泊生态系统的主要指标,因此,判识氮磷比变化趋势及其驱动力对湖泊生态恢复具有重要意义.研究基于19882018年连续观测数据,分析了滇池氮磷浓度和氮磷摩尔比(简称氮磷比)的时空分布演变特征;采用多元线性回归模型分别对滇池草海和外海氮磷比驱动效应进行定量解析,筛选出影响湖体氮磷比变化的潜在驱动因子.结果表明:①19882018年滇池氮磷比呈现显著的线性上升趋势,其中草海和外海氮磷比分别上升1.3和0.7 a^-1.②草海和外海分别在2008年和2004年发生了氮磷比上升突变,突变前上升归因于总氮浓度快速增加,突变后则是由于总磷浓度下降较快.③滇池的氮磷浓度变化主要是受流域氮磷输入负荷、跨流域调水、流域氮磷削减、风速和水位的综合影响,但受控因子在不同区域可能存在差异.④气温是滇池氮磷比变化的主要驱动因子,流域人为氮磷输入差异是滇池氮磷比变化的次要驱动因子.     

Nutrient-chlorophyll trajectories across trophic gradients

We estimate the response of chl-a (mg · m^–3) to changes in concentrations of total phosphorus (TP) by calculating the slopeS = chl-a/TP in chl-a =f(TP) graphs. Results show that in years where algae are P-limited oligotrophic lakes respond less (median slope 0.21) to changes in nutrient concentrations than eutrophic lakes, (median slope 0.31) and these again less than hypereutrophic lakes, (median slope 1.02). We find no saturation value for the slope within the TP range considered (6–480 mg · m^–3). Chl-a in eutrophic lakes responds more frequently to non-nutrient factors than oligotrophic and hypereutrophic lakes. Results obtained by replacing TP with a new nutrient parameter, TP = 0.056 · TP · IN^0.226, in which inorganic nitrogen, IN, is factored in, suggest that nitrogen has an influence on chl-a in oligotrophic lakes. Blue-green algae respond less to changes in TP than other algal species, e.g., diatoms.     

Hydrologic and biogeochemical controls on the spatial and temporal patterns of nitrogen and phosphorus in the Kuparuk River,arctic Alaska

Nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) dynamics in the Kuparuk River in arctic Alaska were characterized in a 3‐year study using routine samples near the mouth of the river at the Arctic Ocean, synoptic whole‐river surveys, and temporally intense sampling during storms in three headwater basins. The Lower Kuparuk River has low nitrate concentrations (mean [NO₃]‐N] = 17 µg l^?1 ± 1·6 SE) and dissolved inorganic N (DIN, mean [N] = 31 µg l^?1 ± 1·2 SE) compared with rivers in more temperate environments. Organic forms constituted on average 90% of the N exported to the Arctic Ocean, and high ratios of dissolved organic N (DON) to total dissolved N (TDN) concentrations (mean 0·92) likely result from waterlogged soils formed by reduced infiltration due to permafrost and low hydrologic gradients. Annual export of TDN, DON, and particulate N averaged 52 kg km^?2, 48 kg km^?2, and 4·1 kg km^?2 respectively. During snowmelt, the high volume of runoff typically results in the highest nutrient loads of the year, although high discharge during summer storms can result in substantial nutrient loading over short periods of time. Differences in seasonal flow regime (snowmelt versus rain) and storm‐driven variation in discharge appear to be more important for determining nutrient concentrations than is the spatial variation in processes along the transect from headwaters towards the ocean. Both the temporal variation in nitrate:DIN ratios of headwater streams and the spatial variation in nitrate:DIN between larger sub‐basins and smaller headwater catchments is likely controlled by shifts in nitrification and soil anoxia. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

The short term response to eutrophication abatement

We compare results of a new model for predicting the short term inter annual changes in chlorophyll-a (chl-a) in lakes after reductions in total phosphorus (TP) to predictions made by least squares regression models. In the new method, slopes of chl-a/TP graphs (both axes in mg · m^–3) are depicted in frequency diagrams and used to extract information on the expected, short term chl-a/TP response. The short term response for nine shallow (< 10 m deep) and nutrient rich lakes to changes in TP was found to be: Chl-a = 0.49 · TP + 17.3, and for nine deep, P-limited lakes: Chl-a = 0.08 · TP + 3.5. If the TP-reduction is known to be greater than 10 mg · m^–3, the expected slope increases to 0.58 for shallow lakes and to 0.26 for deep lakes. The slope, 0.58, is 8% lower than the slope for the long term response calculated by regression for the shallow lakes. For deep lakes the slope, 0.26, is 2 to 3 times higher than that calculated by regression, indicating that reductions in TP for deep lakes give greater effects than least squares regression equations suggest. We have also calculated the reduction in TP which will give about 80% probability that a reduction in chl-a will be observed next year. For shallow, P-limited lakes this reduction is about 30 mg · m^–3 (5% of average initial in-lake TP concentration), and for deep lakes about 14 mg · m^–3 (35% of average initial in-lake TP concentration).     

Nested‐Scale Nutrient Flux in a Mixed‐Land‐Use Urbanizing Watershed

To improve quantitative understanding of mixed‐land‐use impacts on nutrient yields, a nested‐scale experimental watershed study design (n = 5) was applied in a 303(d), clean water act impaired urbanizing watershed of the lower Missouri River Basin, USA. From 2010 to 2013, water samples (n = 858 sample days per site) were analysed for total inorganic nitrogen (TIN‐N), nitrite (NO₂–N) nitrate (NO₃–N), ammonia (NH₃–N), and total phosphorus (TP‐P). Annual, seasonal, and monthly flow‐weighted concentrations (FWCs) and nutrient yields were estimated. Mean nutrient concentrations were highest where agricultural land use comprised 58% of the drainage area (NH₃ = 0.111 mg/l; NO₂ = 0.045 mg/l; NO₃ = 0.684 mg/l, TIN = 0.840 mg/l; TP = 0.127 mg/l). Average TP‐P increased by 15% with 20% increased urban land use area. Highly variable annual precipitation was observed during the study with highest nutrient yields during 2010 (record setting wet year) and lowest nutrient yields during 2012 (extreme drought year). Annual TIN‐N and TP‐P yields exceeded 10.3 and 2.04 kg ha^?1 yr^?1 from the agricultural dominated headwaters. Mean annual NH₃–N, NO₂–N, NO₃–N, TIN‐N, and TP‐P yields were 0.742, 0.400, 4.24, 5.38, and 0.979 kg ha^?1 yr^?1, respectively near the watershed outlet. Precipitation accounted for the majority of the explained variance in nutrient yields (R² values from 0.68 to 0.85). Nutrient yields were also dependent on annual precipitation of the preceding year (R² values from 0.87 to 0.91) thus enforcing the great complexity of variable mixed‐land‐use mediated source‐sink nutrient yield relationships. Study results better inform land managers and best management practices designed to mitigate nutrient pollution issues in mixed‐land‐use freshwater ecosystems. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Effects of nitrogen and phosphorus on phytoplankton composition and biomass in 15 subtropical, urban shallow lakes in Wuhan, China

This study aims at investigating the composition and biomass of the phytoplankton community in 15 urban shallow eutrophic lakes as well as the effects of main environmental factors, including nutrient concentrations and the ratio of nitrogen to phosphorus, temperature, COD, BOD, water depth, etc. on the phytoplankton community structure. Lake water samples were taken and analyzed on a bimonthly basis during the period from March 2004 to March 2006. The redundancy analysis (RDA) and regression analysis (RA) were performed to identify the effects of nutrients on the phytoplankton community and biomass in these typical urban lakes. The results indicate that most of these urban lakes were hypertrophic due to high concentrations of total phosphorus (TP) and total nitrogen (TN), with mean levels of 490 and 5380 mg m⁻³, respectively. The phytoplankton community was dominated by Microcystis aeruginosa and Euglena caudate in summer and Cryptomonas ovata and Cyclotella meneghiniana in winter. The mean biomass of the phytoplankton reached 456.87 mg L⁻¹ in summer months and the annual level was 189.24 mg L⁻¹. Temperature and TP content were found to be the principal limiting factors for phytoplankton growth on an annual basis. On the other hand, the results of RDA and RA demonstrate that the dominant phytoplankton species were not nutrient-limited during summer months. Low TN:TP ratios (<10) were detected accompanied with fewer occurrences of N-fixing cyanobacteria and other filamentous algae in most lakes in summer, which implies that low N:P ratio does not always shifts the dominance of phytoplankton community to the N-fixing cyanobacteria. Moreover, TP always had higher correlation with chlorophyll a (Chl-a) than TN, even when the TN:TP ratios of most samples were lower than 10. Therefore, it is concluded that the TN:TP ratio is not always a suitable index to determine whether nitrogen or phosphorus limits the phytoplankton biomass in urban shallow eutrophic lakes.     

Spatial and temporal dynamics of stream water particulate and dissolved N, P and C forms along a catchment transect, NE Scotland

The dynamics of dissolved and particulate N, P and organic C were examined for field drains, through a headwater (4 km²), into a mesoscale stream (51 km²) and river (1844 km²) catchment. Distributions of N and P forms were similar in the agricultural headwater and field drains; annual P fluxes of particulate and dissolved forms were of equal magnitude, whilst N was dominated by NO₃–N. Across all scales organic P was an important, often dominant, component of the dissolved P. Temporal variation in nutrient concentrations and proportions was greatest in the headwater, where storms resulted in the generation of large concentrations of suspended particulate matter, particulate and dissolved P, particularly following dry periods. The data suggest that groundwater and minor point source inputs to the mesoscale catchment buffered the temporal variability in hydrochemistry relative to the headwater. Summer low flows were associated with large PO₄–P concentrations in the mesoscale catchment at a critical time of biological sensitivity. At the largest river catchment scale, organic forms of C, N and P dominated. Inorganic nutrient concentrations were kept small through dilution by runoff from upland areas and biological processes converted dissolved N and P to particulate forms. The different processes operating between the drain/headwater to the large river scale have implications for river basin management. Given the prevalence of organic and particulate P forms in our catchment transect, the bioavailability of these fractions needs to be better understood.     

Distribution and temporal variation of cadmium in the St. Lawrence river basin

Samples of raw water were collected at regular intevals at two transects in the St. Lawremce River and four of its tributaries from March to November 1991 and from April to June 1992. Water samples were analyzed for both the dissolved and the particulate phase for cadmium (Cd), organic carbon, iron and manganese. Mean dissolved Cd concentration was 10±5 ng/L and no spatial variability was observed. Higher concentrations were found during high flow periods, suggesting an uptake of cadmium by phytoplankton during summer. In addition, dissolved cadmium did not appear to be associated with either DOC, dissolved Fe or dissolved Mn. The mean particulate Cd concentration was 1.3±1.1 μg/g, with almost all stations presenting the same concentration except the Yamaska River, which had a concentration of 0.5±0.2 μg/g. Particulate Cd showed a negative correlation with suspended particulate matter and a positive correlation with particulate organic carbon and particulare manganese. Fifty-nine percent of the cadmium was found to be in the particulate phase. Partition coefficients for cadmium (Kd), organic carbon (Kc), iron (KdFe) and manganese (KdMn) were calculated for each sample. Log Kd varied from 3.9 to 5.9, with an average of 5.0±0.4. Log Kd decreased with increasing particulate, matter as did Log Kc and Log KdMn. No significant correlation was found between Log Kd and Log Kc, suggesting that the distribution of cadmium between the dissolved and the particulate phase is not influenced by the distribution of organic carbon. In contrast, positive correlations were observed between Log Kd, Log KdFe and Log KdMn. Cadmium distribution appears to be influenced by Fe and Mn distribution.     

The use of TN:TP and DIN:TP ratios as indicators for phytoplankton nutrient limitation in oligotrophic lakes affected by N deposition

The stoichiometric composition of lake water chemistry affects nutrient limitation among phytoplankton. I show how TN:TP and DIN:TP ratios vary in oligotrophic lakes of Europe and the USA affected by different amounts of N deposition, and evaluate whether the DIN:TP ratio is a better indicator than the TN:TP ratio for discriminating between N and P limitation of phytoplankton. Data were compiled from boreal and low to high alpine lakes, and comprise epilimnetic lake water chemistry data (106 lakes) and results from short-term nutrient bioassay experiments (28 lakes). A large share (54%) of the oligotrophic lakes in the study had low TN:TP mass ratios (<25). DIN:TP ratios showed higher variability than TN:TP ratios. Variability in DIN:TP ratios was related to N deposition, but also to catchment characteristics. Data from short-term bioassay experiments with separate addition of N and P showed that the DIN:TP ratio was a better indicator than the TN:TP ratio for N and P limitation of phytoplankton. Phytoplankton shift from N to P limitation when DIN:TP mass ratios increase from 1.5 to 3.4. High DIN:TP ratios, indicating P limitation of phytoplankton, were generally found in alpine lakes with low to moderate N deposition and in boreal lakes with high to very high amounts of N deposition.     

Organic carbon release by phytoplankton and bacterial reassimilation

The release of organic carbon by phytoplankton and its reassimilation by bacteria were studied in Lake Geneva during four daily kinetics, using¹⁴C techniques. Gentamycin was used to suppress bacterial activity. Size fractionation was used to measure¹⁴C fixation in 2 particulate fractions (≥1 μm and 0.2 to 1 μm) and in a third fraction: dissolved organic carbon. Measurements of bacterial biomass and¹⁴C glucose uptake as the H¹⁴CO ₃ ⁻ uptake by samples prefractionated before incubation showed that the whole algae were retained on 1 μm pore size Nuclepore filters, but bacteria were retained on 1 μm and 0.2 μm filters. Concentration of 20 μg.ml⁻¹ gentamycin resulted in incomplete bacterial inhibition while phytoplankton was affected. Phytoplankton released less of 20% of its photoassimilated carbon of which a large proportion was utilized by bacterioplankton.     

Hydrological heterogeneity of an alpine stream–lake network in Switzerland

Water source and lake landscape position can strongly influence the physico‐chemical characteristics of flowing waters over space and time. We examined the physico‐chemical heterogeneity in surface waters of an alpine stream‐lake network (>2600 m a.s.l.) in Switzerland. The catchment comprises two basins interspersed with 26 cirque lakes. The larger lakes in each basin are interconnected by streams that converge in a lowermost lake with an outlet stream. The north basin is primarily fed by precipitation and groundwater, whereas the south basin is fed mostly by glacial melt from rock glaciers. Surface flow of the entire channel network contracted by ～60% in early autumn, when snowmelt runoff ceased and cold temperatures reduced glacial outputs, particularly in the south basin. Average water temperatures were ～4 °C cooler in the south basin, and temperatures increased by about 4–6 °C along the longitudinal gradient within each basin. Although overall water conductivity was low (<27 µS cm^?1) because of bedrock geology (ortho‐gneiss), the south basin had two times higher conductivity values than the north basin. Phosphate‐phosphorus levels were below analytical detection limits, but particulate phosphorus was about four times higher in the north basin (seasonal average: 9 µg l^?1) than in the south basin (seasonal average: 2 µg l^?1). Dissolved nitrogen constituents were around two times higher in the south basin than in the north basin, with highest values averaging > 300 µg l^?1 (nitrite + nitrate‐nitrogen), whereas particulate nitrogen was approximately nine times greater in the north basin (seasonal average: 97 µg l^?1) than in the south basin (seasonal average: 12 µg l^?1). Total inorganic carbon was low (usually <0·8 mg l^?1), silica was sufficient for algal growth, and particulate organic carbon was 4·5 times higher in the north basin (average: 0·9 mg l^?1) than in the south basin (average: 0·2 mg l^?1). North‐basin streams showed strong seasonality in turbidity, particulate‐nitrogen and ‐phosphorus, and particulate organic carbon, whereas strong seasonality in south‐basin streams was observed in conductivity and dissolved nitrogen. Lake position influenced the seasonal dynamics in stream temperatures and nutrients, particularly in the groundwater/precipitation‐fed north‐basin network. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.