Seston carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus and phytoplankton from eight Ontario Lakes

Abstract

Seston samples from eight lakes lying within the Trent River Drainage Basin, located in central Ontario, were characterized with respect to three nitrogen fractions, three phosphorus fractions, organic carbon, phytoplankton content and chlorophyll a. Significant direct positive relationships were found to exist between each of the nutrient parameters and the algal biomass. Non-labile nitrogen or phosphorus to biomass ratios - mg.N3 :cm3 algae - 7.3:1; mg P3:cm3 algae - 0.6:1; mg N3: mg chlorophyll a - 6.7:1; mg P3: mg chlorophyll a - 0.6:1 - showed close agreement with similar ratios obtained with samples from a previous study in the Bay of Quinte.