Trophic upsurge and the relationship between phytoplankton biomass and productivity in Smallwood Reservoir, Canada

Abstract

The primary productivities of a natural lake, a new reservoir, and an established reservoir were investigated in western Labrador over two seasons. Productivity of the new reservoir was about twice those of the other two sites. Possible causes for this increased productivity were examined. It was found that differences in productivity were due to differences in standing stocks of plankters only, and not due to differing photosynthetic efficiencies, better light, or a combination of these factors. Since changes in biomass may be predicted from changes in phosphorus concentration, these findings support the hypothesis that the increased productivity in new impoundments may be explained by the increase in phosphorus concentration.