Phosphorus release from the bottom sediments of Lake Rusałka (Poznań, Poland)

Abstract

Abstract Experimental research conducted on bottom sediments from the eutrophic Lake Rusałka (Poznań, Poland) indicated that the phosphorus release process has a significant influence on the functioning of the ecosystem. Internal loading was very intense in the deepest part of the lake, where it reached up to 29.84 mg m-2 d-1 P under anaerobic conditions. This part of the lake, however, was insignificant to overall internal loading. The highest loading was from the lake shallows, which covered 92% of the bottom area. Total mean annual loading to the ecosystem was 1214.5 kg year-1 P, i.e., 3.31 g m-2 year-1 P.