Current Science

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Studying the biogeochemistry of shallow lake sediments, especially the source of sedimentary organic matter (OM), is challenging because of the low preservation of OM in shallow lake sediments. Here we report the source of sedimentary OM in a shallow freshwater lake, Verlorenvlei, in South Africa using a number of biogeochemical proxies. Elemental carbon and nitrogen ratio (C/N), and stable C and N isotopes (δ 13C andδ 15N) indicate algal source of the sedimentary OM. Total organic and inorganic C, different phosphorus fractions, δ13C and δ15N values indicate repetitive presence of non-N-fixing cyanobacteria under moderate N-limited conditions. Cyanobacterial population in Verlorenvlei is likely influenced by the availability of dissolved inorganic C. Cyanobacterial proliferation in the lake has ceased with accelerated N input as recorded at the top of the core.

Keywords

Carbon, Cyanobacteria, Nitrogen, Organic Phosphorus, Shallow Lakes, Stable Isotopes.
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