Monitoring of persistent organic pollutants (POPs): examples from Lake Vättern, Sweden

Lake V?ttern in southern Sweden is a large oligotrophic lake with high surface to catchment area ratio (ca. 0.4) and a water residence time of 60 years. The lake combines sensitivity to atmospheric POP-pollution with general susceptibility for effects of POPs and slow concentration decline. Time series, from the 1960s until 1996, of PCBs and DDT in fish and data on TCDD in sediment of L. V?ttern are presented and compared to other large lakes. The long time dataset of POPs in Arctic char (Salvelinus salvelinus) shows a significant annual decline of about 5% for PCBs and 13% for DDT. These rates are in agreement with other studies. Nutrients as well as biological effects and factors affecting the fate of POPs in oligotrophic lakes with long residence times are discussed. We propose that oligotrophic clear lakes are important ecosystems for monitoring POPs in biota.     

Modelling the dynamic air-water-sediment coupled fluxes and occurrence of polychlorinated biphenyls in a high altitude lake

The BIODEP model in terms of atmosphere-lake interactions was developed. The model was applied to an oligotrophic, dimictic high altitude lake (Lake Redo, Pyrenees) for a range of polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) congeners. High altitude lakes, which receive their contaminant inputs uniquely from the atmosphere through long-range atmospheric transport, provide ideal controlled environments for the study of the interactions between atmospheric depositional and water column biogeochemical processes. The BIODEP model was able to predict dissolved water concentrations and PCB accumulation in the lake sediment within a factor of 2. This shows that the BIODEP model captures the essential processes driving the sink of POPs in high altitude lakes and that POP occurrence in the lake is driven by direct atmospheric inputs with limited influence from the watershed. An important seasonal variability in water column concentrations is predicted which should have important implications in sampling strategies. Furthermore, it is shown that diffusive air-water exchange dominated the PCB dynamics in the lake, especially for the less chlorinated biphenyls.     

Release of PCBs from Silvretta glacier (Switzerland) investigated in lake sediments and meltwater

This study is part of our investigations about the release of persistent organic pollutants from melting Alpine glaciers and the relevance of the glaciers as secondary sources of legacy pollutants. Here, we studied the melt-related release of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in proglacial lakes and glacier streams of the catchment of the Silvretta glacier, located in the Swiss Alps. To explore a spatial and temporal distribution of chemicals in glacier melt, we combined two approaches: (1) analysing a sediment record as an archive of past remobilization and (2) passive water sampling to capture the current release of PCBs during melt period. In addition, we determined PCBs in a non-glacier-fed stream as a reference for the background pollutant level in the area. The PCBs in the sediment core from the Silvretta lake generally complied with trends of PCB emissions into the environment. Elevated concentrations during the most recent ten years, comparable in level with times of the highest atmospheric input, were attributed to accelerated melting of the glacier. This interpretation is supported by the detected PCB fractionation pattern towards heavier, less volatile congeners, and by increased activity concentrations of the radioactive tracer ¹³⁷Cs in this part of the sediment core. In contrast, PCB concentrations were not elevated in the stream water, since no significant difference between pollutant concentrations in the glacier-fed and the non-glacier-fed streams was detected. In stream water, no current decrease of the PCBs with distance from the glacier was observed. Thus, according to our data, an influence of PCBs release due to accelerated glacier melt was only detected in the proglacial lake, but not in the other compartments of the Silvretta catchment.     

Sedimentation and seasonal variation of hexachlorocyclohexanes in sediments in a eutrophic lake,China

Hexachlorocyclohexane (HCH) concentrations in sediments and sediment trap fluxes of particulate organic carbon and HCHs were measured bi-weekly from March 31 to October 18, 2006 in an urban eutrophic lake in Tianjin, China, in order to investigate sedimentation and seasonal variation of HCHs in sediments. HCH concentrations (dry weight basis) ranged from 2.2 to 20.2 ng/g (mean 7.7 ng/g) in surface sediments and from 26.6 to 972.7 ng/g (mean 187.0 ng/g) in settling particles, respectively. A clear seasonal variation in HCH sedimentation and HCH concentrations in sediments was observed. The maximal HCH deposition occurred following a spring phytoplankton bloom. The average flux of HCHs to sediment was approximately 21-fold higher in April to mid-June as compared to late June to October. This was attributed to the high vertical fluxes at the end of the spring phytoplankton bloom. The maximum values of HCH concentrations in sediments were observed in mid-June to late July. Concentrations of HCHs in sediments from the eutrophic lake were well-correlated with organic carbon contents in sediments. The annual sediment trap flux of HCHs in the eutrophic lake, which was estimated using data obtained in the eutrophic lake, was 117 μ g/m² yr, about 72% of which was attributed to the sedimentation corresponding to spring bloom phytoplankton deposition in late May to mid-June. The high sediment trap flux of HCHs in the eutrophic lake was related to serious local contamination.     

Sedimentation and seasonal variation of hexachlorocyclohexanes in sediments in a eutrophic lake, China

Hexachlorocyclohexane (HCH) concentrations in sediments and sediment trap fluxes of particulate organic carbon and HCHs were measured bi-weekly from March 31 to October 18, 2006 in an urban eutrophic lake in Tianjin, China, in order to investigate sedimentation and seasonal variation of HCHs in sediments. HCH concentrations (dry weight basis) ranged from 2.2 to 20.2 ng/g (mean 7.7 ng/g) in surface sediments and from 26.6 to 972.7 ng/g (mean 187.0 ng/g) in settling particles, respectively. A clear seasonal variation in HCH sedimentation and HCH concentrations in sediments was observed. The maximal HCH deposition occurred following a spring phytoplankton bloom. The average flux of HCHs to sediment was approximately 21-fold higher in April to mid-June as compared to late June to October. This was attributed to the high vertical fluxes at the end of the spring phytoplankton bloom. The maximum values of HCH concentrations in sediments were observed in mid-June to late July. Concentrations of HCHs in sediments from the eutrophic lake were well-correlated with organic carbon contents in sediments. The annual sediment trap flux of HCHs in the eutrophic lake, which was estimated using data obtained in the eutrophic lake, was 117 microg/m2 yr, about 72% of which was attributed to the sedimentation corresponding to spring bloom phytoplankton deposition in late May to mid-June. The high sediment trap flux of HCHs in the eutrophic lake was related to serious local contamination.     

Seasonal fluxes and temperature-dependent accumulation of persistent organic pollutants in lakes: The role of internal biogeochemical cycling

A dynamic flux model for lakes taking into account the interactions between atmospheric depositional and biogeochemical processes (BIODEP model) was used to assess the importance of internal cycling and biogeochemical processes with respect to accumulation of four different polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) (congeners 28, 52, 101 and 153) in Lake Redo, a high-altitude lake in the Spanish Pyrenees. To investigate the effect of temperature on sediment accumulation, the model was run at different temperatures and corresponding sediment inventories were plotted vs. reciprocal temperature. In line with measurements from a previous study looking at sediment inventories of 19 European high-altitude lakes (MOLAR study), we found a stronger temperature dependence of lake sediment concentrations for the less volatile/less soluble PCBs. Seasonal and annual mass balances were investigated and highlighted the importance of internal lake processes controlling the differences in sediment accumulation for the different PCB congeners. For example, the higher temperature dependence of sediment inventories for the high chlorinated congeners is due to the fast dynamics of water-to-sediment transport in comparison to atmospheric deposition processes.     

Use of a food web model to evaluate the factors responsible for high PCB fish concentrations in Lake Ellasjøen, a high Arctic Lake

Background, aim, and scope

Lake Ellasjøen, located in the Norwegian high arctic, contains the highest concentrations of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) ever recorded in fish and sediment from high arctic lakes, and concentrations are more than 10 times greater than in nearby Lake Øyangen. These elevated concentrations in Ellasjøen have been previously attributed, in part, to contaminant loadings from seabirds that use Ellasjøen, but not Øyangen, as a resting area. However, other factors, such as food web structure, organism growth rate, weight, lipid content, lake morphology, and nutrient inputs from the seabird guano, also differ between the two systems. The aim of this study is to evaluate the relative influence of these factors as explanatory variables for the higher PCB fish concentrations in Ellasjøen compared with Øyangen, using both a food web model and empirical data.

Methods

The model is based on previously developed models but parameterized for Lakes Ellasjøen and Øyangen using measured data wherever possible. The model was applied to five representative PCB congeners (PCB 105, 118, 138, 153, and 180) using measured sediment and water concentrations as input data and evaluated with previously collected food web data.

Results

Modeled concentrations are within a factor of two of measured concentrations in 60% and 40% of the cases in Lakes Ellasjøen and Øyangen, respectively, and within a factor of 10 in 100% of the cases in both lakes. In many cases, this is comparable to the variability associated with the data as well as the efficacy of the predictions of other food web model applications.

Discussion

We next used the model to quantify the relative importance of five major differences between Ellasjøen and Øyangen by replacing variables representing each of these factors in the Ellasjøen model with those from Øyangen, in separate simulations. The model predicts that the elevated PCB concentrations in Ellasjøen water and sediment account for 49%–58% of differences in modeled fish PCB concentrations between lakes. These elevated sediment and, to a lesser extent, water concentrations in Ellasjøen are due to PCB loadings from seabird guano. However, sediment–water fugacity ratios of PCBs are consistently greater in Ellasjøen compared with Øyangen, which suggests that internal lake processes also contribute to differences in sediment and water concentrations. We hypothesize that the nutrients associated with guano influence sediment–water fugacity ratios of PCBs by increasing the stock of pelagic algae. As both these algae and the guano settle, their organic carbon content is degraded faster than PCBs, which causes an extra magnification step in Ellasjøen before these detrital particles are consumed by benthic organisms, which are in turn consumed by fish. The model predicts that the remaining ～50% of the differences in PCB concentrations observed between the fish of these lakes are due to other subtle differences in their food web structures.

Conclusions

In conclusion, based on the results of a food web model, we found that the most dominant factors influencing the higher PCB fish concentrations in Lake Ellasjøen compared with Øyangen are the higher sediment and water concentrations in Ellasjøen, caused by seabird guano. Together, sediment and water are predicted to account for 49%–58% of differences in fish concentrations between lakes. Although seabird guano provides a source of nutrients to the lake, in addition to contaminants, empirical data and indirect model results suggest that nutrients are not leading to decreased bioaccumulation, in contrast to what has been observed in temperate, pelagic food webs.

Recommendations and perspectives

The results of this study emphasize the importance of considering even small differences in food web structure when comparing bioaccumulation in two lakes; although the food web structures of Ellasjøen and Øyangen differ only slightly, the model predicts that these differences account for most of the remaining ～50% of the differences in PCB fish concentrations between the two lakes. This study further demonstrates the utility of food web models as we were able to predict and tease apart the influence of various factors responsible for the elevated concentrations in the fish from Lake Ellasjøen, which would have been difficult using the field data alone.     

Spatial distribution of polychlorinated biphenyls in High Tatras lake sediments

The objective of the present study was to gain insight on the spatial distribution of seven polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) congeners in the High Tatras mountain range in Eastern Europe. Twenty high mountain lakes were sampled on their top-core sediment. Despite the relative uniform composition of PCB congeners among the lakes, there are important differences in the observed concentrations. Moderate top-core sediment concentrations of PCB congeners were observed (1.9 to 38 ng/g dw for ∑PCB) in comparison to other high mountain or Arctic areas. The variation in PCB concentrations can partly be explained by a possible altitudinal effect, resulting in higher PCB concentrations at higher (colder) altitudes. Part of this enhanced accumulation of PCBs could be caused by external factors (topography and meteorology) and internal lake factors (sediment dynamics). Many of these factors were not quantified for all individual lakes and their influence could, therefore, only be studied for some.     

Polychlorinated biphenyls in freshwater salmonids from the Kerguelen Islands in the Southern Ocean

The Subantarctic Kerguelen Islands (49°S, 70°E) contain freshwater ecosystems among the most isolated in the world. Concentrations of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) were assessed in the muscle of 48 brook trout and 38 brown trout caught during summer and spring 2006 in the rivers, lakes and ponds of Kerguelen. The sum of 29 PCBs averaged 404 and 358 ng g⁻¹ lipid, and dioxin-like PCB was 19 and 69 ng g⁻¹ lipid, in brook and brown trout, respectively. The values showed a high variability and some fish accumulated PCBs at levels similar to those of fish from impacted areas. While inter-sex differences were limited, the season and the morphotype appeared to have the most influence. Fish captured in summer had muscle PCB concentrations about three times higher than those caught in spring and the ‘river’ morphotype of brook trout showed the highest PCB levels.     

Levels,congener profile and inventory of polychlorinated biphenyls in sediment from the Songhua River in the vicinity of cement plant,China: a case study

This study investigated the contamination levels, homologue, and congener profiles and evaluated the residue inventory of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in sediment of the Songhua River in the vicinity of cement plant. The total concentration of detected 35 PCB congeners ranged from 1.12 to 2.19 ng/g dry weight (dw) in sediment, with a mean value of 1.56 ng/g dw, and the concentration of PCBs decreased in the following order: the downstream?>?cement plant?>?upstream. The results of total organic carbon (TOC)-normalized PCB concentrations indicate that the sediments have low potential ecological risk in this area. The study results on homologue and congener of PCBs show that the emissions from cement production could be the major sources of PCBs in sediment, and the low-chlorinated PCBs will be exchanged among air, water, and sediment with increasing temperature during summer and flow to downstream with water during the wet season. The spatial density and total burden of PCBs in the surface sediments were 17.2 ng/cm² and 1.2 kg, respectively. To our knowledge, this study is the first to explore the pollution characteristics of unintentionally produced PCB emissions from cement industry by means of monitoring sediment samples.     

Response of sediment calcium and magnesium species to the regional acid deposition in eutrophic Taihu Lake,China

Acid deposition causes carbonate dissolution in watersheds and leads to profound impacts on water chemistry of lakes. Here, we presented a detailed study on the seasonal, spatial, and vertical variations of calcium and magnesium species in the overlying water, interstitial water, and sediment profiles in eutrophic Taihu Lake under the circumstance of regional acid deposition. The result showed that both the acid deposition and biomineralization in Taihu Lake had effects on Ca and Mg species. In the lake water, calcium carbonate was saturated or over-saturated based on long-term statistical calculation of the saturation index (SI). On the sediment profiles, significant difference in Ca and Mg species existed between the surface sediment (0–10 cm) and deeper sediments (>10 cm). The interstitial water Ca²⁺ and Mg²⁺, ion-exchangeable Ca and Mg in the surface sediment were higher than those in the deeper sediment. In the spring, when the acid deposition is more intensive, the acid-extracted Ca and Mg in the surface sediment were lower than that in the deeper sediment in the northwest lake, due to carbonate dissolution caused by the regional acid deposition. Spatially, the higher concentration of acid-extracted Ca and Mg in the northwest surface sediment than that in the east lake was observed, indicating the pronounced carbonate biomineralization by algae bloom in the northwest lake. Statistical analysis showed that acid deposition exerted a stronger impact on the variation of acid-extracted Ca and Mg in the surface sediment than the biomineralization in Taihu Lake. For the total Ca and Mg concentration in the spring, however, no significant change between the surface and deeper sediment in the northwest lake was observed, indicating that the carbonate precipitation via biomineralization and the carbonate dissolution due to acidic deposition were in a dynamic balance. These features are of major importance for the understanding of combined effects of acid deposition and eutrophication on freshwater lakes.

     

Airborne PCB as a contamination risk on freeze-drying of sediment

In a study of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB) in freeze-dried sediments from Swedish lakes, the samples were found to contain unexpectedly high concentrations of PCBs. In one of the lakes (Bj?rken), e.g. the concentration of PCB-28 was found to be 189 ng/g dw after freeze-drying compared to 7 ng/g dw after air-drying of the sediment and therefore our hypothesis was that the contamination had occurred during the freeze-drying procedure. Hence, a dry reference sediment (RS) was used in order to identify potential sources of PCB contamination. The investigation included freeze-drying of the dry RS in five different laboratories, exposure to the air in the freeze-drying room, storage at room temperature and air-drying in a certain fume hood and in a laminar flow clean bench. The pattern and concentrations of PCBs detected in the exposed RS were strongly influenced by low chlorinated PCB congeners under all of these conditions with exception for air-drying in the fume hood. Storage in the laboratory air resulted in a slight elevation in the concentrations of low chlorinated PCB congeners, whereas higher concentrations of all PCB congeners were observed after freeze-drying. In all experiments the contamination appeared to be due to adsorption of PCB from the laboratory air. On the basis of these findings we recommend that reference material be subjected to the entire procedure, including sample preparation, in order to monitor contamination and that a procedure involving solvent extraction of wet sediment samples is used, whenever possible, instead of procedures involving dry samples.     

Occurrence and source of brominated organic compounds in surface waters

Monitoring of organic halogen compounds, measured as adsorbable organically bound bromine (AOBr), in an eutrophic lake, which is influenced by treated waste water, revealed repeatedly high concentrations of organobromine compounds in late summer, whereas five times lower values were measured during the rest of the year. It was possible to reproduce the in situ observed AOBr increase in the laboratory. Batch experiments were performed with lake water from two different lakes and an algae culture. It could be shown that the AOBr production is not limited to strong waste water influenced lakes. Furthermore, the AOBr formation requires light and the presence of algae, and thus is most probably biotic in nature. A low content of nutrients favours the formation of organic bromine compounds. To our knowledge this is the first report about the seasonally occurrence of naturally produced organic bromine compounds in lakes/surface waters.     

Records of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in sediments of four remote Chilean Andean Lakes

Sediment cores from four Chilean lakes along the Andes Chain (Chungará, Laja, Castor and Venus) were analysed in order to investigate PCB concentrations and distributions in sediment samples. Sediment cores were analysed for PCBs using gas chromatography (GC-ECD/MS) and radioisotopically dated using 210Pb. Organic carbon content (OC) and 210Pb fluxes were also measured. Results showed that sediment PCB concentrations (ngg(-1) d.w.) at Lake Chungará (1.2 +/- 1) in northern Chile, Laja (5 +/- 4) in central, and in Lake Castor (3.5 +/- 4) in southern Chile (the eastern side of the Andes Mountain) were lower than sediments collected from Lake Venus (64 +/- 30) located in southern Chile (the western side) which contained 15-fold higher concentrations of PCBs. The percentage (%) of organic carbon was variable and showed a high range of values in the sediment fluctuating from 2% (Lake Laja) to 22% (Lake Chungará). Analysis of 210Pb fluxes, presented a decrease trend following Lake Laja>Castor>Chungará with a positive correlation with rainfall at each site. Sedimentation rates in Lake Castor (1846 gm(-2)yr(-1)) were higher than at Chungará (748 gm(-2)yr(-1)) and Lake Laja (508 gm(-2)yr(-1)). Focusing factor (FF) is used as a tool to elucidate PCB input in the aquatic ecosystem. FF were lower (<1) for the shallower lakes (Lakes Chungará and Castor). This study provides background levels of PCBs at remote lakes in Chile. Differences in geographical characteristics (orographic effect) might play an important role in the arrival of PCBs, particularly into the southern lakes. PCB fluxes indicated deposition of PCBs in recent sediments is higher than in previous years with peaks of PCB between 1991 and 1998. The continuing increase of PCB inputs in remote Chilean lakes, could be associated with long range atmospheric transport (LRAT).     

Evaluation of aquatic environmental fate of 2,4,6-trichlorophenol with a mathematical model

A mathematical model, Simplified Approach for Fate Evaluation of Chemicals in Aquatic Systems (SAFECAS), was applied to evaluate fate of 2,4,6-trichlorophenol(TCP) in three types of aquatic environments; a river, an oligotrophic lake, and an eutrophic lake.Since phenols are dissociative substances, equilibrium constants and rate constants for transfer and transformation processes were measured or estimated as a function of pH.Results suggest that most of TCP is distributed to the water phase in aquatic environments, and is almost removed by the advective outflow in the river and by the photodegradation in lakes.     

Historical trends of PCDD/Fs and dioxin-like PCBs in sediments buried in a reservoir in Northern Taiwan

Polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxin (PCDD), polychlorinated dibenzofuran (PCDF) and polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) concentrations were analyzed at 1-2cm intervals in a sediment core collected from a reservoir in Northern Taiwan to evaluate the organic pollution history. The highest PCDD/F (14.4ng TEQ/kg d.w.) and PCB (0.261ng TEQ(WHO)/kg d.w.) concentrations were determined at 13-15cm (estimated year: 1992). The ages of the levels of sediment core were estimated from the sedimentation rate. Analysis results demonstrate that the PCDD/F concentration of the sediment core measured in the reservoir reached their peak when the municipal waste incinerators (MWIs) in the area started to operate. Furthermore, the decrease in sediment core PCDD/F concentration is related to the time of enforcement of the PCDD/F emission limit set by the Environmental Protection Administration (EPA) in Taiwan. Significant distribution of OCDD in homologue profiles was noted in archived soil samples in Taiwan in which the major input of PCDD/Fs was thought to be atmospheric. Major PCB congeners found in the sediment core were the major components of the commercial PCB products. Input fluxes of PCDD/Fs (5.75-158ng-I-TEQ/m(2)-yr) and PCBs (0.248-3.71ng TEQ(WHO)/m(2)yr) into the reservoir of interest are also calculated from the concentration and sedimentation rate of the sediment. The results reveal that considerable amounts of PCDD/Fs and PCBs were carried into the reservoir of interest in the flood stage but not during normal stage.     

Occurrence of PAHs, PCBs and organochlorine pesticides in the Tonghui River of Beijing, China

Tonghui River, a typical river in Beijing, People's Republic of China, was studied for its water and sediment quality, by determining the levels of 16 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), 12 polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and 18 organochlorine pesticides in water and sediment samples. Total PAHs, PCBs and organochlorine pesticides concentrations in water varied from 192.5 to 2651 ng/l, 31.58-344.9 ng/l and 134.9-3788 ng/l, respectively. The total PAHs, PCBs and organochlorine pesticides concentrations in surficial sediments were 127-928 ng/g, 0.78-8.47 ng/g and 1.79-13.98 ng/g dry weight, respectively. The results showed that the concentration of these selected organic pollutants in sediment was higher than those in surface water. It may be due to the fact that organic hydrophobic pollutants tend to stay in the sediments. The PAHs were dominated by 2-, 3-ring components in water samples and by 3- and 4-ring compounds in sediment. For organochlorines, alpha-HCH, delta-HCH, Heptachlor, Endosulfan II, DDT are the major organochlorine pesticides in water while Heptachlor, Dieldrin and DDE composed of 95% of total organochlorine pesticides in sediment. For HCHs (HCHs=alpha-HCH+beta-HCH+gamma-HCH+delta-HCH), the predominance of alpha-HCH of total HCHs were clearly observed in water and sediment. PCB18, PCB31 and PCB52 were predominant in water, on average these compounds collectively accounted for 67% of total PCBs. But in sediment, the predominant compounds were PCB28, PCB31 and PCB153, which accounted for 71% of total PCBs in sediment. The levels of micro pollutants in our study areas were compared with other studies.     

Factors affecting population fluctuations of the glacial relict amphipod Monoporeia affinis (Lindström) in Sweden's largest lakes

Factors affecting long-term (1982-2000) population densities of the glacial relict amphipod Monoporeia affinis were studied in Sweden's three largest lakes. Monoporeia showed large population fluctuations in all three lakes, with conspicuous peaks in density occurring in Lakes V?nern and M?laren. In Lake V?nern, amphipod densities showed highly significant relationships with spring maximum diatom biovolume at a 1-yr lag. The lack of relationship between diatom biovolumes and Monoporeia densities in L. V?ttern is likely due to the larger depth and the lower nutrient content of this lake. In eutrophic L. M?laren, summer hypoxia (< 4 mg O2 L-1) is likely an important regulating factor. Hypolimnetic temperature showed a clear periodicity with relatively warm deep water occurring between 1989 and 1994. Hypolimnetic temperatures in V?nern and V?ttern were correlated with total solar irradiance. However, neither hypolimnetic water temperature nor diatom biovolumes correlated with the North Atlantic Oscillation winter index. We speculate that variations in temperature and near-bottom oxygen concentrations negatively affect population densities by acting on recruitment success (reproduction) and juvenile (young-of-the-year) survival.     

Recruitment of pelagic fish in an unstable climate: studies in Sweden's four largest lakes

Pelagic fish population biology was studied in the large Swedish lakes V?nern, V?ttern, M?laren and Hj?lmaren. It is crucial for fish fry in temperate regions to hatch early in the growth season to survive, and achieve large size before winter, and it is suggested that the key factors are to match the spring development of phyto- and zooplankton, but to avoid predation. This is more easily accomplished by the studied spring spawners smelt (Osmerus eperlanus) and pike-perch (Stizostedion lucioperca) than autumn spawners, such as vendace (Coregonus albula). It is shown that hatching of vendace fry shortly after ice-break-up is beneficial for year-class strength. In oligotrophic large lakes with few predatory species a rapid increase in water temperature after ice-break is also promoting recruitment, whereas this is not the case in eutrophic lakes where predation pressure from other species may become too high. The results indicate that autumn spawners will have difficulties in adapting to global warming and it is also suggested that the life history can explain the large variations observed in year-class strength between years.     

The importance of catchment and lake processes in the phosphorus budget of a large lake

Total phosphorus (P) river inputs and lake concentrations for the Neagh system in Northern Ireland are compared from the period 1974-1997. The main routes of P transfer between the lake water and the sediment are settlement of abiotic particles and planktonic diatoms, summer sediment release and re-sedimentation in the last months of the year. The annual river loading to the lake varied between 0.7 and 1.8 g P m(-2), and sediment release can be as much as 1.4 g P m(-2). A simple model evaluated the effect of sediment-water exchanges on the phosphorus available for spring phytoplankton growth. It showed that re-sedimentation of released P and washout over the winter greatly mitigated its effect. Correlation analysis demonstrated that the very large summer releases of sediment P were not related directly to the spring inputs from diatom settlement. No long-term trends in P release were seen.