Groundwater inputs could be a significant but often overlooked source of phosphorus in lake ecosystems.

ABSTRACT: Freshwater lakes are severely threatened, due largely to excess inputs of nutrients and other contaminants. Phosphorus (P) is receiving renewed attention due to recent increases in toxic cyanobacteria blooms in lakes worldwide. We investigated groundwater seepage for its role in P loading dynamics at Oneida Lake, New York, USA-one of the most well-studied lakes globally. P loading was measured at representative sites along the 88 km shoreline over three summers by directly measuring groundwater flow using seepage meters and porewater samplers. Groundwater seepage was a continuous and significant source of dissolved P over the summer months, comparable to tributary sources to the lake during that time. This constant input has enriched the concentrations of P in the nearshore surface waters,

SUBMITTER: Lisboa MS 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11251285 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature