Conceptual model of aquatic plant decay and ammonia toxicity for shallow lakes

Leslie A. Farnsworth-Lee, Lawrence A. Baker

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

15 Scopus citations

Abstract

A conceptual process model was developed to examine the potential for late summer ammonia toxicity in shallow lakes. Processes represented in the model were macrophyte decay; growth, death, and sedimentation of phytoplankton; growth and death of zooplankton; nitrification; volatilization; and chemical equilibria (carbonate and ammonium systems). Peak NH3 concentrations occur at the peak of the phytoplankton bloom that develops about 2 weeks after macrophyte decay starts, when the pH is elevated. Ammonia peaks are highly transient, lasting <1 day. It is hypothesized that late summer ammonia toxicity following macrophyte senescence may be a common but generally unrecognized phenomenon in shallow lakes.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)199-207
Number of pages9
JournalJournal of Environmental Engineering
Volume126
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - Mar 2000

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