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Abstract Although understanding nutrient limitation of primary productivity in lakes is among the oldest research priorities in limnology, there have been few broad‐scale studies of the characteristics of phosphorus (P)‐, nitrogen (N)‐, and co‐limited lakes and their environmental context. By analyzing 3342 US lakes with concurrent P, N, and chlorophylla(Chla) samples, we showed that US lakes are predominantly co‐limited (43%) or P‐limited (41%). Majorities of lakes were P‐limited in the Northeast, Upper Midwest, and Southeast, and co‐limitation was most prevalent in the interior and western United States. N‐limitation (16%) was more prevalent than P‐limitation in the Great Basin and Central Plains. Nutrient limitation was related to lake, watershed, and regional variables, including Chlaconcentration, watershed soil, and wet nitrate deposition. N and P concentrations interactively affected nutrient–chlorophyll relationships, which differed by nutrient limitation. Our study demonstrates the value of considering P, N, and environmental context in nutrient limitation and nutrient–chlorophyll relationships.
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This content will become publicly available on May 24, 2026
Experimental evidence of dust‐driven shifts in production, chlorophyll a , and community composition in mountain lakes
Abstract Drought and human land use have increased dust emissions in the western United States. However, the ecological sensitivity of remote lakes to dust deposition is not well understood and to date has largely been assessed through spatial and temporal correlations. Using in situ bioassays, we investigated the effects of dust enrichment on the production, chlorophylla(Chla) concentration, and taxonomic composition of phytoplankton and microbial communities in three western US mountain lakes. We found that dust‐derived nutrients increased Chlaconcentration in all three lakes, but the magnitude of the effect varied from 32% to 226%. This variation was related to pre‐existing lake conditions, such as trophic status, pH, and nutrient limitation. In Castle Lake, co‐limited by N and P, dust bioassays showed an increase in Chlacontent per cell but suppressed primary production and increased dark14C uptake. In contrast, both Flathead Lake and The Loch were primarily P‐limited and exhibited increases in Chlaconcentration. The contrasting Chlaand primary production results from Castle Lake are consistent with the alleviation of nitrogen limitation where energy Adenosine triphosphate (ATP) is used for nutrient assimilation instead of carbon fixation. Dust additions also altered the algal and microbial communities. The latter included the addition of new phyla (e.g.,Deinococcota), indicating that dust‐delivered microbes have the potential to thrive in receiving lakes. Our study provides the first short‐term experimental in situ evidence of rapid ecosystem effects in mountain lakes following dust exposure. The results emphasize the need for continued research in this area to understand interactions of both the short‐ and long‐term consequences of dust‐induced perturbations in remote lakes in the context of global changes.
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- PAR ID:
- 10592785
- Publisher / Repository:
- Wiley Blackwell (John Wiley & Sons)
- Date Published:
- Journal Name:
- Limnology and Oceanography
- ISSN:
- 0024-3590
- Format(s):
- Medium: X
- Sponsoring Org:
- National Science Foundation
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