Microbial consumption of nitric and sulfuric acids in acidified north temperate lakes

Journal Article · Sat Nov 01 04:00:00 EST 1986 · Limnol. Oceanogr.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.4319/lo.1986.31.6.1267· OSTI ID:6440240

Rudd, J W.M.; Kelly, C A; Louis, V; Hesslein, R H; Furutani, A; Holoka, M H

Rates of sulfate reduction and denitrification were measured in the sediments of unacidified, experimentally acidified, and atmospherically acidified lakes in North America and Norway. These data, plus profiles of porewater and sediment chemistry, demonstrated that in all of the lakes H/sup +/ was being actively consumed by both sulfate reducers and denitrifiers. Both of these microbial activities were assayed in sediments overlaid by oxygenated water, demonstrating that anoxic hypolimnia are not required for in situ alkalinity production. Neither short term experimental acidification nor long term atmospheric acidification had detectably inhibited the activity of these two types of bacteria. Both processes were active at pH 4.5. In lakes that were receiving significant quantities of both nitric and sulfuric acids, short term H/sup +/ consumption from denitrification was 1.5-2 times faster than H/sup +/ consumption by sulfate reduction. However, on an annual basis, because of loss of reduced sulfur during fall and winter, long term H/sup +/ consumption by denitrification was estimated to be 4-5 times as large as H/sup +/ consumption by sulfate reduction.

• Research Organization: Freshwater Institute, Winnipeg, Manitoba
• OSTI ID: 6440240
• Journal Information: Limnol. Oceanogr.; (United States), Journal Name: Limnol. Oceanogr.; (United States) Vol. 31:6; ISSN LIOCA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

520200* -- Environment
Aquatic-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (-1989)
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
ACID RAIN
ACIDIFICATION
ANOXIA
ATMOSPHERIC PRECIPITATIONS
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
CHEMISTRY
DENITRIFICATION
ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS
EUROPE
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
INORGANIC ACIDS
LAKES
MICROORGANISMS
NITRIC ACID
NORTH AMERICA
NORWAY
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PH VALUE
RAIN
REDUCTION
SCANDINAVIA
SEDIMENTS
SULFATES
SULFUR COMPOUNDS
SULFURIC ACID
SURFACE WATERS
UPTAKE
WATER CHEMISTRY
WESTERN EUROPE