Epilimnetic sulfate reduction and its relationship to lake acidification

摘要: Sulfate reduction occurred from 0–3 cm below the surface of epilimnetic sediments three northwestern Ontario lakes, including L.223, which has been experimentally acidified by additions sulfuric acid. Shallow water sites were conducive to SO4 2− because decomposition in these predominantly sandy caused oxygen concentrations decrease rapidly within mm interface. The occurrence methanogenesis just depth minimum SO4 2- concentration demonstrated that availability organic carbon was not a limiting factor for sulphate reduction. Laboratory studies showed rates mixed lower at pH 4 than 6. However, sulfate gradients indicated there no effect acidification on situ. This probably microbial H+ consumption maintained steep sediment-water increased = 5.0 6.5 or higher 3.0 into sediments.