Carbon cycling in Lake Erie during cultural eutrophication over the last century inferred from the stable carbon isotope composition of sediments

Abstract

A ~106-cm sediment core from the eastern basin of Lake Erie was examined to investigate biogeochemical processes in this large lake during its cultural eutrophication over the last century. We measured stable carbon isotopes of total organic carbon and calcium carbonate (δ¹³C_TOC and $\delta^{13} {\text{C}}_{{{\text{CaCO}}_{ 3} }}$) as well as the concentrations of total organic carbon (TOC) and calcium carbonate (CaCO₃). δ¹³C_TOC and TOC show a strong positive correlation throughout the core and record changes in phytoplankton productivity and nutrient loading. CaCO₃ and TOC concentrations display a negative correlation throughout the core, suggesting that CaCO₃ concentrations are controlled primarily by decomposition of TOC in the hypolimnion and the sediments, although temperature and invasive mussels are also potential controlling factors. $\delta^{13} {\text{C}}_{{{\text{CaCO}}_{ 3} }}$ values show a positive correlation with δ¹³C_TOC between 1909 and 1969, indicating phytoplankton productivity was the primary control for $\delta^{13} {\text{C}}_{{{\text{CaCO}}_{ 3} }}$ values during eutrophication. However, a negative correlation between $\delta^{13} {\text{C}}_{{{\text{CaCO}}_{ 3} }}$ and δ¹³C_TOC from 1970 to 2002 suggests that these two proxies tracked different aspects of the carbon cycle in the lake in more recent times. The cause for the negative correlation is not yet known, but it is perhaps associated with temperature variations and seasonal differences in productivity.