Seston dynamics and tripton sedimentation in the pelagic zone of a shallow eutrophic lake

The transport of organic matter from the water column to the sediment and the relationship between the dynamics of the settleable fraction and that of the total suspended particulate matter were studied in shallow eutrophic Lake Wingra, Wisconsin. Tripton sedimentation was closely related to the dynamics of seston with a lag of 2 to 4 weeks. Sedimentation rate of tripton ranged from 0 to 8 g m^-2 day^-1 (in May and August respectively). Relative t0 the standing crop 0f seston the maximum sedimentation rate was 8% seston per day (in September). The annual tripton sedimentation was estimated at 632 g dry weight or 215 g C per m² which was equivalent t0 55% of the annual phytoplankton production and 42% of the phytoplankton and macrophytes annual production. It was estimated that 70% of the settling organic matter is decomposed annually, consequently only a small fraction 0f tripton is involved in the long term accumulation of bottom deposits. Factors influencing tripton sedimentation are discussed.