wAbstract
@Diatom productivity in the oceans plays a crucial role in the
carbon cycle, but is strongly dependent upon the continental silicon
supply. However, the relative influence of weathering and biological
processes on continental Si fluxes remains poorly constrained.
This study aims to quantify the impact of terrestrial diatom productivity
on Si fluxes to the ocean. Lake Myvatn in North Iceland is one
of the most productive lakes in the Northern Hemisphere, with
nutrient-rich waters almost uniquely sourced by groundwater. The
primary production is mainly controlled by diatom growth but also
by cyanobacteria, and the lake output is via a single river, thereby
providing a relatively simple natural laboratory to quantify the
impact of diatom growth on the chemistry and Si budget of lake
waters. Silicon stable isotopes (Β30Si) provide a tracer
of this biocycling, and have been measured in groundwater inputs
to the lake, and in time-series monitoring of waters at the lake
outlet. This Β30Si values at the outlet range from
+0.70}0.08 to +1.42}0.06ρ, which is significantly heavier than
the groundwater input (average cold and hot springs: +0.50}0.17ρ,
2SD) and consistent with the preferential uptake of light Si isotopes
by diatoms. The Β30Si value at the outlet increases
by up to 0.9ρ in spring and autumn relative to the Si isotope
composition of the inflow. These seasonal diatom blooms can be
modeled by an open system of Si uptake and affect Si fluxes at
the outlet of the lake by up to 79, or 53 integrated over the
year. In the summer a shift to lighter Β30Si values
is correlated with a higher pH, which results in dissolution of
diatoms releasing light Si isotopes. From mass balance, this seasonal
diatom dissolution affects Si fluxes by up to 33, but is limited
to 3.7 integrated over the year. These results clearly illustrate
that biological activity can have a significant impact on both
isotope composition and elemental abundance of continental derived
Si. They also demonstrate the pH dependency of diatom dissolution
and/or preservation, which is likely to affect not only the continental
Si fluxes to the ocean but also the Si recycling in the oceans
themselves.
Keywords: silicon isotopes; diatom; biogenic Si dissolution; groundwater;
Lake Myvatn; Icelandx
1. Introduction
2. Environmental setting
3. Methods
@3.1. Sampling
@@3.1.1. Groundwaters, lake waters and sediments
@@3.1.2. Lake outlet time series
@3.2. Major and trace element analyses in waters
@3.3. Silicon isotope analysis
4. Results
@4.1. Groundwaters: major and trace elements and Si isotope
analysis
@4.2. Outlet: major and trace elements and Si isotope analysis
5. Discussion
@5.1. Seasonal variations of chemistry and Si content in Lake
Myvatn
@5.2. Seasonal variations of Si isotope in Lake Myvatn
@5.3. Modeling Si isotope variations in Lake Myvatn
@5.4. Quantifying the impact of dissolution
@5.5. Implications
6. Conclusions
Acknowledgements
References