Oxygen Depletion and Winterkill Risk in Small Prairie Lakes Under Extended Ice Cover

Authors:
  • JBJan Barica
    Jan Barica
  • JMJohn A. Mathias
    John A. Mathias
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Abstract
Mean rates of dissolved oxygen depletion in 10 shallow eutrophic prairie lakes (area 2.3–27.3 ha, mean depth 1.6–4.2 m), ranged from 0.22 to 0.34 g/m2∙d−1 for nonstratified lakes and 0.32–0.42 g/m2∙d−1 for stratified ones. An average rate for all lakes was 0.29 ± 0.06 g/m2∙d−1. The rates correlated with the lake depth. A method for estimating the winterkill risk on the basis of initial oxygen storage, rate of dissolved oxygen depletion and/or the mean or maximum lake depth is proposed. Key words: prairie lakes, oxygen depletion rates, winter fish kill, eutrophication, metabolism, oxygen storage