Lake responses to reduced nutrient loading - an analysis of contemporary long-term data from 35 case studies

SUMMARY 1. This synthesis examines 35 long-term (5–35 years, mean: 16 years) lake re-oligotrophication studies. It covers lakes ranging from shallow (mean depth <5 m and/or polymictic) to deep (mean depth up to 177 m), oligotrophic to hypertrophic (summer mean total phosphorus concentration from 7.5 to 3500 l gL )1 before loading reduction), subtropical to temperate (latitude: 28–65� ), and lowland to upland (altitude: 0–481 m). Shallow northtemperate lakes were most abundant. 2. Reduction of external total phosphorus (TP) loading resulted in lower in-lake TP concentration, lower chlorophyll a (chl a) concentration and higher Secchi depth in most lakes. Internal loading delayed the recovery, but in most lakes a new equilibrium for TP

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