A sediment record of recent nutrient loading and trophic state change in Lake Norrviken, Sweden

Human-induced perturbations in the Lake Norrviken catchment, Sweden, over the last 100+ years have left distinctive geochemical imprints in the sediments. Disposal of sewage, industrial, and agricultural run-off into the lake since the end of the nineteenth century changed the trophic status from eutrophic to hyper-eutrophic. The primary organic matter (OM) source in the lake is in situ algal material. Total organic carbon (TOC) concentrations increased near the mid-section of a short sediment core collected from the deepest part of the lake, reflecting elevated epilimnetic productivity and consequent hypolimnetic anoxia. Accompanying shifts to lighter stable organic C and total N isotopic compositions suggest that cyanobacterial productivity increased during this period. The distribution of pigments in the core indicates a shift in the phytoplankton community to a cyanobacteria-dominated system. Moreover, pigments confirm that N-2-fixing versus non-N-2-fixing phytoplankton varied depending upon the external inputs of N and P. Conditions in the lake improved after sewage input was diverted and the lake is currently mesotrophic.