Experiments on Nitrogen and Phosphorus Release by Chironomus ex gr. plumosus from the Sediments of Lake Balaton, Hungary

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Abstract
Sediment‐water systems of Lake Balaton mud and tap water were constructed in plexiglass tubes and boxes for evaluation of changes in the nitrogen and phosphorus contents of overlying water as influenced by chironomid density and light conditions.Nitrogen flux from sediment was greatly influenced by denitrification process. The amount of TN released by chironomids amounted to about half of the yearly nitrogen fixation rate in Lake Balaton.Omnivorous chironomids increased the phosphorus content of the overlying water. The rate of release was density dependent. TP release rates ranged between 1–17 mg m−2 day −1 over a range of densities 500–20,000 larvae m−2.It became evident that aerobic sediment cores can be an important nutrient source in lakes where chironomids inhabit them at densities above 1,000 larvae m−2.