The upper limit of photosynthetic productivity by phytoplankton: evidence from Ethiopian soda lakes

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Abstract
Summary: Photosynthetic production by phytoplankton was studied in two Ethiopian soda lakes, alkalinity 51‐67 m‐equiv./l, with abundant blue‐green algae. The deeper lake, L. Aranguadi, contained extremely dense crops composed almost entirely of SpiruUna (Oscillatoria, Arthrospira) platensis. Measurements of the spectral attenuation of light showed that the most penetrating component was displaced to the red spectral region, and estimates of the chlorophyll a content in umt area of the euphotic zone were often similar to the highest values (∼200‐300 mg/m2) expected on theoretical grounds.The vertical distribution of photosynthetic activity per unit water volume was of a typical pattern for phytoplankton, with light‐inhibition often present, although the euphotic zones did not exceed 0.6 m in depth. From these profiles, computed rates of gross photosynthesis per unit area of lake surface reached a magnitude of 1.4–2.4 g O2/m2.h in both lakes. They were obviously severely limited by self‐shading behaviour i n the algal populations. An appreciable inverse relationship between photosynthetic capacity and population density was only found in the densest populations of L. Aranguadi, with chlorophyll a content > 2000 mg/m3, where depressed rates might result from experimental artefacts in closed bottles. In this lake, two independent estimates of gross production, based on the analysis of diurnal changes in the open water, were as high as 43 and 57 g O2/m2. day.Diurnal changes of stratification in the two lakes are described and related to the controlling temperature (density) stratification. They include occasionally complete nocturnal deoxygenation in the deeper lake, evidence of heavy respiratory uptake.The high photosynthetic productivity is interpreted as dependent upon the coupling of high algal contents in the euphotic zone (^S) with high values of photosynthetic capacity (^max)‐ It is probably favoured by the tropical situation affecting temperature and illumination, by a surplus of dissolved inorganic phosphate, and especially by the considerable reserves of carbon dioxide in these soda lakes.