TITLE:
Atmospheric CO2 Increase: A Potential for Primary Production Enhancement in Lake Kinneret
AUTHORS:
Moshe Gophen
KEYWORDS:
Kinneret, CO2, pH, Primary, Production, Eutrophication
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Modern Hydrology,
Vol.8 No.2,
April
8,
2018
ABSTRACT: Due to precipitation reduction, nutrient inputs into
Lake Kinneret through Jordan river discharge declined. Nitrogen (N) supply into
the Kinneret ecosystem is mostly external and that of Phosphorus (P) is partly
internal and dust deposition. Therefore, decline of N and slight elevation of P
concentrations occurred in the Kinneret Epilimnion. As a result, suppression of
Peridinium biomass and enhancement of Cyanophyta, Chlorophyta and Diatoms were recorded. The Peridinium
decline caused Primary Production (PP) reduction and although increased later, it accompanied the nano-plankton elevation. It is suggested
that the PP enhancement is partly due to the natural photosynthetic capacity of
nano-plankton and partly to global increase of atmospheric concentration of CO2.
The suggestion of atmospheric CO2 increase and consequently PP, was
supported by the pH (and obviously Alkalinity) increase. The enhancement of CO2 diffusion was an incentive factor which enhanced PP capacity.