Decomposers, Bacteria, and Microbenthos 367 



TABLE 8-1 1 Comparison of Algal Production and Sediment Respiration 



Temp Primary Sediment Respiration 



production 



o _2 —1 —2 —1 —1 —1 



Location ( C) gCm yr gCm yr mgCm day Reference 



and Kelley 1974). As explained in Chapter 4, this rate was calculated from 

 measurements of the partial pressure of CO2 in the water. The 

 discrepancy cannot be explained although the whole pond measurement 

 was made in pond C while the core measurements were made in Pond B. 



The daily rates of sediment respiration are about the same as those 

 from other oligotrophic to mesotrophic waters (Table 8-11). The short ice- 

 free season, however, results in a very low annual rate for the ponds. The 

 terrestrial soils at Barrow have respiration rates that are seven times 

 higher than those of the pond. 



Effect of Temperature 



The effect of increases of temperature on the respiration rate of 

 sediment cores was measured in 1972 on cores transported to the 

 laboratory. The resultant ^10 averaged 3.1, which is an impossibly high 



