Nutrient limitation of phytoplankton in a central Arizona reservoir

The influence of added nutrients nitrogen, phosphorus and carbon on the phytoplankton of a small recreational reservoir in central Arizona was investigated during the summer, 1974. Polyethylene bags were used to isolate lake water and the natural populations for the addition of nitrogen, phosphorus and carbon individually and in combination. A large increase in phytoplankton numbers, extractable chlorophyll, pH and dissolved oxygen occurred only in bags to which both nitrogen and phosphorus were added, suggesting that both nitrogen and phosphorus levels were limiting to the primary producers. Little alteration in species composition resulted from the addition of the above nutrients.