Assessment of dissolved iron in Iowa lakes

This study assessed the abundance of dissolved iron (DFe) in Iowa’s lakes. The micronutrient iron has been noted to play a crucial role in regulating phytoplankton growth, however most studies have focused on large lakes with persistent phytoplankton blooms that are known to undergo iron limitation, such as Lake Erie. There are few datasets of DFe in lakes, especially those that are smaller and susceptible to phytoplankton blooms. In order to assess the spatial distribution of DFe in lakes throughout Iowa, this study obtained DFe measurements over a suite of recreational lakes over a summer season in 2018. Weekly monitoring of DFe (for 15 weeks) was conducted to assess temporal trends.