Data from: Nitrogen transformations differentially affect nutrient-limited primary production in lakes of varying trophic state

The concept of lakes “evolving” phosphorus (P) limitation has persisted in
limnology despite limited direct evidence. Here, we developed a simple
model to broadly characterize nitrogen (N) surpluses and deficits relative
to P in lakes, and compared the magnitude of this imbalance to estimates
of N gains and losses through biological N transformations. The model
suggested that approximately half of oligotrophic lakes in the US had a
stoichiometric N deficit, but almost 90% of the most productive lakes had
a similar N deficit. Although reactive N appeared to accumulate in the
most oligotrophic lakes, net denitrification perpetuated the N deficit in
more productive lakes. Productive lakes tended to export reactive N via
biological N transformations regardless of their N deficit. The lack of N
accumulation through N fixation has important implications for our
understanding of lake biogeochemistry, ecology, and eutrophication
management.