Alkaline phosphatase activity fluctuations and associated factors in a eutrophic lake dominated by Oscillatoria rubescens

Alkaline phosphatase activity (APA) was investigated monthly for 4 years in the eutrophic Lake Nantua, a lake colonized by a large population of Cyanobacteria. Total enzymatic activity as well as specific activities (the ratios between APA and biomass expressed as dry weight, chlorophyll a, cell phosphorus) varied strongly but they followed a similar pattern during each year. The data were processed using correspondence analysis. Specific APA was never related to depth but highest activities were always associated with low particulate phosphorus and nitrogen, low dissolved inorganic phosphorus (DIP) concentrations, low chlorophyll a to filament number ratio and zero nitrate in the waters, indicating P and N limiting conditions. However a high N/P ratio, close to Redfield optimum also occurred at these conditions. Low activities were associated only with high chlorophyll a to filament number ratio.