Although understanding nutrient limitation of primary productivity in lakes is among the oldest research priorities in limnology, there have been few broad‐scale studies of the characteristics of phosphorus (P)‐, nitrogen (N)‐, and co‐limited lakes and their environmental context. By analyzing 3342 US lakes with concurrent P, N, and chlorophyll a (Chl a) samples, we showed that US lakes are predominantly co‐limited (43%) or P‐limited (41%). Majorities of lakes were P‐limited in the Northeast, Upper Midwest, and Southeast, and co‐limitation was most prevalent in the interior and western United States. N‐limitation (16%) was more prevalent than P‐limitation in the Great Basin and Central Plains. Nutrient limitation was related to lake, watershed, and regional variables, including Chl a concentration, watershed soil, and wet nitrate deposition. N and P concentrations interactively affected nutrient–chlorophyll relationships, which differed by nutrient limitation. Our study demonstrates the value of considering P, N, and environmental context in nutrient limitation and nutrient–chlorophyll relationships.

中文翻译：

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了解你的极限：美国湖泊养分限制和养分-叶绿素关系的模式和驱动因素


尽管了解湖泊初级生产力的养分限制是湖泊学最古老的研究重点之一，但对磷（P）、氮（N）和共限制湖泊的特征及其环境的大规模研究却很少。语境。通过分析同时存在 P、N 和叶绿素 a (Chl a) 样本的 3342 个美国湖泊，我们发现美国湖泊主要是共限量 (43%) 或 P 限量 (41%)。东北部、中西部上部和东南部的大多数湖泊受到 P 限制，而共同限制在美国内陆和西部最为普遍。在大盆地和中原地区，氮限制（16%）比磷限制更为普遍。养分限制与湖泊、流域和区域变量有关，包括叶绿素 a 浓度、流域土壤和湿硝酸盐沉降。 N 和 P 浓度交互影响养分-叶绿素关系，该关系因养分限制而异。我们的研究证明了在养分限制和养分-叶绿素关系中考虑磷、氮和环境背景的价值。