Relationships of lake morphometry and sediment nutrient chemistry by short cores in south central Minnesota

This study involved the analysis of the relationships of morphometric parameters and sediment chemistry. The morphometric parameters included area, mean depth, maximum depth, volume, volume development index, shoreline and shoreline development index. The sediment chemistry analysis involved phosphorus, total nitrogen, percent inorganic, percent organic, percent calcium carbonate, and percent ash. The sediment chemistry was based on short cores from the deepest basin of each lake. A total of 3200 data points were created and utilized for statistical analysis of frequencies, comparisons, and Pearson's product-moment correlation coefficient. This study shows that there is a relationship of sediment chemistry to lake morphometry. This is seen in the separation of morphometric strata to various chemical parameters. However, the relationship is not directional which indicates that other factors are involved in determining sediment chemistry, as in the relationship of sediment chemistry to water chemistry. Although in th past volume development index has not been applied to shallow lake study, this research has shown that volume development index has the highest level of correlation. It is my contention the volume development index deserves more examination and may potentially be elevated in importance for shallow lakes