Relations Between Color and Some Limnological Characteristics of Florida Lakes1

Data obtained from a limnological survey of 165 Florida lakes were analyzed to determine regional differences in lake color (Pt‐Co units) and relations between color and various physical, chemical, and biological parameters. Average color measurements for the different lakes ranged from 0 to 416 Pt‐Co units with individual measurements being as high as 600 Pt‐Co units. With the exception of extreme south Florida, lake color concentrations were found to increase from north to south and from inland highlands to lowlands. Central Florida had the greatest heterogeneity in lake color because of an extremely diverse geology and physiography. Color was inversely related to Secchi disc transparency and positively related to total iron concentrations. Color was not strongly related to pH, total alkalinity, nutrients, chlorophyll a , and many other limnological parameters. Although lakes having color concentrations greater than 20 Pt‐Co units can often be visually identified as colored lakes, the limnological processes in these are not necessarily different from those of lakes having clear water.