Organic substances in sediment and settling matter during spring in a meromictic Lake Suigetsu

Vertical distribution of organic substances of settling matter and sediments was measured in a typically meromictic lake, Lake Suigetsu. Proteinous materials were rapidly eliminated in the early stage of settling in the lake water. No major difference was found in amino acid composition of the hydrolysates of all samples, indicating that there had occurred no selective decomposition of amino acids. In contrast, the decomposition of carbohydrates was sluggish. Water-extractable carbohydrates were abundant in the sediments. Dissolved carbohydrates and amino acids, formed in the sediments, were partly metabolized by photosynthetic sulfur bacteria,Chromatum sp. populated in the chemocline.