Some Aspects of the Ecology of Lake Macquarie, N.S.W., with Regard to an Alleged Depletion of Fish. III. Characteristics of Water and Mud

Abstract

The water of Lake Macquarie is very similar to sea-water though deficient in total base. The deep muds are of a fine silt, partly oxidized, with an Eh about +225 mV. Reduced muds (-75 mV) have been found only in semi-isolated places such as "The Hole". The mud contains only a small clay fraction and includes very little iron compared with most estuarine muds. This lack makes the bottom muds theoretically susceptible to calamitous sulphate reduction when the oxygen level of the superjacent water is lowered, as happens when stratification follows rainy periods.