Insect removal of nitrogen and phosphorus compounds from lakes

Populations of the adult insects which emerged from Lake Opinicon, Ontario, were sampled by emergence traps from July 1-11, 1951. The average daily emergence per square meter of lake surface was 136 insects which had a fresh weight of 69.2 mg. and contained 2.26 mg. total nitrogen and 0.15 mg. total phosphorus. On the basis of several assumptions it was calculated that the annual removal of organic matter from Winona Lake, Indiana by aquatic insects formed less than one percent of the organic matter annually sedimented.