Description:
Methane oxidation rates were measured at five stations on Lake Tanganyika. Oxidation occurred mainly within a narrow zone at the boundary of the seasonally mixed layer and the permanently anoxic monimolimnion. Whole lake methane oxidation rates were estimated to have varied seasonally from 3.8 to 5.8 mmol CH4·m−2·d−1. The annual rate was tentatively estimated to be about 3.1 mmol CH4·m−2·yr−1, equivalent to at least 10% of annual primary productivity. Certain differences and similarities of methane cycling in Lakes Tanganyika and Kivu are compared to those in lakes of other types.