So far we know that temperature, salinity or lack of organic material does not cause the lack of denitrification by bacteria in the East Lobe of Bonney Lake. During this field season some experiments will be done to see if trace metals might explain the strange bacterial behavior. There have been a series of experiments with trace metals involving big areas of the oceans. Usually they are involved in the active site of many enzymes and include iron, copper and cadmium. Bioactive metals are needed in low levels and are toxic in higher levels.
Many organisms function at very specific levels of bioactive metals.
Dr. Wells thinks that the lack of denitrification in some parts of Bonney Lake may be caused by the wrong trace metal concentrations. In his oceanographic work he found that there are several large areas with very little photosynthesis and bio-production. It is thought that this phenomenon is caused by a lack of appropriate trace metals. Mcrobial mat found in the ice at the edge of the lake. It is full of rotifers, tartigrades and a large variety of other organisms.