Role of Methane Cycling in Organic Matter Turnover in Different Types of Lakes

The rates of microbiological processes in CH^sub 4^ cycling and organic matter destruction in the bottom sediment and water of different types of lakes in the Upper Volga basin and Baltic countries are determined. The rates of CH^sub 4^ removal from silts and the peculiarities of its distribution in water mass as a function of the lake productivity and the character of water mixing in it are studied. The role of processes in CH^sub 4^ cycling in destruction is shown to increase with increasing lake productivity.[PUBLICATION ABSTRACT]