In small, productive and fertile ponds that have prolonged periods of full ice coverage, what types of gasses build up in the absence of an aeration system?
I'm aware that the nitrogen cycle, which results in nitrification of unionized ammonia provides for some loss of nitrogen gas to the air/water interface. Are there other gasses such as hydrogen sulfide (briefly mentioned by Dave Willis) that are produced by pond muck that need to be released to the atmosphere during the winter in eutrophic ponds? Or are these sediments better left undisturbed during the winter months?
