RESUMEN
The characteristics of spatial distribution of nitrogen and phosphorus in water were studied. The results showed that concentrations of total nitrogen/phosphorus in water from Meiliang Bay, Zhusan Bay, Gonghu Bay, West and Central Taihu Lake were obviously higher than those from any other region of Taihu Lake. The spatial distribution of dissolved nitrogen/phosphorus and detritus nitrogen/phosphorus was consistent with that of total nitrogen/phosphorus. The concentrations of dissolved nitrogen and detritus nitrogen significantly correlated with those of total nitrogen with rDN = 0.8192 and rDeN = 0.6969, respectively; the concentrations of dissolved and detritus phosphorus in water also significantly correlated with that of total phosphorus with rDP = 0.7477 and rDeP = 0.9260, respectively. The discrepancy in spatial distribution of chlorophyll a (Chla) in water was distinctly obvious, the highest level appeared in West Taihu Lake (179.2 microg x L(-1) +/- 25.9 microg x L(-1)), and the lowest in East Taihu Lake (11.3 microg x L(-1) +/- 2.7 microg x L(-1)). There were significantly linear relationships between total nitrogen, detritus nitrogen, total phosphorus, dissolved phosphorus, detritus phosphorus, permanganate index, pH value and suspended solids and the content of Chla with rTN = 0.6622, rDeN = 0.8739, rTP = 0.8130, rDP = 0.4077 and rDeP = 0.8781, rCOD = 0.8689, rpH = 0.5173 and rSS = 0.5334, respectively; while dissolved nitrogen, electric conductivity and alkalinity did not affect Chla in water from Taihu Lake.