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Comparative rapid ammonium uptake by four species of marine phytoplankton 1
Author(s) -
Goldman Joel C.,
Glibert Patricia M.
Publication year - 1982
Publication title -
limnology and oceanography
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.7
H-Index - 197
eISSN - 1939-5590
pISSN - 0024-3590
DOI - 10.4319/lo.1982.27.5.0814
Subject(s) - phaeodactylum tricornutum , thalassiosira weissflogii , phytoplankton , ammonium , nutrient , growth rate , chaetoceros , biology , diatom , thalassiosira pseudonana , incubation , algae , botany , environmental chemistry , chemistry , ecology , biochemistry , geometry , mathematics , organic chemistry
A series of 15 NH 4 + uptake studies with four species of marine phytoplankton, Dunaliella tertiolecta (Dun), Phaeodactylum tricornutum (TFX‐1), Chaetoceros simplex (BBsm), and Thalassiosira weissflogii (Actin), maintained in NH 4 + ‐limited continuous cultures at varying specific growth rates ( µ ) and temperatures, was done to examine the time‐dependency of NH 4 + uptake and the relationship between physiological state and NH 4 + uptake. The effect of growth rate on short term NH 4 + uptake varied tremendously with species, but the trend of increasing V′ M : µ̂ with decreasing relative growth rate ( µ : µ̂ ) was demonstrated by all species down to µ ≃ 0.25% of µ̂ . The diatoms, especially, were capable of sustaining a high V ′ M : µ̂ even at very high relative growth rates. Growth rate also influenced the time‐course of NH 4 + uptake: for cells grown at ≈ 0.20–0.35 µ̂ an enhancement in NH 4 + uptake was observed in the first 5 min of incubation, but not for cells at >0.90 µ̂ . These data are consistent with the hypothesis that phytoplankton may be able to exploit short‐lived nutrient micropatches and may be growing at relatively rapid rates in oceanic waters.