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The characteristics of ammonium and nitrate uptake by phytoplankton in Lake Kinneret 1
Author(s) -
Berman T.,
Sherr B. F.,
Sherr E.,
Wynne D.,
McCarthy J. J.
Publication year - 1984
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.1984.29.2.0287
Subject(s) - phytoplankton , dinoflagellate , plankton , nitrate , eutrophication , ammonium , bloom , nutrient , environmental chemistry , environmental science , oceanography , limiting , flux (metallurgy) , ecology , chemistry , biology , geology , mechanical engineering , organic chemistry , engineering
Seasonal and diurnal patterns of NH 4 + and NO 3 ‒ uptake were determined for Lake Kinneret phytoplankton. Nanoplankton generally, but not always, had a higher uptake of NH 4 + and NO 3 ‒ than did net plankton. Ammonium was always taken up preferentially and the phytoplankton had lower apparent affinity ( K s ) for this ion than for NO 3 ‒ . However, during the annual dinoflagellate bloom of Peridinium (February–May), when ambient levels of NH 4 + were low and those of NO 3 ‒ were high, a considerable portion of the total N flux was derived from NO 3 ‒ . The observed daily fluctuations of specific uptake rates for both NH 4 + and NO 3 ‒ can be partially explained by changes in light intensity. The finding that NO 3 ‒ was utilized by the dinoflagellates implies that control of the amounts of this nutrient, which is predominantly supplied from watershed sources, could be important in limiting eutrophication in Lake Kinneret.