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The measurement of bacterial chlorophyll and algal chlorophyll a in natural waters
Author(s) -
Caraco N.,
Puccoon A. H.
Publication year - 1986
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.1986.31.4.0889
Subject(s) - chlorophyll a , chlorophyll , anoxic waters , algae , cyanobacteria , photosynthesis , chlorophyll c , environmental science , environmental chemistry , photosynthetic pigment , chlorophyll b , biology , botany , oceanography , chemistry , chlorophyll fluorescence , bacteria , geology , genetics
Several groups of chlorophyll‐bearing photosynthetic organisms often coexist in anoxic waters. Because of the close similarity between the absorbance spectra of chlorophyll a (in cyanobacteria and algae) and the chlorophylls of green sulfur bacteria (Chl‐GSB) it is difficult to distinguish these two groups of organisms where they co‐occur. We have developed a simple method to measure both chlorophyll a and Chl‐GSB and used it in a meromictic coastal pond. In anoxic bottom waters Chl‐GSB was the major pigment present (averaging 20 mg m −3 ), but chlorophyll a accounted for from 5 to > 50% of the total pigment present throughout the year. Without our method large errors in calculated Chl‐GSB and chlorophyll a concentrations would have resulted.