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Measuring regeneration of dissolved phosphorus in planktonic communities
Author(s) -
Hudson Jeff J.,
Taylor William D.
Publication year - 1996
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.1996.41.7.1560
Subject(s) - plankton , phosphorus , phosphate , environmental chemistry , microorganism , bacterioplankton , chemistry , environmental science , ecology , biology , phytoplankton , bacteria , nutrient , biochemistry , genetics , organic chemistry
We developed a technique to measure the release of dissolved phosphorus from entire or size‐fractionated plankton communities. The method involves radio‐labeling the plankton with phosphate and then competitively blocking the reassimilation of released radiolabel with 31 PO 4 . The increase in dissolved radioactivity is then assayed. The initial ratio of 31 P to radioactivity and the increase in dissolved radioactivity are used to estimate the release of dissolved phosphorus. Total (unfractionated) regeneration rates from two oligotrophic lakes had a range of 15–205 ng P liter −1 h −1 . Regeneration by the <40‐µm fraction accounted for an average of 77% of the total. The results indicate that microorganisms (protists and bacteria) are the major regenerators of dissolved phosphorus in the plankton of these lakes.