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Variation in cellular nutrient status within a population of Dinophysis norvegica (Dinophyceae) growing in situ: Singleߚcell elemental analysis by use of a nuclear microprobe
Author(s) -
Gisselson LarsߚÅke,
Granéli Edna,
Pallon Jan
Publication year - 2001
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.2001.46.5.1237
Subject(s) - dinophyceae , in situ , dinophysis , population , microprobe , nutrient , elemental analysis , biology , environmental chemistry , botany , chemistry , analytical chemistry (journal) , mineralogy , phytoplankton , ecology , demography , organic chemistry , sociology , algal bloom
Elemental analysis (C, N, and P) of single cells of Dinophysis norvegica collected from the Baltic Sea was performed by use of a nuclear microprobe (NMP). For each cell, elemental maps were created and the cellular C, N, and P content was obtained. Concentrates of D. norvegica cells were collected simultaneously for measurement of particulate C, N, and P content by traditional methods for comparison. The traditional measurements of C, N, and P yielded 2.2–2.5 times higher values per cell than the ones obtained by the NMP method. Nevertheless, the averages for the elemental ratios were very similar for the traditional measurements and NMP. All the analyzed cells were deficient in both N and P, compared with the Redfield ratio. The data show that cellular nutrient status, especially cell quotas of N, can vary considerably within a population of one algal species growing under the same environmental conditions in situ.