C-13 dynamics in benthic algae: Effects of light, phosphorus, and biomass development
- University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign
- University of Illinois
- ORNL
We performed three experiments in indoor streams and one experiment in a natural stream to investigate the effects of growth factors on {delta}{sup 13}C levels in benthic microalgae. In the indoor streams, algae grown under conditions of high light and high phosphorus had {delta}{sup 13}C values that were 16% higher than those in algae grown under conditions of low light and low phosphorus. Light effects were much stronger than phosphorus effects. The effects of both factors increased in strength as algal biomass accrued, and by the end of the experiments, algal {delta}{sup 13}C and biomass were highly correlated. In the natural stream, algae exposed to direct sunlight were enriched 15% over shaded algae, corroborating the strong effect of light in the indoor streams. Growth factors such as light and nutrients probably reduce discrimination against {delta}{sup 13}C (raising {delta}{sup 13}C values) in benthic microalgae by causing CO{sub 2} depletion both within individual cells and within the assemblage matrix. However, because the most marked fractionation occurred in older and thicker assemblages, CO{sub 2} depletion within the assemblage matrix appeared to be more important than depletion within individual cells. In the absence of carbon-concentrating mechanisms, elevated {delta}{sup 13}C suggests that inorganic carbon may limit the growth of benthic algae. The extensive range of d13C values (-14{per_thousand} to -36{per_thousand}) created by light and nutrient manipulations in this study easily encompassed the mean {delta}{sup 13}C values of both C{sub 3} and C{sub 4} terrestrial plants, indicating the challenge aquatic ecologists face in identifying carbon sources for higher trophic levels when light and nutrient conditions vary.
- Research Organization:
- Oak Ridge National Lab. (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States). Oak Ridge National Environmental Research Park
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE
- DOE Contract Number:
- DE-AC05-00OR22725
- OSTI ID:
- 1017336
- Journal Information:
- Limnology and Oceanography, Vol. 53, Issue 4; ISSN 0024-3590
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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