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Variations in ammonium enhancement, an indication of nitrogen deficiency in New England coastal phytoplankton populations

Journal Article · · J. Mar. Res.; (United States)
OSTI ID:5967159
Phytoplankton populations in the coastal waters of the Gulf of Maine have been tested for cellular nitrogen deficiency by adding ammonium to the dark bottle in a conventional /sup 14/C experiment. In phytoplankton cultures it has been shown that under conditions of nitrogen limitation to growth, accelerated dark fixation after ammonium addition signals the onset of cellular nitrogen deficiency. The field studies show that ammonium enhanced carbon fixation is correlated with bloom growths of phytoplankton. Most enhancement occurs with terminal chlorophyll concentrations indicating that these blooms are limited by nitrogen. It is proposed that in these coastal waters the seasonal sequence is regulated by two sets of kinetics. One is referred to as basal where population size is controlled by the recycling of ammonium. The other is referred to as bloom; these populations arise by the introduction of nitrate into the euphotic zone by vertical mixing.
Research Organization:
Bigelow Lab. for Ocean Sciences, West Boothbay Harbor, ME
OSTI ID:
5967159
Journal Information:
J. Mar. Res.; (United States), Journal Name: J. Mar. Res.; (United States) Vol. 35:3; ISSN JMMRA
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English