Bacteria and phosphorus regeneration in lakes. An experimental study

The aerobic decomposition of the green alga Chlamydomonas reinhardii by a mixed population of lake bacteria was studied in batch and chemostat cultures. Bacterial chemostats were supplied with continuously heatkilled algae. The dead algae rapidly released most of their phosphorus as SRP. In the batch experiments bacteria acted as consumers of the released algal phosphorus. This phosphorus uptake was dependent on the C:P ratio of the algae. During the death phase of the bacteria most of the bacterial phosphorus itself was released. The continuous supply of energy in form of dead algae in the chemostat experiments prevented the death phase of the bacteria and thus any net regeneration of phosphorus. The influence of the C:P stoichiometry of algae and bacteria on the regeneration of algal phosphorus is discussed.