TN : TP ratio and planktivorous fish do not affect nutrient-chlorophyll relationships in shallow lakes

1. In previous work, phytoplankton regulation in freshwater lakes has been associated with many factors. Among these, the ratio of total nitrogen to total phosphorus (TN : TP) has been widely proposed as an index to identify whether phytoplankton are N‐ or P‐limited. From another point of view, it has been suggested that planktivorous fish can be used to control phytoplankton. 2. Large‐scale investigations of phytoplankton biomass [measured as chlorophyll a, (chl‐a)] were carried out in 45 mid‐lower Yangtze shallow lakes to test hypotheses concerning nutrient limitation (assessed with TN : TP ratios) and phytoplankton control by planktivorous fish. 3. Regression analyses indicated that TP was the primary regulating factor and TN the second regulating factor for both annual and summer phytoplankton chl‐a. In separate nutrient–chl‐a regression analyses for lakes of different TN : TP ratios, TP was also superior to TN in predicting chl‐a at all particular TN : TP ranges and over the entire TN : TP spectrum. Further analyses found that chl‐a : TP was not influenced by TN : TP, while chl‐a : TN was positively and highly correlated to TP : TN. 4. Based on these results, and others in the literature, we argue that the TN : TP ratio is inappropriate as an index to identify limiting nutrients. It is almost impossible to specify a ‘cut‐off’ TN : TP ratio to identify a limiting nutrient for a multi‐species community because optimal N : P ratios vary greatly among phytoplankton species. 5. Lakes with yields of planktivorous fish (silver and bighead carp, the species native to China) >100 kg ha^?1 had significantly higher chl‐a and lower Secchi depth than those with yields <100 kg ha^?1. TP–chl‐a and TP–Secchi depth relationships are not significantly different between lakes with yields >100 kg ha^?1 or <100 kg ha^?1. These results indicate that the fish failed to decrease chl‐a yield or enhance Z_SD. Therefore, silver carp and bighead carp are not recommended as a biotic agent for phytoplankton control in lake management if the goal is to control the entire phytoplankton and to enhance water quality.     

THE RELATIONSHIP OF LIPIDS WITH LIGHT AND CHLOROPHYLL MEASUREMENTS IN FRESHWATER ALGAE AND PERIPHYTON1

Lipid content and lipid class composition were determined in stream periphyton and the filamentous green algae Cladophora sp. and Spirogyra sp, Sterols and phospholipids were compared to chlorophyll a (chl a) as predictors of biomass for stream periphyton and algae. Chlorophyll a, phospholipids, and sterols were each highly correlated with ash-free dry mass (AFDM) (r² > 0.98). Stream periphyton exposed naturally to high light (HL) and low light (LL) had chl a concentrations (μg chl a-mg^?1AFDM) of 7.9± 0.7 and 12.4 ± 2.9, respectively, while the sterol concentrations of these HL and LL stream periphyton (1.6 ± 0.4) were not significantly different (P > 0.05). Periphyton exposed to an irradiance of 300 μmol photons·m^?2s^?1 in the laboratory for 60 h had 5.6 ± 0.55 μg chl a·mg^?1 AFDM, but the same periphyton exposed to 2% incident light for the same amount of time had 11.0 ± 0.56 μg chl a·mg^?1 AFDM. Sterol concentrations in these periphyton communities remained unchanged (1.5 ± 0.3 μg·mg^?1AFDM), Similar results (i.e. changes in chl a but stability of sterol concentrations in response to irradiance changes) were also found for Cladophora and Spirogyra in laboratory experiments. Sterols can be quantified rapidly from a few milligrams of algae and appear to be a useful predictor of eukaryote biomass, whereas cellular levels of chl a vary substantially with light conditions. Phospholipids (or phospholipid fatty acids) are considered to be a reliable measure of viable microbial biomass. Nevertheless, phospholipid content varied substantially and unpredictably among algae and periphyton under different light regimes. Irradiance also had a significant effect on storage lipids: HL Cladophora and HL periphyton had 2 × and 5 × greater concentrations of triacylglycerols, respectively, compared to their LL forms. HL and LL algae also differed in the concentration of several major fatty acids. These light-induced changes in algal lipids and fatty acids have important implications for grazers.     

Quantification of algal biofilms colonising building materials: chlorophyll a measured by PAM-fluorometry as a biomass parameter

Abstract

The aim of this study was to quantify algal colonisation on anthropogenic surfaces (viz. building facades and roof tiles) using chlorophyll a (chl a) as a specific biomarker. Chl a was estimated as the initial fluorescence F₀ of ‘dark adapted’ algae using a pulse-modulated fluorometer (PAM-2000). Four isolates of aeroterrestrial green algae and one aquatic isolate were included in this study. The chl a concentration and F₀ showed an exponential relationship in the tested range between 0 and 400 mg chl a m^?2. The relationship was linear at chl a concentrations <20 mg m^?2. Exponential and linear models are presented for the single isolates with large coefficients of determination (exponential: r² > 0.94, linear: r² > 0.92). The specific power of this fluorometric method is the detection of initial algal colonisation on surfaces in thin or young biofilms down to 3.5 mg chl a m^?2, which corresponds to an abundances of the investigated isolates between 0.2 and 1.5 million cells cm^?2.     

Use of natural polymers as immobilizing agents and effects on the growth of Dunaliella salina and its glycerol production

Agar-agar, agarose, carrageenan and calcium alginate were used for the immobilization of Dunaliella salina cells. Out of the four, agar-agar was found to be the most effective and therefore the study was carried out on it using different pH values ranging from 6 to 10 and cell densities from 0.1 to 0.8 μg chlorophyll (chl, a) per bead to find which are is best suited for glycerol production. The maximum glycerol production of 9.2 μM/mg chl a was recorded in agar-agar immobilized algae and this was followed by 8.4 μM/mg chl a in calcium alginate. The maximum cell number 6.2 × 10⁹/ml and the specific growth rate (μ) of 0.80 l/day were reached at pH 8 in agar-agar immobilized algae. It was shown that the maximum amount of glycerol was produced when the cell density was 0.8 μg chl a/ block. Changing the medium after 24 hours affected the rate of glycerol production at different pH values. Using a cell density of 0.8 μg chl a/block at 16 W/m² light intensity increased the glycerol production in comparison with the use of free living cells.     

Microphytobenthic species composition,pigment concentration,and primary production in sublittoral sediments of the Trondheimsfjord (Norway)1

In spring 2005, monthly sampling was carried out at a sublittoral site near Tautra Island. Microphytobenthic identification, abundance (ABU), and biomass (BIOM), were performed by microscopic analyses. Bacillariophyceae accounted for 67% of the total ABU, and phytoflagellates constituted 30%. The diatom floristic list consisted of 38 genera and 94 species. Intact light‐harvesting pigments chl a, chl c, and fucoxanthin and their derivatives were identified and quantified by HPLC. Photoprotective carotenoids were also observed (only as diadinoxanthin; no diatoxanthin was detected). Average fucoxanthin content was 4.57 ± 0.45 μg fucoxanthin · g sediment dry mass^?1, while the mean chl a concentration was 2.48 ± 0.15 μg · g^?1 dry mass. Both the high fucoxanthin:chl a ratio (considering nondegraded forms) and low amounts of photoprotective carotenoids indicated that the benthic microalgal community was adapted to low light. Microphytobenthic primary production was estimated in situ (MPPs, from 0.15 to 1.28 mg C · m^?2 · h^?1) and in the laboratory (MPPp, from 6.79 to 34.70 mg C · m^?2 · h^?1 under light saturation) as ¹⁴C assimilation; in April it was additionally estimated from O₂‐microelectrode studies (MPP_O2) along with the community respiration. MPP_O2 and the community respiration equaled 22.9 ± 7.0 and 7.4 ± 1.8 mg C · m^?2 · h^?1, respectively. A doubling of BIOM from April to June in parallel with a decreasing photosynthetic activity per unit chl a led us to suggest that the microphytobenthic community was sustained by heterotrophic metabolism during this period.     

An improved method for determining phytoplankton chlorophyll a concentration without filtration

The common and routine procedure for the quantification of chlorophyll a (chl a) in aquatic studies has a series of steps. Here, we sought to find optimal conditions for phytoplankton cell harvesting, chl a extraction, and chl a measurement and calculation, to find an effective, cost-saving, safe, and environment-friendly procedure for determining phytoplankton chl a concentration. We replaced the traditional GF/C filters with inorganic polymer flocculants (IPFs) and clay for phytoplankton harvesting, and then various solvents (acetone, ethanol, DMF, and DMSO), IPFs (PAC, PFS, and PAFS) and clay were tested for their suitability for chl a extraction, with or without homogenization at different temperatures for different extraction durations. About 0.3–1.0 g l^?1 of PAC or PFSA combined with 1.0–2.5 g l^?1 clay were found to provide optimal conditions in terms of yield and cost for phytoplankton cell harvesting from water samples. Based on our results, we recommend flocculation and centrifugation instead of glass-fiber membrane filtration for harvesting phytoplankton cells from environmental water samples, 95% ethanol for chl a extraction without homogenization and heating, and spectrophotometry to determine chl a concentration.     

COMBINATION OF FLOW CYTOMETRY AND SINGLE CELL ABSORPTION SPECTROSCOPY TO STUDY THE PHYTOPLANKTON STRUCTURE AND TO CALCULATE THE CHL A SPECIFIC ABSORPTION COEFFICIENTS AT THE TAXON LEVEL1

The phytoplankton community structure of a hypertrophic lake was quantitatively determined with the aid of flow cytometry. The flow cytometry signals were calibrated to obtain cell‐specific information, such as the chl a content and the biovolume per cell. The reliability of this method was tested with laboratory cultures. The results of the phytoplankton structure in a hypertrophic lake with respect to chl distribution in the different algal groups obtained by flow cytometry were compared with the results from HPLC pigment fingerprinting. Both methods yield the percentage contribution of the different algal groups to total chl a. The chl a specific absorption coefficient of the phytoplankton (a^*_Phy) was determined via visible (VIS) spectroscopy of samples taken from a hypertrophic lake (Auensee) in 2003. The results indicated that a^*_Phy of the total cell suspension is dependent on the phytoplankton structure as well as on environmental factors. The linear relationship between a^*_Phy at 675 nm and the product of the chl a content per cell and the biovolume offered the possibility to normalize phytoplankton absorption spectra to acquire the taxon‐specific a^*_Phy. The estimated a^*_Phy (675 nm) values were used to normalize single cell absorption spectra at this wavelength to obtain the a^*_Phy between 400 and 750 nm for representatives of the major algal groups. Our measurements show that the absorption coefficient for the whole phytoplankton community varies within the season. Finally, we used the a^*_Phy and the chl a distribution to calculate the light absorption of each algal group in the hypertrophic lake.     

Studies on the phytoplankton ecology of the trondheemsfjord. II. Chloroplast pigments in relation to abundance and physiological state of the phytoplankton

The quantitative composition of the chloroplast pigments of phytoplankton sampled weekly at one station in the Trondheimsfjord was studied by circular paper chromatography throughout 18 months. The concentrations of total chlorophyll a (T-chl a obtained by the trichromatic method) as well as of chromatographically purified chlorophyll a (chl a) followed the variations in phytoplankton concentration. Two spring blooms and a weak autumn flowering of phytoplankton were clearly reflected in the pigment contents found, namely 14–16 mg T-chl a/m³ for the spring maxima, corresponding to nearly 300 mg T-chl a/m² for the euphotic zone; and 3–4 mg/m³ or 32 mg/m² for the autumn peak. The concentrations between blooms amounted to ≈ 1 mg T-chl a/m³, while concentrations down to 0.03 mg/m³ were found for winter samples.The content of T-chl a was high in diatom cells prior to a bloom (20–40 × 10^?9 mg/cell). During rapid growth (a more or less exponential phase) the cell content of chloroplast pigments decreased (to 5–10 × 10^?9 mg). No degradation product of chlorophylls could be detected during this phase and the percentage of chl a (of T-chl a) was high (70–80 %). At the peak of the bloom, and especially when the nitrate content in the surrounding water had been exhausted, low values for T-chl a were found ($\text{0.3–0.5 × 10}{}^{\mathrm{<mtext>9</mtext><mtext>?</mtext>}}\text{mg/cell}$). As soon as the cell counts started to fall, or even before the decline could be clearly detected, the percentage of chl a dropped (to 40-20 %) and derived chlorophylls (not phaeophytin a) were present in the samples. Model studies with cultured algae showed a similar behaviour.It is concluded that the proportion of chl a to T-chl a and the occurrence of chlorophyll derivatives in phytoplankton samples can give valuable information on the stage of development of the algal populations involved.     

BENTHIC AND PLANKTONIC ALGAL COMMUNITIES IN A HIGH ARCTIC LAKE: PIGMENT STRUCTURE AND CONTRASTING RESPONSES TO NUTRIENT ENRICHMENT1

We investigated the fine pigment structure and composition of phytoplankton and benthic cyanobacterial mats in Ward Hunt Lake at the northern limit of High Arctic Canada and the responses of these two communities to in situ nutrient enrichment. The HPLC analyses showed that more than 98% of the total pigment stocks occurred in the benthos. The phytoplankton contained Chrysophyceae, low concentrations of other protists and Cyanobacteria (notably picocyanobacteria), and the accessory pigments chl c₂, fucoxanthin, diadinoxanthin, violaxanthin, and zeaxanthin. The benthic community contained the accessory pigments chl b, chl c₂, and a set of carotenoids dominated by glycosidic xanthophylls, characteristic of filamentous cyanobacteria. The black surface layer of the mats was rich in the UV‐screening compounds scytonemin, red scytonemin‐like, and mycosporine‐like amino acids, and the blue‐green basal stratum contained high concentrations of light‐harvesting pigments. In a first bioassay of the benthic mats, there was no significant photosynthetic or growth response to inorganic carbon or full nutrient enrichment over 15 days. This bioassay was repeated with increased replication and HPLC analysis in a subsequent season, and the results confirmed the lack of significant response to added nutrients. In contrast, the phytoplankton in samples from the overlying water column responded strongly to enrichment, and chl a biomass increased by a factor of 19.2 over 2 weeks. These results underscore the divergent ecophysiology of benthic versus planktonic communities in extreme latitudes and show that cold lake ecosystems can be dominated by benthic phototrophs that are nutrient sufficient despite their ultraoligotrophic overlying waters.     

DIEL VARIATIONS IN OPTICAL PROPERTIES OF IMANTONIA ROTUNDA (HAPTOPHYCEAE) AND THALASSIOSIRA PSEUDONANA (BACILLARIOPHYCEAE) EXPOSED TO DIFFERENT IRRADIANCE LEVELS1

Diel variations of cellular optical properties were examined for cultures of the haptophyte Imantonia rotunda N. Reynolds and the diatom Thalassiosira pseudonana (Hust.) Hasle et Heimdal grown under a 14:10 light:dark (L:D) cycle and transferred from 100 μmol photons · m^?2 · s^?1 to higher irradiances of 250 and 500 μmol photons · m^?2 · s^?1. Cell volume and abundance, phytoplankton absorption coefficients, flow‐cytometric light scattering and chl fluorescence, and pigment composition were measured every 2 h over a 24 h period. Results showed that cell division was more synchronous for I. rotunda than for T. pseudonana. Several variables exhibited diel variability with an amplitude >100%, notably mean cell volume for the haptophyte and photoprotective carotenoids for both species, while optical properties such as flow‐cytometric scattering and chl a–specific phytoplankton absorption generally showed <50% diel variability. Increased irradiance induced changes in pigments (both species) and mean cell volume (for the diatom) and amplified diel variability for most variables. This increase in amplitude is larger for pigments (factor of 2 or more, notably for cellular photoprotective carotenoid content in I. rotunda and for photosynthetic pigments in T. pseudonana) than for optical properties (a factor of 1.5 for chl a–specific absorption, at 440 nm, in I. rotunda and a factor of 2 for the absorption cross‐section and the chl a–specific scattering in T. pseudonana). Consequently, diel changes in optical properties and pigmentation associated with the L:D cycle and amplified by concurrent changes in irradiance likely contribute significantly to the variability in optical properties observed in biooptical field studies.     

THE BENTHIC ALGAE OF SOUTHERN BAFFIN ISLAND. I. EPIPELIC COMMUNITIES IN RIVERS1

The epipelic algae found in 9 rivers of southern Baffin Island were investigated during the 1972 growing season. The overall assemblage consisted of 240 taxa, of which 200 belonged to the Bacillariophyta and, only 17 to the Chlorophyta. Members of the Bacillariophyta accounted for S7–100% by numbers and 44–100% by volume of the algae at most localities. The dominant taxa were Achnanthes kriegeri Krasske, A. marginulata Grun., and Tabellaria flocculosa (Roth.) Kütz. The Chlorophyta comprised. 0–7% by numbers and 0–30% by volume of the algae, with Cosmarium tinctum Ralfs, Cylindrocystis spp., and Mougeotia sp. being most common. The standing crop in the different rivers commonly exceeded 8 × 10⁶ cells/cm² (8 × 10⁹μ³/cm²), and a maximum growth rate of 3.2 × 10⁵ cells/cm²/day (3.2 × 10⁸μ/cm²/day) was observed. Temperature and light are considered important, factors in the regulation of algal numbers, while nutrient supply in the overlying water, grazing by herbivores, wave action, and flooding appeared to have little effect.     

Sedimentation of chlorophylls in an Arctic fjord under freshwater discharge

Sedimentation of chlorophylls was studied during summer 1997 in Adventfjorden (Spitsbergen, Arctic). During the period of study, the water column was found to be well stratified by a freshened surface layer (salinity <31 PSS). A high load of suspended particulate matter from riverine discharge reduced the euphotic zone to an interval of 0.4–1.1m. Total particulate matter sedimentation rates were about twice as high in June as in July. The following chlorophylls were distinguished in the sedimented particles: chl a and its degradation products (allomer chl a, phaeophytin a, phaeophorbide a, chlorophyllide a), chl b and chl c ₁+c ₂. The quantitatively most important derivative of chl a was phaeophorbide a (31--41% of porphyrin a). Generally, the sedimentation rate of chlorophylls increased with depth. Linear relationships between concentrations of chl a and phaeophorbide a (r ²=0.92), as well as between concentrations of chl a and phaeophytin a (r ²=0.90) indicated a strong connection between phytoplankton abundance and zooplankton grazing. The significant correlation between chl a and chlorophyllide a concentrations (r ²=0.82) showed that most of the sinking chl a belonged primarily to diatoms, and low chlorophyllide a:chl a ratio (0.03) indicated that cellular senescence was not an important reason for the sinking of chl a. Moreover, very low chl b:chl a ratios (about 0.05 calculated for samples where chl b was detectable) suggest that contributions of green algae and/or higher plant detritus were negligible in sinking particles. The ratio of chl c ₁+c ₂:chl a was 0.85 indicating that chl c-containing algae were dominating.     

Effect of irradiance and temperature on the photosynthesis of a cultivated red alga,Pyropia tenera (= Porphyra tenera), at the southern limit of distribution in Japan

The effect of irradiance and temperature on the photosynthesis of the red alga, Pyropia tenera, was determined for maricultured gametophytes and sporophytes collected from a region that is known as one of the southern limits of its distribution in Japan. Macroscopic gametophytes were examined using both pulse‐amplitude modulated fluorometry and/or dissolved oxygen sensors. A model of the net photosynthesis–irradiance (P‐E) relationship of the gametophytes at 12°C revealed that the net photosynthetic rate quickly increased at irradiances below the estimated saturation irradiance of 46 μmol photons m^?2 s^?1, and the compensation irradiance was 9 μmol photons m^?2 s^?1. Gross photosynthesis and dark respiration for the gametophytes were also determined over a range of temperatures (8–34°C), revealing that the gross photosynthetic rates of 46.3 μmol O₂ mg_chl‐a^?1 min^?1 was highest at 9.3 (95% Bayesian credible interval (BCI): 2.3–14.5)°C, and the dark respiration rate increased at a rate of 0.93 μmol O₂ mg_chl‐a^?1 min^?1°C^?1. The measured dark respiration rates ranged from ?0.06 μmol O₂ mg_chl‐a^?1 min^?1 at 6°C to ?25.2 μmol O₂ mg_chl‐a^?1 min^?1 at 34°C. The highest value of the maximum quantum yield (Fv/Fm) for the gametophytes occurred at 22.4 (BCI: 21.5–23.3) °C and was 0.48 (BCI: 0.475–0.486), although those of the sporophyte occurred at 12.9 (BCI: 7.4–15.1) °C and was 0.52 (BCI: 0.506–0.544). This species may be considered well‐adapted to the current range of seawater temperatures in this region. However, since the gametophytes have such a low temperature requirement, they are most likely close to their tolerable temperatures in the natural environment.     

Surface distribution of size-fractionated chlorophyll a and participate organic matter in the Strait of Magellan

The surface distribution of chlorophyll a (chl a) from size-fractionated phytoplankton and of particulate organic matter was studied along the Strait of Magellan during late austral summer (February 20th to March 2nd, 1991), in order to contribute an outline of the ecological characteristics of its pelagic compartment. Sampling of surface water was carried out at 2.5 mile intervals, yielding 152 sampling points for chl a and 104 for particulate organic carbon (POC). The Strait appeared as a system strongly controlled by land forcing. Its phytoplankton community was dominated by the picoplanktonic fraction along its entire length, with mean chl a concentrations of 0.74 and 1.17 g dm^–3 for pico- and total phytoplankton, respectively. The microphytoplankton never exceeded 0.02 g dm^–3. POC concentrations, with a maximum of 242.5 and a mean of 144.8 g dm^–3, were mainly of autotrophic origin, as indicated by a mean POC:chl a ratio of 138.4.     

NUTRIENT LIMITATION OF BENTHIC ALGAE IN LAKE MICHIGAN: THE ROLE OF SILICA1

In the Laurentian Great Lakes, phytoplankton growth and biomass are secondarily limited by silica (Si), as a result of phosphorus (P) enrichment. Even modest levels of P enrichment can induce secondary Silimitation, which, in turn, promotes a shift from the native diatom phytoplankton flora to chlorophyte and cyanobacteria species. However, very little is known about the nutritional status of benthic populations and their response to nutrient enrichment. Two experiments were performed in the littoral zone of Lake Michigan where nutrients were delivered to in situ benthic algal (episammic and epilithic) assemblages using nutrient‐diffusing substrata. In order to test the hypothesis that benthic algae in Lake Michigan are Si limited, a 2 × 3 factorial experiment was used to deliver all combinations of Si, N, and P to resident assemblages growing on artificial substrata composed of natural (Si rich) versus calcium carbonate (Si poor) sand. A second experiment utilized a serial enrichment to evaluate the role of Si in mediating changes in taxonomic composition. These findings indicate that benthic algae in Lake Michigan exhibit signs of secondary Si limitation, and that their response to enrichment is similar to the phytoplankton. Moreover, natural sand substrata may provide a source of Si to resident benthic algae.     

Phytoplankton and zooplankton development in a lowland, temperate river

The longitudinal and seasonal patterns of plankton developmentwere examined over 2 years in a lowland, temperate river: theRideau River (Ontario, Canada). Following an initial decreasein phytoplankton and zooplankton biomass as water flowed fromthe headwaters into the Rideau River proper, there was an increasein chlorophyll a (chl a) and zooplankton biomass with downstreamtravel. At approximately river km 60, both phytoplankton andzooplankton reached their maximum biomass of 27 µg l^–1(chl a) and 470 µg l^–1 (dry mass), respectively.Downstream of river km 60, the biomass of both planktonic communitiesdeclined significantly despite increasing nutrient concentrationsand favorable light conditions. These downstream declines maybe due to the feeding activity of the exotic zebra mussel (Dreissenapolymorpha) which was at high density in downstream reaches(>1000 individuals m^–2). There was no evidence forlongitudinal phasing of phytoplankton and zooplankton, as increasesand decreases in chl a and zooplankton biomass appeared to coincide.Overall, chl a was best predicted by total phosphorus (R²=0.43),whereas zooplankton biomass was best predicted by chl a (R²=0.20).There was no evidence for significant grazing effects of zooplanktonon phytoplankton biomass.     

Effect of periphyton on growth performance of grey mullet, Mugil cephalus (Linn.), in inland saline groundwater ponds

The present study attempts to assess the potential of artificial substrates to enhance fish production in inland saline groundwater ponds through periphyton production. Grey mullet, Mugil cephalus, was cultured for 100 days in ponds with substrate (treatment ponds) and without substrate (control ponds). To enhance the surface area, bamboo poles were used as substrate. The periphyton population, pigment concentration and hydrobiological characteristics of pond water were monitored. The studies revealed little difference in most of the water quality parameters observed in the two treatments. However, turbidity (27.0 ± 0.1–35.0 ± 0.1 Nephalo Turbidity Unit (NTU)), chlorophyll ‘a’ (6.6 ± 0.6–7.6 ± 0.6 μg L^?1), plankton population (phytoplankton 8.4 × 10³–9.4 ×10³ numbers L^?1; zooplankton 4.0 × 10³–5.1 × 10³ numbers L^?1) and NH₄–N (2.0 ± 0.2–2.3 ± 0.1 mg L^?1) were high in the treatment with no additional substrate; however, in the treatment with substrate the total Kjeldahl nitrogen (9.8 ± 0.8–10.8 ± 0.7 mg L^?1) and o‐PO₄ (0.1 ± 0.01–0.1 mg L^?1) remained significantly (P < 0.05) higher. Highest periphyton biomass in terms of dry matter (DM) (0.8 ± 0.01–1.4 ±0.01 mg cm^?2), ash free DM (0.4 ± 0.0–0.6 ± 0.01 mg cm^?2), chlorophyll ‘a’ (3.1 ± 0.2–8.1 ± 0.8 μg cm^?2) and pheophytin ‘a’ (1.9 ± 0.4–3.9 ± 0.5 μg cm^?2) was observed at 50 cm depth in ponds provided with additional substrate. Fifteen plankton genera showing periphytic affinity colonized the bamboo substrates. Fish growth (mean fish weight 524.3 ± 8.7 g and SGR 2.5 ± 0.1) was significantly (P < 0.05) higher in ponds provided with additional substrate compared with control ponds (387.2 ± 6.0). Length–weight relationship (LWR) (W = cLⁿ) also showed that the exponential value (‘n’) of length was high in substrate‐supported ponds (n = 2.36) in comparison with controls (n = 1.09). These studies suggest that a periphyton‐supported aquaculture system can be used successfully for the culture of herbivorous brackishwater fish species like M. cephalus in inland saline groundwaters and thus could contribute to the development of sound and sustainable aquaculture technology.     

PARTICULATE DIMETHYLSULFOXIDE IN ARCTIC SEA-ICE ALGAL COMMUNITIES: THE CRYOPROTECTANT HYPOTHESIS REVISITED

The particulate-phase concentrations of dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO_p) and dimethylsulfoniopropionate (DMSP_p) in sea-ice algal communities from the North Water, northern Baffin Bay, were examined from April to June 1998. The concentrations of these compounds were measured in the bottom 2 cm of the ice at 36 locations throughout this region and are compared with results from water-column samples collected for a complementary study. In general, levels of DMSP_p (8.66–987 nmol·L ^{− 1}, average 126 nmol·L ^{− 1}) in sea-ice algal communities were slightly less than those found in bottom sea-ice algal communities from other polar locations but greater than those found in phytoplankton in other polar environments or at more temperate latitudes. Furthermore, DMSP_p :chl a ratios (0.02–14.8 nmol·μg ^{− 1}, average 1.91 nmol·μg ^{− 1}) in the sea-ice algal community were slightly less than those found in other polar environments. DMSO_p was measured for the first time in sea-ice algal communities. DMSO_p concentrations varied from 1.35 to 102 nmol·L ^{− 1} (average 13.7 nmol·L ^{− 1}). DMSO_p:chl a ratios varied from 0.01 to 4.5 nmol·μg ^{− 1} (average 0.22 nmol·μg ^{− 1}) and were significantly lower than the DMSP_p:chl a ratios observed in this study. It has been hypothesized that DMSO can act as a cryoprotector in phytoplankton cells. However, the low concentrations of DMSO observed in the ice algae during this study indicate that intracellular concentrations of DMSO are unlikely to have a significant influence on the freezing point depression of intracellular fluids.     

OSCILLATORIA (TRICHODESMIUM) THIEBAUTII (CYANOPHYTA) IN THE CENTRAL NORTH ATLANTIC OCEAN12

Physiological rate measurements were made with Oscillatoria thiebautii (Gom.) Geitler in the subtropical north Atlantic Ocean between Spain and Bermuda during May and June of 1975. The near surface C:N fixation ratios averaged 6.5, and the cellular composition ratio was 6.2, suggesting that N₂ fixation is the major path of nitrogenous nutrition for this alga. Compared to other oceanic phytoplankters, it has a low affinity for orthophosphate at oceanic concentrations (k_s= 9.0); however, it has a high potential for utilizing phosphomonoesters (170–300 ng atoms P ·μg chl a^?1· h^?1). Maximal photosynthesis occurred at 450–700 μ Einstein · m^?2· s^?1, and was inhibited by full sunlight. Calculated cell division rates (ca. 180 days) suggest that relative to other phytoplankters in this oceanic region, O. thiebautii must be subjected to negligible grazing pressure. No major differences in C, N, chl a or ATP were observed between the tuft (fusiform) and puff (spherical) colonies. ATP concentrations relative to other cellular constituents varied greatly between colonies, suggesting a general inter-colony physiological variability in the open Atlantic. With increasing depth in the euphotic zone, there was no evidence for chromatic adaption. The observations that O. thiebautii represents only a small fraction of total phytoplankton biomass and that its growth rate is 10–100 times slower than that of the other indigenous phytoplankton, strongly suggest that N₂ fixation by this alga is a virtually insignificant component of the nitrogenous nutrition for the phytoplankton of the North Atlantic central gyre in late Spring.