Time-course of inorganic nitrogen uptake and incorporation by natural populations of freshwater phytoplankton

SUMMARY. 1. Time-course measurements of NH₄⁺ and NO₃⁻uptake were made on the natural phytoplankton populations in a eutrophic lake at a time when these nutrients were at their lowest annual concentration.
2. Both NH₄⁺ and NO₃⁻ uptake was increased at least five-fold during the first 5 min of incubation following near saturating pulses of these nutrients.
3. Elevated uptake was also observed following low level (∼2μg N 1⁻¹) pulses of NH₄⁺ and NO₃⁻, but substrate depletion during the first hour of incubation may have been partially responsible for this apparent enhancement.
4. Incorporation of ^I5N into TCA-insoluble material (protein) following the saturating NH₄⁺ pulse was increased less than total cellular ¹⁵N uptake, whereas no elevation of ¹⁵N incorporation into protein was observed following a saturating NO₃⁻pulse.
5. The percentage of ^I5N incorporated into protein, with respect to total cellular uptake, was ∼32% and ∼12% for NH₄⁺ and NO₃⁻, respectively, following 5 h of incubation.     

Some allometric and non-allometric relationships between chlorophyll-a and abundance variables of phytoplankton

We analysed data from three Bulgarian reservoirs, with trophic status from meso to eutrophic. Two kinds of relations (non-allometric and allometric) of chlorophyll with phytoplankton density, biovolume and surface area were investigated. The non-allometric relationships compare these phytoplankton variables with chlorophyll-a concentration, while the allometric ones include comparisons of average individual volume (AIV) of phytoplankters with chlorophyll-a content per individual (Chl.N^–1), per unit biovolume (Chl.BV^–1) and per unit surface area (Chl.SA^–1).Maximum values of the rank correlation of the three non-allometric relationships were found in the eutrophic reservoir. The highest allometric correlation coefficients were observed in the mesotrophic reservoir. Two non-allometric relationships, Chl with N and Chl ith BV calculated on unified data from all three reservoirs showed lower significance and a non-linear character. Chl-SA relationship was always statistically significant and varied from linear to slightly non-linear when calculated on weighed values. Two allometric relationships, AIV with Chl.BV^–1 and AIV with Chl.N^–1 seem to be linear. A third AIV and Chl.SA^–1 was described by a polinomial of the second degree, indicating that the smallest and largest phytoplankton individuals have a similar chlorophyll content per unit surface area. At the highest trophy, the Chl.SA^–1 seemed lowest.The frequently investigated relationship between chlorophyll-a and biovolume ranged from statistically not significant in the mesotrophic to highly significant in the eutrophic reservoir. This tendency was generalized by obtaining a statistically significant rank correlation between the levels of significance of chlorophyll-biovolume correlations and the corresponding chlorophyll-a concentrations. The non-linear character of the chlorophyll-biovolume relationship over a wide range of trophy was probably caused by changes in surface area-biovolume ratio.Deceased.     

Systematic variation in the logarithmic ranges in abundance of freshwater phytoplankton populations

相似文献   

Effects of micro-nutrients and major nutrients on natural phytoplankton populations

Six experiments were carried out with natural phytoplanktonpopulations grown under simulated natural conditions, in anattempt to assess the gross effects of major nutrient and micronutrientperturbations upon the growth and species composition of thesepopulations. Water was collected from Yaquina Bay, Oregon, andfiltered into twenty-litre growth containers. Some of this waterwas treated with activated carbon to remove a portion of thetrace metals and trace organics. Various combinations of majornutrients, micro-nutrients, and chelators were added to thesecultures. Inoculation was with unfiltered bay water, at a ratioof 1:1000. Incubation was in outdoor tanks of water circulatingfrom the bay, under natural sunlight. The major nutrients andmicro-nutrients appeared to have fundamentally different effectson the growth and species composition of phytoplankton. Themicro-nutrients had marked effects on the species compositionof the phytoplankton populations, while major nutrients hadminimal effects on species composition. The micro-nutrientsalso had substantial effects on population growth rates, lagperiods, and final yields. The major nutrients had a substantialeffect only on final yields.     

Use of NADH fluorescence to determine mitochondrial function in vivo

Normal mitochondrial function is a critical factor in maintaining cellular homeostasis in various organs of the body. Due to the involvement of mitochondrial dysfunction in many pathological states, the real-time in vivo monitoring of the mitochondrial metabolic state is crucially important. This type of monitoring in animal models as well as in patients provides real-time data that can help interpret experimental results or optimize patient treatment. In this paper we are summarizing the following items: (1) presenting the solid scientific ground underlying nicotine amide adenine dinucleotide (NADH) NADH fluorescence measurements based on published materials. (2) Presenting NADH fluorescence monitoring and its physiological significance. (3) Providing the reader with basic information on the methodologies of the fluorometers reflectometers. (4) Clarifying various factors affecting the monitored signals, including artifacts. (5) Presenting the potential use of monitoring mitochondrial function in vivo for the evaluation of drug development. The large numbers of publications by different groups testify to the valuable information gathered in various experimental conditions. The monitoring of NADH levels in the tissue provides the most important information on the metabolic state of the mitochondria in terms of energy production and intracellular oxygen levels. Although NADH signals are not calibrated in absolute units, their trend monitoring is important for the interpretation of physiological or pathological situations. To better understand the tissue function, the multiparametric approach has been developed where NADH serves as the key parameter to be monitored.     

Interpretation of in vivo fluorescence and cell division rates of natural phytoplankton using a cell cycle model

A natural population of phytoplankton was collected from theMenai Straits and incubated in a continuous culture system undernatural illumination. In vivo fluorescence data were used toderive cell cycle parameters, and the division rates of cellsin the population were analysed using a transition-point modelof the cell cycle. The results indicated that for modellingpurposes the mixed population could be regarded as being composedof a single species having properties equivalent to the averagefor the population. Fluorescence measurements were subsequcntlyrepeated on samples of the in situ population at the collectionsite, and the cell cycle model used to interpret the growthrate of the phytoplankton in the natural environment.     

Carbohydrate dynamics and growth rate of natural phytoplankton populations

Diurnal changes in carbohydrate content of natural phytoplankton populations differed from those found for cyanobacteria grown in continuous cultures. The carbohydrate accumulation rate was not constant during the light period. Also in contrast to results obtained using continuous cultures the photosynthetic characteristics changed during the light period. A close correlation was observed between changes in carbohydrate accumulation rate and the efficiency of photosynthesis over 24 hours. Seasonal changes in carbohydrate consumption rate over the dark period were proportional to changes in growth rate.     

The use of spectral fluorescence methods to detect changes in the phytoplankton community

In vivo fluorescence methods are efficient toolsfor studying the seasonal and spatial dynamics ofphytoplankton. Traditionally the measurements are madeusing single excitation-emission wavelengthcombination. During a cruise in the Gulf of Riga(Baltic Sea) we supplemented this technique bymeasuring the spectral fluorescence signal (SFS) andfixed wavelength fluorescence intensities at theexcitation maxima of main accessory pigments. Thesemethods allowed the rapid collection of quantitativefluorescence data and chemotaxonomic diagnostics ofthe phytoplankton community. The chlorophylla-specific fluorescence intensities (R) and thespectral fluorescence fingerprints were analysedtogether with concentrations of chlorophyll a indifferent algal size-groups, phytoplankton biomass andtaxonomic position. The lower level of R in thesouthern gulf was related to the higher proportion ofcyanobacteria relative to total biomass and the lowerabundance of small algae. The phycoerythrinfluorescence signal was obviously due to the largecyanobacteria. The basin-wide shift in the shape ofchlorophyll a excitation spectra was caused bythe variable proportions of differently pigmentedcyanobacteria, diatoms and cryptomonads. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Pigments and species composition of natural phytoplankton populations: effect on the absorption spectra

Data from three cruises (Arabesque 1 and 2 cruises in the ArabianSea and the Vancouver Island cruise) were examined to assessthe importance of species composition and accessory pigmentsin modifying specific absorption coefficients. The three cruisesdiffered widely in their phytoplankton assemblages with smallcells dominating the Arabesque 2 cruise and large diatoms theVancouver Island cruise. Absorption spectra from each cruisewere decomposed into 13 Gaussian bands representing absorptionby the major chlorophylls and accessory pigments. The maximumspecific peak height     

Cell-specific beta-N-acetylglucosaminidase activity in cultures and field populations of eukaryotic marine phytoplankton.

It is widely appreciated that eukaryotic marine phytoplankton can hydrolyze a variety of compounds within the dissolved organic matter (DOM) pool in marine environments. Herein, cultures and field populations of marine phytoplankton were assayed for beta-N-acetylglucosaminidase activity, a terminal enzyme of chitin degradation. A traditional bulk assay, which can assess hydrolytic rate, but is not cell-specific, was complemented with a cell-specific assay that images the activity associated with single cells using an enzyme labeled fluorescence (ELF) substrate. beta-N-acetylglucosaminidase activity was widespread across various taxa of marine phytoplankton, and activity was observed both under controlled culture conditions and in field populations. The number of cells with enzyme activity varied with the nutritional physiology of the test species in three of the 17 cultures tested. In these three cases the number of cells with activity in the low nutrient medium was higher than in nutrient replete medium. Taken together, these data suggest that a broad group of marine phytoplankton may be a relevant part of chitin-like DOM degradation and should be incorporated into conceptual models of chitin cycling in marine systems.     

Structure,diversity, and catabolic potentialities of aerobic heterotrophic bacterial populations associated with continuous cultures of natural marine phytoplankton

Variations of structure (probable taxonomic generic groups; ecological profiles), diversity (Shannon index, ¯H), and average catabolic potentialities (strain's average exoenzyme equipment, EAI; average carbonaceous compound utilization, UAI) of bacterial populations during two experimental phytoplankton blooms are described and show a certain overall unity. Oligotrophic conditions are characterized by high diversity levels (¯H from 3.60 to 4) and moderate catabolic potentialities (EAI and UAI close to 40%). During phytoplankton exponential growth phase bacteria show an EAI stability, but there is an increase of UAI with maximal values at the beginning of chlorophyll plateau (52–57%) and higher values of diversity (¯H greater than 4). Phytoplankton mortalities appear to cause an EAI increase and a decrease of both UAI and ¯H (1.50 to 2). Vibrio-like organisms seem to be closely related to this period.In spite of these similar patterns, many differences appear between both experiments from a taxonomic point of view, the autumnal population being more diversified than the spring one.The results obtained show the value of simultaneous analysis of these different aspects and of this ecological methodology allowing spatial or temporal comparisons.     

Assessment of phytoplankton class abundance using in vivo synchronous fluorescence spectra

In this study the feasibility of using the in vivo synchronous fluorescence spectra (SFS) of phytoplankton samples for determining the relative abundance of specific classes of phytoplankton was investigated. In total, 405 SFS of nine phytoplankton species cultivated under different conditions were measured and evaluated. First, principal component analysis (PCA) was used to obtain nine representative spectra, and three feature spectrum bands at 200-235, 310-335, and 355-585 nm of SFS were found to have a better discriminatory capability. The nine phytoplankton species were spectrographically sorted into six classes. Second, a relationship between the chlorophyll a (chla) concentration of phytoplankton extracts and the in vivo SFS intensity was found; thus the corresponding phytoplankton class abundance can be expressed by the concentration of standard chla. For this data set, the detection limit ranged 1.02-6.89 μg/L chla for different classes. Finally, qualitative and quantitative analyses of 30 mixtures of phytoplankton were carried out using the nonnegative least square regression (NNLS) method. The dominant phytoplankton classes could be identified while the qualitative recognition correctness rate was 88% and the quantitative standard deviation with fluorometrically determined chla was −0.14-0.04. Hence, it was possible to estimate the abundance of dominant phytoplankton classes.     

Recent exposure to environmental stochasticity does not determine the demographic resilience of natural populations

Escalating climatic and anthropogenic pressures expose ecosystems worldwide to increasingly stochastic environments. Yet, our ability to forecast the responses of natural populations to this increased environmental stochasticity is impeded by a limited understanding of how exposure to stochastic environments shapes demographic resilience. Here, we test the association between local environmental stochasticity and the resilience attributes (e.g. resistance, recovery) of 2242 natural populations across 369 animal and plant species. Contrary to the assumption that past exposure to frequent environmental shifts confers a greater ability to cope with current and future global change, we illustrate how recent environmental stochasticity regimes from the past 50 years do not predict the inherent resistance or recovery potential of natural populations. Instead, demographic resilience is strongly predicted by the phylogenetic relatedness among species, with survival and developmental investments shaping their responses to environmental stochasticity. Accordingly, our findings suggest that demographic resilience is a consequence of evolutionary processes and/or deep-time environmental regimes, rather than recent-past experiences.     

Some effects of artificial mixing on the dynamics of phytoplankton populations in large limnetic enclosures

Effects of a series of artificial mixings of part of the watercolumn of a limnetic enclosure (‘Lund Tube’ C, BlelhamTarn, Cumbria) upon the rates of net change in the standingpopulations of selected species of phytoplankton are described.Increase of Sphaerocystis and Anabaena was relatively fasterunder the ‘quiescent’, stratified conditions ofunmixed columns whereas mixing generally favoured the net increaseof diatoms (e.g., Fragilaria) or, at times, of Oscillatoria.The sequences corresponded closely to supposed successionalpathways, which are thus suggested to be naturally regulatedby seasonally-changing physical characteristics of the watercolumn. Performance characteristics of the mixing apparatusand a mathematical expression of the net rate of change in naturalFragilaria populations are appended.     

Spectral fluorescence: an ataxonomic tool for studying the structure of phytoplankton populations

Although early studies in plankton biology feature detailedanalyses of numbers of species, modern studies tend to emphasizebulk changes in biomass associated with rare processes. We arguethat the penalty for this approach will eventually be an incompleteunderstanding of seasonal and spatial changes in the patternof primary production of ocean waters. The ability of naturalpopulations to respond to changes in the marine environmentis due to adaptability at the cellular level (phenotypic) andchanges in whole species groups (genotypic). The inability totest the relative importance of these two strategies is dueto the incompatiblity of traditional taxonomic approaches andfield experimentation where rate processes are being measured.To counteract this difficulty we propose an ataxonomic techniquewhich utilizes the differences in light absorption by phytoplanktonfor photosynthetic processes. In this report we review how changesin the fluorescence spectral signatures reflect other biochemicalfeatures in natural populations. This is examined in concertwith physical and chemical changes associated with the characteristicsof ocean water masses with specific reference as to how thesehydrographic features influence the relative growth of phytoplanktonpopulations. ^*This paper is the result of a study made at the Group for AquaticPrimaiy Productivity (GAP). Second International Workshop heldat the National Oceanographic Institute, Haifa, Israel in April–May1984.     

Extracellular release of photosynthetic products by freshwater phytoplankton populations, with special reference to the algal species involved

SUMMARY. Over three successive years, depth profiles of C-fixation and excretion, chlorophyll- a concentrations, phytoplankton species composition and bacterial numbers were determined in Lake Vechten, a slightly eutrophic lake in The Netherlands. Special attention was given to the method used to measure extracellular release.
Excretion of dissolved organic ¹⁴C depended largely upon the photo-synthetic activity of the phytoplankton, ranging from 0–2.5 mg m^-1 h^-1, representing a percentage extracellular release (PER) of 0–25%.
During a period in August, however, a subsurface chlorophyll- a maximum at 5–7 m depth coincided with high excretion rates of up to 10 mg Cm^-3 h^-1 (PER = 55%). Phytoplankton analysis revealed a stratification in numbers of Mallomonas caudata with a maximum at 5–7 m depth.
The results suggest that in these water layers bacterial populations grew at the expense of the dissolved organic carbon compounds excreted by Mallomonas caudata. This means that extracellular release can temporarily function as an important nutrient source for the heterotrophie community in addition to the more or less constant dissolved organic carbon pool.