水体无机碳条件对常见沉水植物生长和生理的影响

为了解水华引起的水体无机碳变化对沉水植物生长的影响,对8种沉水植物:金鱼藻、穗花狐尾藻、篦齿眼子菜、光叶眼子菜、微齿眼子菜、伊乐藻、菹草和黑藻在不同无机碳浓度下的生物量、株高、叶绿素以及光合和呼吸速率进行了比较研究.结果表明8种沉水植物均能利用HCO3-作为光合无机碳源,在1.5 mmoL/L外源HCO3-浓度下能促进金鱼藻、菹草和伊乐藻的生长,提高其光合速率;在2.5 mmol/L外源HCO3-浓度下能促进狐尾藻、光叶眼子菜、黑藻、微齿眼子菜和蓖齿眼子菜的生长,提高其光合速率.在CO32-为优势碳源时,8种沉水植物表现出不同的适应性,发现微齿眼子菜、篦齿眼子菜和黑藻在整个实验范围内生长未受抑制,且在不同浓度下表现生长和光合速率的促进,说明这三种沉水植物对[HCO3-]/[CO32-]比值和pH具有较广适应范围.而当CO32-成为优势碳源时,金鱼藻和伊乐藻的生长受到抑制,狐尾藻、菹草和光叶眼子菜均死亡,表明[HCO3-]/[CO32-]比值和pH是这5种沉水植物生长的重要限制因子.     

洪湖5种优势沉水植物光合荧光特性比较研究

利用水下饱和脉冲荧光仪(DIVING-PAM),原位观测洪湖5种优势沉水植物——苦草[Vallisneria natans(Lour.)Hara]、黑藻[Hydrilla verticillata(L.f.)Royle]、狐尾藻(Myriophyllum verticillatum L.)、菹草(Potamogeton crispus L.)和马来眼子菜(Potamogeton wrightii Morong)的量子产量及快速光曲线。结果显示:5种沉水植物苦草、黑藻、狐尾藻、菹草和马来眼子菜最大量子产量(Fv/Fm)分别为0.603、0.723、0.751、0.778和0.646。各物种的开放PSⅡ反应中心原初光能捕获效率(Fv′/Fm′)的大小依次为菹草狐尾藻黑藻马来眼子菜苦草,且除黑藻与狐尾藻间差异不显著外,其他物种间差异均显著;各物种光能利用能力(α)的大小依次为菹草黑藻狐尾藻马来眼子菜苦草,且除黑藻与狐尾藻间差异不显著外,其他物种间差异均显著;各物种无光抑制的最大潜在相对电子传递速率(rETRm)的大小依次为菹草狐尾藻黑藻马来眼子菜苦草,且各物种间差异显著;半饱和光强(Ek)的大小依次为狐尾藻菹草黑藻苦草马来眼子菜,且除狐尾藻与菹草间差异不显著外,其他物种间差异均显著。研究表明:洪湖5种优势沉水植物中,菹草和狐尾藻较耐强光,光合速率较高,而苦草则有较强的耐弱光能力。     

太湖中2种大型沉水被子植物适应低光能力的比较

测定不同光强下太湖沉水植物苦草和马来眼子菜的光合参数以及比较两者低光适应能力差异的结果表明：在5％自然光和100％自然光下,马来眼子菜的光合效率和电子传递速率（ETR）均下降,而苦草在大于70％自然光下开始急剧下降,叶中丙二醛（MDA）含量和膜透性变化趋势与此相反;两者最大非光化学猝灭（qNmax）随光强增大而升高,而苦草在自然光下却下降。苦草的叶绿素a／b（chla／b）值随光强的下降而减小,而马来眼子菜的却无明显变化,但后者类胡萝卜素／叶绿素a（car／chla）的值随光强增加而显著增大。这表明苦草适应低光的能力更强,与两者在白然水体中的空间分布一致。     

鄱阳湖苦草及马来眼子菜PSⅡ荧光参数对水深变化的光响应

以典型沉水植物苦草和马来眼子菜为材料,利用水下饱和脉冲调制叶绿素荧光仪研究不同水深(0.5、1.0、1.5、2.0、2.5 m)对两种植物叶片最小荧光(Fo)、最大荧光(Fm)、PSⅡ最大光化光效率(Fv/Fm)、有效量子产量[Y(Ⅱ)]、光化学淬灭系数(qP)、非光化学淬灭系数(qN)、非调节性能量耗散的量子产量[Y(NO)]等荧光参数的影响。结果表明:水深1.5～2.0 m处苦草生物量最大,而1.0～1.5 m处马来眼子菜的最大;两种植物的Fo均先降低后升高,而荧光参数[(Fm、Fv/Fm、Fv/Fo、Y(Ⅱ)、qP]均先升高后降低; 2.0m处苦草的Fv/Fm、Fv/Fo最大,1.5 m处马来眼子菜的最大;相同水深下,马来眼子菜的qN比苦草低,与qP变化趋势相反;苦草的Y(Ⅱ)最大值出现在水深1.5～2.0 m内,马来眼子菜的Y(Ⅱ)最大值出现在1.5 m处;两者的Y(NO)随水深变化均表现出显著差异,过高或过低水深均抑制植物生长;相对光合电子传递速率(ETR)在不同水深处理间均差异显著,苦草的最大ETR比马来眼子菜小,说明其有较强的耐弱光能力。综上所述,在水深1.5～2.0 m苦草光合能力最强,最适宜生长;水深1.0～1.5 m最适宜马来眼子菜生长。     

辽宁太子河大型水生植物的群落特征及其与环境的关系

采用样方法对太子河3条支流大型水生植物群落结构与生物量的研究表明：太子河北支大型水生植物的优势种为小眼子菜（Potamogeton pusillus）、菹草（P.crispus）和马来眼子菜（P.malaianus）,主要群落类型为小眼子菜＋菹草群落;细河大型水生植物的优势种为菹草、马来眼子菜和轮叶黑藻（Hydrilla verticillata）,主要群落类型为菹草＋轮叶黑藻群落;海城河大型水生植物的优势种为轮叶黑藻、小眼子菜、五刺金鱼藻（Ceratophyllum oryze-torum）和菹草,主要群落类型为轮叶黑藻＋小眼子菜＋菹草群落。从定量生长型谱来看,太子河北支以小眼子菜型为主要类型,细河以大眼子菜型为主要类型,海城河以大眼子菜型、小眼子菜型、金鱼藻型和伊乐藻型为主要类型;从生活型谱来看,3条支流都是以沉水植物为主要生活型。大型水生植物群落相似性聚类分析表明3条支流水生植物群落组成差异显著。3条支流大型水生植物沿河流纵向分布格局均为间断的斑块状,沿水深的垂直分布格局不明显。太子河北支大型水生植物从上游到下游均有出现;细河大型水生植物主要分布在下游;海城河大型水生植物主要分布在中下游。大型水生植物生产力（湿重）：海城河（644 g/m2）﹥太子河北支（586.8 g/m2）﹥细河（151.1 g/m2）。大型水生植物与环境因子的相关性分析表明：大型水生植物的物种数与氨态氮、水温、pH和电导率显著正相关（p〈0.05）;与溶解氧、底质指数和海拔显著负相关（p〈0.01）;优势种小眼子菜的生物量与水深显著正相关（p〈0.01）,与电导率和总氮显著负相关（p〈0.05）。     

叶异形水生植物不同发育阶段叶片的结构和无机碳获取策略

以睡莲(Nymphaea tetragona Georgi)、萍蓬草(Nuphar pumila (Timm) de Candolle)、条叶萍蓬草(Nuphar sagittifolia Pursh)、眼子菜(Potamogeton distinctus A. Bennett)、南方眼子菜(Potamogeton octandrus Poir)和泽泻(Alisma plantago-aquatica L.)6种叶异形水生植物为材料,对它们的叶绿素含量、气孔性状、解剖结构和HCO₃^-利用等指标进行分析,比较了两种不同发育阶段叶片结构和无机碳获取策略的差异。结果显示,幼态叶比成熟叶的叶片更薄,具有更少的细胞层数,幼态叶上下表面均不具备气孔,而成熟叶上表皮有气孔。说明幼态叶在结构上增加细胞比表面积,增加水下吸收无机碳的能力,而成熟叶的结构能更好地吸收大气中的CO₂。pH-drift分析结果证明,幼态叶具有更高获取水下无机碳的能力,以适应沉水环境。本研究还发现眼子菜和南方眼子菜的幼态叶可以利用水体中HCO₃^-为额外碳源,更有利于其在沉水环境中生长。研究结果阐明了叶异形水生植物不同发育阶段叶片结构和利用无机碳获取策略对水下和气生环境的适应性。     

洱海底泥特性对七种沉水植物生长的影响

为研究洱海底泥特性对沉水植物生长的影响,采用不同比例洱海底泥与湖岸土壤掺混形成五种基质,并分别移栽苦草、黑藻、微齿眼子菜、马来眼子菜、光叶眼子菜、穿叶眼子菜和狐尾藻,进行为期70d的室外生长实验,结果表明不同基质对几种植物的影响具种间差异。（1）在基质为50%深层底泥+50%湖岸土壤（碳、氮、磷含量分别为31.59、0.334和0.095 mg/g）时,苦草、马来眼子菜和光叶眼子菜的株高最大;基质为100%深层底泥（碳、氮、磷含量分别为37.88、0.803和0.149 mg/g）时,黑藻、微齿眼子菜、穿叶眼子菜和狐尾藻的株高最大;（2）基质为100%深层底泥时,苦草、黑藻、微齿眼子菜、马来眼子菜和光叶眼子菜生物量增加最多且相对生长速率最大;基质为100%浅层底泥（碳、氮、磷含量分别为77.37、5.691和0.136 mg/g）时,穿叶眼子菜生物量增加最多,相对生长速率最大;狐尾藻在基质为50%浅层底泥+50%深层底泥（碳、氮、磷含量分别为49.27、2.005和0.131 mg/g）时生物量增加最多,相对生长速率最大;（3）基质为100%湖岸土壤（碳、氮、磷含量分别为22.06、0.327和0.231 mg/g）时,7种沉水植物均生长缓慢,生物量增加较少。综上所述,中营养底泥（碳、氮、磷含量分别为31.59-49.27、0.334-2.005和0.095-0.131 mg/g）更适合沉水植物生长,底泥中过高或过低营养都不利于沉水植物生长。     

五种沉水植物对富营养化水体的净化效果

为达到净化水质的目的,采用移栽沉水植物控制富营养化水体中营养盐含量和浮游藻类生物量。本研究在夏季藻类密度较高的富营养化水体中移栽5种长江中下游流域常见沉水植物,比较不同沉水植物去除营养盐和控制藻类总量的能力。研究结果:5种沉水植物对水体总氮含量去除率的大小顺序为:竹叶眼子菜>黑藻>苦草>微齿眼子菜>菹草,对总磷去除率大小顺序为:竹叶眼子菜>黑藻>微齿眼子菜>苦草>菹草;竹叶眼子菜控制水体中藻类总量的效果最佳,苦草、微齿眼子菜及菹草次之,黑藻对水体总磷和浮游植物的去除效果均极显著(p≤0.01),而对总氮含量的作用影响不明显(p=0.209)。综合营养盐吸收作用和藻类控制效果来看,竹叶眼子菜在整个实验过程中生长状态良好并达到较为稳定的净化作用,是夏季治理浅型富营养化静水水体的理想物种之一。     

蛋白核小球藻生长和无机碳利用对不同光照强度和CO2浓度的响应

为了探讨光照强度和CO₂浓度对蛋白核小球藻(Chlorella pyrenoidosa)生长、无机碳利用的复合效应, 丰富绿藻中无机碳浓缩机制的资料, 该文设置两种光照强度(40和120 µmol photons•m^-2•s^-1)和两种CO₂浓度(0.04%和0.16%)组合成4种条件, 比较了蛋白核小球藻生长、无机碳浓度、pH补偿点、光合放氧速率、碳酸酐酶(CA)活性和α-CA基因转录表达对这4种培养条件的响应。结果发现: 蛋白核小球藻在高光强高CO₂浓度组生长最快; 低光强高CO₂浓度组培养体系中总无机碳浓度为1163.3 µmol•L^-1, 显著高于其他3组; 高光强低CO₂浓度组藻的pH补偿点最高(9.8), 而低光强高CO₂浓度组藻的pH补偿点最低(8.6); 低光强高CO₂浓度组藻的最大光合速率(V_max)和最大光合速率一半时的无机碳浓度(K_0.5)最高, 分别是其他3组的1.28-1.91倍和1.61-2.00倍; 高光强低CO₂浓度组藻的胞外CA活性最高; 而低光强低CO₂浓度组藻的胞外α-CA基因表达量显著高于其他3组。以上结果表明低CO₂浓度可促进蛋白核小球藻的pH补偿点和无机碳亲和力的提高, 诱导胞外CA活性及α-CA基因的表达; 该藻主要以HCO₃^-为无机碳源, 其对无机碳的利用受光照的调节。     

春季不同程度低水位对四种沉水植物生理的影响

为了解不同沉水植物对春季低水位的生理响应, 在2014年春季开展为期3个月的控制实验, 研究不同程度的春季低水位, 包括极低水位(水深18 cm)、较低水位(36 cm)和低水位(54 cm)对3种乡土沉水植物微齿眼子菜、穗花狐尾藻和菹草的最大光化学量子产量(Fv/Fm)、总叶绿素含量和可溶性糖含量的影响, 并与外来种伊乐藻作对比。结果显示, 随着水位的降低, 微齿眼子菜、菹草和伊乐藻Fv/Fm显著升高, 而穗花狐尾藻的Fv/Fm无显著变化; 在3种水位下伊乐藻的Fv/Fm都明显高于其他3种植物。微齿眼子菜和菹草总叶绿素含量也随着水位降低有升高趋势, 而穗花狐尾藻和伊乐藻的总叶绿素含量随水位没有显著变化。所有水位下微齿眼子菜总叶绿素含量最高, 穗花狐尾藻最低, 菹草只在低水位下显著低于伊乐藻。微齿眼子菜、菹草和伊乐藻的可溶性糖含量随着水位的降低而下降, 穗花狐尾藻的可溶性糖含量随着水位的降低有升高趋势。在低水位和较低水位下穗花狐尾藻和菹草的可溶性糖含量分别是所有植物中的最小和最大, 但在极低水位下4种沉水植物的可溶性糖含量无明显差异。以上结果表明, 春季极低水位对微齿眼子菜、伊乐藻和菹草不产生胁迫,但对穗花狐尾藻产生了胁迫; 伊乐藻潜在光合能力强于乡土种, 在春季浅水区具备较强的入侵性。     

Retention of Dissolved Inorganic Nitrogen by Foliage and Twigs of Four Temperate Tree Species

Nitrogen (N) retention by tree canopies is believed to be an important process for tree nutrient uptake, and its quantification is a key issue in determining the impact of atmospheric N deposition on forest ecosystems. Due to dry deposition and retention by other canopy elements, the actual uptake and assimilation by the tree canopy is often obscured in throughfall studies. In this study, ¹⁵N-labeled solutions ( $ ^{15} {\text{NH}}_{4}^{ + } $ and $ ^{15} {\text{NO}}_{3}^{ - } $ ) were used to assess dissolved inorganic N retention by leaves/needles and twigs of European beech, pedunculate oak, silver birch, and Scots pine saplings. The effects of N form, tree species, leaf phenology, and applied $ {\text{NO}}_{3}^{ - } $ to $ {\text{NH}}_{4}^{ + } $ ratio on the N retention were assessed. Retention patterns were mainly determined by foliar uptake, except for Scots pine. In twigs, a small but significant ¹⁵N enrichment was detected for $ {\text{NH}}_{4}^{ + } $ , which was found to be mainly due to physicochemical adsorption to the woody plant surface. The mean $ {{^{15} {\text{NH}}_{4}^{ + } } \mathord{\left/ {\vphantom {{^{15} {\text{NH}}_{4}^{ + } } {^{15} {\text{NO}}_{3}^{ - } }}} \right. \kern-0em} {^{15} {\text{NO}}_{3}^{ - } }} $ retention ratio varied considerably among species and phenological stadia, which indicates that the use of a fixed ratio in the canopy budget model could lead to an over- or underestimation of the total N retention. In addition, throughfall water under each branch was collected and analyzed for $ ^{15} {\text{NH}}_{4}^{ + } $ , $ ^{15} {\text{NO}}_{3}^{ - } $ , and all major ions. Net throughfall of $ ^{15} {\text{NH}}_{4}^{ + } $ was, on average, 20 times higher than the actual retention of $ ^{15} {\text{NH}}_{4}^{ + } $ by the plant material. This difference in $ ^{15} {\text{NH}}_{4}^{ + } $ retention could not be attributed to pools and fluxes measured in this study. The retention of $ ^{15} {\text{NH}}_{4}^{ + } $ was correlated with the net throughfall of K⁺, Mg²⁺, Ca²⁺, and weak acids during leaf development and the fully leafed period, while no significant relationships were found for $ ^{15} {\text{NO}}_{3}^{ - } $ retention. This suggests that the main driving factors for $ {\text{NH}}_{4}^{ + } $ retention might be ion exchange processes during the start and middle of the growing season and passive diffusion at leaf senescence. Actual assimilation or abiotic uptake of N through leaves and twigs was small in this study, for example, 1–5% of the applied dissolved ¹⁵N, indicating that the impact of canopy N retention from wet deposition on forest productivity and carbon sequestration is likely limited.     

介质pH缓冲系统选择及其对龙须菜生长的影响

该文选择红藻门大型植物龙须菜(Gracilaria lemaneiformis)作为研究对象,通过黑白瓶法筛选出有机试剂POPSO(哌嗪-N,N-双(2-羟基乙烷磺酸)),能较好地缓冲室内龙须菜培养中介质pH的波动。在此基础上,探讨了POPSO对龙须菜生长的影响,结果表明:15 mmol·L ^-1及以上浓度的POPSO能较好地稳定介质pH值,减少系统中DIC浓度的急剧变化,但POPSO对CO₂浓度波动不起作用;试验结果还表明,介质中的CO₂浓度与龙须菜的生长速率间存在着类似酶动力学方程的关系,当介质中的CO₂浓度下降到5.25 μmol·L ^-1以下时,龙须菜生长出现抑制现象。相对稳定pH的培养环境,更有利于介质DIC中的HCO^-₃、CO^2-₃向CO₂的转换,缓解龙须菜生长的C抑制。     

Inorganic carbon uptake kinetics of the stream macrophyte Callitriche cophocarpa Sendt.

Photosynthetic carbon uptake of Callitriche cophocarpa Sendt. was examined in plants collected from six Danish streams and in plants grown under variable inorganic carbon conditions in the laboratory. Both field and laboratory plants showed a low affinity for inorganic carbon (CO₂ compensation points ranging from 0.7 to 22 μM, and K_0.5(CO₂) from 51 to 121 μM), consistent with C-3 photosynthesis and use of CO₂ alone. Variation in inorganic carbon uptake characteristics was low in both groups of plants. Only in laboratory-grown plants was a coupling found between carbon uptake and the inorganic carbon regime of the medium. The carbon extraction capacity, expressed as a percentage of the initial amount of dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC) assimilated in PH-drift experiments, increased from −1.4 to 11.8% with declining external carbon availability, and the initial slope of the CO₂ response curve increased from 6.4 to 15.3 g⁻¹ h⁻¹ dm³. The plasticity of the inorganic carbon uptake system of C. cophocarpa was very low compared to the plasticity observed for submerged macrophytes with accessory carbon uptake systems (i.e. HCO₃⁻ use or C-4 photosynthesis), suggesting that the plasticity of the C-3 photosynthetic apparatus as such is restricted. The low carbon affinity of C. cophocarpa indicates that this species depends on CO₂ oversaturation for a sufficient supply of CO₂ for photosynthesis and growth.     

空气CO2增高条件下荔枝叶片光合作用和超氧自由基产率

研究结果表明,生长在77±5PaCO₂分压下30d的荔枝幼树,其光合速率较大气CO₂分压(39.3Pa)下的低23%,光下线粒体呼吸速率和不包含光下呼吸的CO₂补偿点亦略有降低.空气CO₂增高使叶片最大羧化速率(V_cmax)和最大电子传递速率(J_max)降低,表明大气增高CO₂分压下叶片的光系统I(PSI)能量水平较低,叶片超氧自由基产率亦降低39%,叶片感染荔枝霜疫霉病率则从生长在大气CO₂分压下的1.8%增至9.5%.可能较低光合和呼吸代谢诱致较低的超氧自由基产率,而使叶片易受病害侵染.叶片受病害侵染后表现为超氧自由基的激增.在全球大气CO₂分压增高趋势下须加强对荔枝霜疫霉病的控制.     

不同无机碳源对粉核油球藻生长的影响

研究了2种无机碳源对粉核油球藻(Pinguiococcus pyrenoidosus CCMP2078)生长的影响。结果表明,适量添加NaHCO₃和通CO₂对P.pyrenoidosus CCMP2078的生长均有促进作用,NaHCO₃的添加方式对该藻的生长具有显著差异。一次性添加和分批添加NaHCO₃的优化浓度分别为5mmoL·L^-1和20mmoL·L^-1,后者对数生长末期的细胞密度、干重和比生长速率均最高,分别为8.93×10⁶cells·mL^-1,0.247g·L^-1和0.225dL^-1。通入CO₂的体积分数为0.5%时,最有利于藻细胞的生长,对数生长末期的细胞密度、干重和比生长率分别为3.83×10⁷cells·mL^-1、0.42g·L^-1和0.212d^-1。     

不同温度与CO2浓度对坛紫菜生长和光合作用温度反应特性的影响

论文研究了不同CO₂浓度(390 μL/L和700 μL/L)和温度(15℃和25℃)对坛紫菜(Porphyra haitanensis)生长与光合作用-温度反应特性的影响。结果表明,相对于25℃生长的海藻,15℃生长的海藻具较高的相对生长速率和色素含量(叶绿素和类胡萝卜素),并且在高CO₂下增加趋势更显著。在两种CO₂浓度下,15℃生长的坛紫菜可溶性蛋白质和可溶性碳水化合物含量高于25℃生长的坛紫菜。低温10℃胁迫下,15℃生长的坛紫菜最大光量子产量(Fv/Fm)、光能利用效率(α)及非光化学淬灭(NPQ)相对于25℃生长的坛紫菜更稳定;高温35℃使得坛紫菜rETRmax、Fv/Fm、α值均下降,这种下降的程度在15℃生长藻中比25℃生长的藻更大;此外,15℃生长条件下,高CO₂生长的坛紫菜受35℃高温胁迫时的Fv/Fm和α下降程度小于正常空气生长下的坛紫菜。高温40℃使坛紫菜 rETRmax、Fv/Fm、α、NPQ及qP均急剧下降。结果表明高CO₂使得坛紫菜耐高温性能提高。     

Stress fermentation strategies for the production of hyperthermostable superoxide dismutase from Thermus thermophilus HB27: effects of ions

In this study, we explored how ammonium and metal ion stresses affected the production of recombinant hyperthermostable manganese superoxide dismutase (Mn-SOD). To improve Mn-SOD production, fed-batch culture in shake flasks and bioreactor fermentation were undertaken to examine the effects of $ {\text{NH}}_{ 4}^{{^{ + } }} $ and Mn²⁺ feeding. Under the optimized feeding time and concentrations of $ {\text{NH}}_{ 4}^{{^{ + } }} $ and Mn²⁺, the maximal SOD activity obtained from bioreactor fermentation reached some 480 U/ml, over 4 times higher than that in batch cultivation (113 U/ml), indicating a major enhancement of the concentration of Mn-SOD in the scale-up of hyperthermostable Mn-SOD production. In contrast, when the fed-batch culture with appropriate $ {\text{NH}}_{ 4}^{{^{ + } }} $ and Mn²⁺ feeding was carried out in the same 5-L stirred tank bioreactor, a maximal SOD concentration of some 450 U/ml was obtained, again indicating substantial increase in SOD activity as a result of $ {\text{NH}}_{ 4}^{{^{ + } }} $ and Mn²⁺ feeding. The isoelectric point (pI) of the sample was found to be 6.2. It was highly stable at 90 °C and circular dichroism measurements indicated a high α-helical content of 70 % as well, consistent with known SOD properties. This study indicates that $ {\text{NH}}_{ 4}^{{^{ + } }} $ and Mn²⁺ play important roles in Mn-SOD expression. Stress fermentation strategies established in this study are useful for large-scale efficient production of hyperthermostable Mn-SOD and may also be valuable for the scale-up of other extremozymes.     

Inorganic carbon limitation of photosynthesis in lake phytoplankton

1. Inorganic carbon availability influences species composition of phytoplankton in acidic and highly alkaline lakes, whereas the overall influence on community photosynthesis and growth is subject to debate.
2. The influence of total dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC) and free CO₂ on community photosynthesis was studied in six Danish lakes during the summer of 1995. The lakes were selected to ensure a wide range of chlorophyll a concentrations (1–120 μg l^–1), pH (5.6–9.6) and DIC concentration (0.02–2.5 m m ). Photosynthesis experiments were performed using the ¹⁴C technique in CO₂-manipulated water samples, either by changing the pH or by adding/removing CO₂.
3. Lake waters were naturally CO₂ supersaturated during most of the experimental period and inorganic carbon limitation of photosynthetic rates did not occur under ambient conditions. However, photosynthesis by phytoplankton in lakes with low and intermediate DIC concentrations was seriously restricted when CO₂ concentrations declined. Similarly, photosynthesis was limited by low CO₂ concentrations during phytoplankton blooms in the hardwater alkaline lakes.