Microbial decomposition of urea in the Menai Straits

The assimilation of urea by the microbial population of the Menai Strait (Anglesey, U.K.) was studied over a seasonal cycle. Samples incubated in the light produced higher assimilation rates than samples incubated in darkness. Higher ratios assimilation of urea: chlorophyll a during a time of a probable nitrogen limiting condition may be indicative of the importance of urea for phytoplankton nutrition. Assimilation rates of urea were higher during the diatom and Phaeocystis bloom than in times of low standing crop.Phytoplankton seem to be the major utilizers of urea in the Menai Strait waters. Bacteria may also be important in the decomposition of urea. However, with the methods employed it was not possible to estimate the extent of their participation in the urea decomposition.