The effect of organic carbon and nitrogen additions on inorganic nitrogen uptake by phytoplankton and bacteria

Van Wijk, Kim

The effect of organic carbon and nitrogen additions on inorganic nitrogen uptake by phytoplankton and bacteria

Master Thesis

1991

Publisher

University of Cape Town

Department

Department of Oceanography

Faculty

Faculty of Science

Abstract

This study examines the effects of enrichment with organic carbon and nitrogen on inorganic nitrogen partitioning between phyto- and bacterio- plankton. Strongly preferential uptake of ammonium over nitrate was observed by both the phytoplanktonic and bacterial fractions, with RPINH4 values typically between 1 and 5. The bacterial fraction ( <0.8μm) was found to be responsible for as much as 48-75% of community uptake of ammonium; while the netplanktonic fraction was observed to take up approximately 50% of intact community uptake of nitrate. The addition of amino acids appeared to mediate bacterial competition for ammonium, indicating their preference for DON as a nitrogen source and allowing increased ammonium uptake by the nanoplanktonic fraction. The effect of glucose enrichment was complicated by the presence of protozoans, which appeared to be indirectly responsible for decreased ammonium uptake due to depletion of this substrate in the presence of added glucose. The nanoplankton appeared to be responsible for the least nitrogen uptake with respect to biomass, indicating that they may have been subject to competition pressure from both the bacterial and netplanktonic fractions.

Description

Bibliography: pages 76-89.

Keywords

Phytoplankton

Reference:

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Masters

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