Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Carbon and nitrogen dynamics during growth and degradation of phytoplankton under natural surface irradiance

  • Published:
Marine Biology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Under conditions of natural irradiance, the development and decline of a flagellate-dominated phytoplankton population was followed in a coastal North Atlantic pond over a 3 d period in summer 1986. Irradiance negatively affected phytoplankton biomass estimated as chlorophyll a, which decreased during the day at photosynthetically available radiation (PAR) levels above 600 to 1000 μmol m-2s-1; chlorophyll a increased at PAR values below this threshold. In addition, an inverse relationship was found between changes in chlorophyll a and changes in dissolved inorganic nitrogen, indicating synthesis of nitrogenous biomass mainly at night and degradation mainly during the day, with intense exchanges of material between the particulate and dissolved nitrogen fractions. The natural abundance of 13C in particulate matter increased initially, and then remained constant, and was controlled mainly by the ratio β-carboxylases activity: ribulose biphosphate carboxylase activity. The hypothesis that the latter enzyme is broken down under high irradiance and is partly responsible for increases in external dissolved nitrogen was rejected.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

Literature cited

  • Baker, K. S., Smith, R. C., Nelson, J. R. (1983). Chlorophyll determination with filter fluorometer: lamp/filter combination can minimize error. Limnol. Oceanogr. 28:1037–1040

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Beardall, J., Morris, I. (1976). The concept of light intensity adaptation in marine phytoplankton: some experiments with Phaeodactylum tricornutum. Mar. Biol. 37: 377–387

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chesselet, R., Fontugne, M. R., Buat-Ménard, P., Ezat, U., Lambert, C. E. (1981). The origin of particulate organic carbon in the marine atmosphere as indicated by its stable carbon isotopic composition. Geophys. Res. Lett. 8: 345–348

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Collos, Y., Linley, E. A. S., Frikha, M. G., Ravail, B. (1988a). Phytoplankton death and nitrification at low temperatures. Estuar. cstl Shelf Sci. 27: 341–347

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Collos, Y., Maestrini, S. Y., Robert, J. M. (1989). Nocturnal synthesis and diurnal degradation of phytoplankton biomass in surface waters. Mar. Biol. 101: 457–462

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Collos, Y., Manaud, F., Ravail, B., Cronin, A., Chaigneau, S. (1988b). Phytoplankton growth dynamics in temperate coastal marine ponds subjected to natural perturbations. In: Stadler, T., Mollion, J., Verdus, M. C., Karamanos, Y., Morvan, H., Christiansen, D. (eds.) Algal biotechnology. Elsevier Applied Science Publications, Amsterdam, p. 345–353

    Google Scholar 

  • Cullen, J. J. (1988). Responses of phytoplankton to bright light characteristic of the sea surface. Eos Trans., Am. geophys. Un. 69: p. 1102

    Google Scholar 

  • Descolas-Gros, C. (1985). La fixation du carbone inorganique par le phytoplancton marin: données bibliographiques sur les carboxylases et le rapport isotopique 13C/12C. Vie Milieu 35: 33–41

    Google Scholar 

  • Descolas-Gros, C., Fontugne, M. R. (1985). Carbon fixation in marine phytoplankton: carboxylase activities and stable carbonisotope ratios; physiological and paleoclimatological aspects. Mar. Biol. 87: 1–6

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Descolas-Gros, C., Fontugne, M. R. (1988). Carboxylase activities and carbon isotope ratios of Mediterranean phytoplankton. Oceanol. Acta (Nr. spéc.): 245–250

  • Descolas-Gros, C., Fontugne, M. R. (1990). Stable carbon isotope fractionation by marine phytoplankton during photosynthesis. Pl., Cell Envir. 13: 207–218

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Döhler, G. (1985). Effect of UV-B radiation (290–320 nm) on the nitrogen metabolism of several marine diatoms. J. Pl. Physiol. 118: 391–400

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dortch, Q., Postel, J. R. (1989). Biochemical indicators of N utilization by phytoplankton during upwelling off the Washington coast. Limnol. Oceanogr. 34: 758–773

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ekman, P., Lignell, A., Pedersen, M. (1989). Localization of ribulose-1,5-biphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase in Gracilaria secundata (Rhodophyta) and its role as a nitrogen storage pool. Botanica mar. 32: 527–534

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ellis, R. J. (1979). The most abundant protein in the world. Trends biochem. Sciences 4: 241–244

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Falkowski, P. G., Owens, T. G. (1980). Light-shade adaptation. Two strategies in marine phytoplankton. Pl. Physiol. 66: 592–595

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Fontugne, M. R., Duplessy, J. C. (1978). Carbon isotope ratio of marine plankton related to surface water masses. Earth planet. Sci. Lett. 41: 365–371

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Fontugne, M. R., Duplessy, J. C. (1981). Organic isotopic fractionation by marine plankton in the temperature range-1 to 31°C. Oceanol. Acta 4: 85–90

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hobbie, J. E., Daley, R. J., Jasper, S. (1977). Use of Nuclepore filters for counting bacteria by fluorescence microscopy. Appl. envirl Microbiol. 33: 1225–1228

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Holm-Hansen, O., Lorenzen, C. J., Holmes, R. W., Strickland, J. D. H. (1965). Fluorometric determination of chlorophyll. J. Cons. perm. int. Explor. Mer 30: 3–15

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Holm-Hansen, O., Riemann, B. (1978). Chlorophyll a determination: improvements in methodology. Oikos 30: 438–447

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Huffaker, R. C., Peterson, L. W. (1974). Protein turnover in plants and possible means of its regulation. A. Rev. Pl. Physiol. 25: 363–392

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Jitts, H. R., Morel, A., Saijo, Y. (1976). The relation of oceanic primary production to available photosynthetic irradiance. Aust. J. mar. Freshwat. Res. 27: 441–454

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Maestrini, S. Y., Robert, J. M. (1981). Rendements d'utilisation des sels nutritifs et variations de l'état des cellules de trois diatomées de claires à huitres de Vendée. Oceanol. Acta 4: 13–21

    Google Scholar 

  • Morel, A., Smith, R. C. (1974). Relation between total quanta and total energy for aquatic photosynthesis. Limnol. Oceanogr. 19: 591–600

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Perry, M. J., Talbot, M. C., Alberte, R. S. (1981). Photoadaptation in marine phytoplankton: response of the photosynthetic unit. Mar. Biol. 62: 91–101

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Prezelin, B. B. (1982). Effects of light intensity on aging of the dinoflagellate Gonyaulax polyedra. Mar. Biol. 69: 129–135

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rijn, J. van, Diab, S., Shilo, M. (1984). Mechanisms of ammonia transformations in fishponds. Spec. Publs eur. Maricult. Soc. 8: 17–40

    Google Scholar 

  • Smith, J. C., Platt, T., Harrison, W. G. (1983). Photoadaptation of carboxylating enzymes and photosynthesis during a spring bloom. Prog. Oceanogr. 12: 425–459

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Strickland, J. D. H. (1965). Production of organic matter in the primary stages of the marine food chain. In: Riley, J. P., Skirrow, G. (eds.) Chemical oceanography. Vol. I. Academic Press, London, p. 477–610

    Google Scholar 

  • Utermöhl, H. (1958). Zur Vervollkommnung der quantitativen Phytoplankton-Methodik. Mitt. int. Verein. theor. angew. Limnol. 9: 1–38

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Author notes

  1. M. J. Chrétiennot-Dinet

    Present address: Laboratoire Arago (CNRS), F-66650, Banyuls-sur-mer, France

  2. Y. Collos

    Present address: Laboratoire d'Hydrobiologie, Université de Montpellier CC093, F-34095, Montpellier Cédex 5, France

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Centre de Recherche en Ecologie Marine et Aquaculture de L'Houmeau (CNRS-IFREMER), B.P. 5, F-17137L, Houmeau, France

    Y. Collos, M. J. Chrétiennot-Dinet & M. G. Frikha

  2. Laboratoire Arago (CNRS), F-66650, Banyuls-sur-mer, France

    C. Descolas-Gros & A. Mortain-Bertrand

  3. Laboratoire mixte CEA-CNRS, Centre des Faibles Radioactivités, B.P. 1, F-91198, Gif-sur-Yvette Cedex, France

    M. Fontugne

Authors
  1. Y. Collos
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. C. Descolas-Gros
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. M. Fontugne
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. A. Mortain-Bertrand
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. M. J. Chrétiennot-Dinet
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. M. G. Frikha
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Additional information

Communicated by J. M. Pérès, Marseille

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Collos, Y., Descolas-Gros, C., Fontugne, M. et al. Carbon and nitrogen dynamics during growth and degradation of phytoplankton under natural surface irradiance. Marine Biology 112, 491–496 (1992). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00356295

Download citation

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00356295

Keywords

Search

Navigation