Abstract
Due to complex hydrodynamic and biological inhomogeneities, the phytoplankton species succession cannot be satisfactorily observed, apart from the seasonal blooms which occur in temperate waters. Large flexible plastic tanks have proved to be useful for such observations. In 1972, for 28 days, a phytoplankton succession in nutrient-poor water in the outer harbor of Helgoland was observed in a flexible plastic tank (3 m3). During this period, 3 phytoplankton biomass maxima were formed with many significant correlations. In the first 7 days the ammonia concentration decreased from over 6 to 2 μ mol 1-1 for 14 days. The nitrate concentration remained in the range of 3–6 μ mol 1-1 and then fell abruptly to 0–2 μ mol 1-1. The phosphate concentration was about 0.1 μ mol 1-1. Lauderia borealis dominated the first period, and its increase was significantly correlated with the decrease in ammonia. The diatom was succeeded by two dinoflagellates, Dinophysis acuminata and Prorocentrum micans. The last period of the experiment was characterized by a stronger development of Rhizosolenia species. The rapid recovery of the crop in the nutrient-poor water points to intensive remineralization processes. The irregular occurrence of ammonia near the surface was correlated with the appearance of Noctiluca miliaris at this depth. It is expected that repetitions of this type of experiment will permit further explanations of statistical correlations which are not yet clear. As a first step, in order to test hypotheses, a correlation analysis was employed to eliminate the statistically non-significant correlations.
Similar content being viewed by others
Literature Cited
Antia, N.J., C.D. McAllister, T.R. Parsons, K. Stephens, and J.D.H. Strickland: Further measurements of primary production using a largevolume plastic sphere. Limnol. Oceanogr. 8, 166–175 (1963)
Braarud, T.: Cultivation of marine organisms as a means of understanding environmental influences on populations. Publs Am. Ass. Advmt Sci. 67, 271–298 (1961)
Brockmann, U.H., K. Eberlein, G. Hentzschel, H.K. Schöne, D. Siebers, K. Wandschneider and A. Weber: Parallel plastic tank experiments with cultures of marine diatoms. Helgoländer wiss. Meeresunters. (In press) (1977)
Brockmann, U.H., K. Eberlein, H.D. Junge, E. Maier-Reimer, D. Siebers and H. Trageser: The development of a natural plankton population in an outdoor tank with nutrient-poor seawater. II. Change of concentrations of dissolved neutral carbohydrates and free dissolved amino acids. (In preparation, a)
———, H. Trageser und K.J. Trahms: Einfache Folientanks zur Planktonuntersuchung in situ. Mar. Biol. 24, 163–166 (1974)
—, G. Kattner, G. Hentzschel, K. Wandschneider, H.D. Junge und H. Hühnerfuß: Natürliche Oberflächenfilme im Seegebiet vor Sylt. Mar. Biol. 36, 135–146 (1976)
H.D. Junge, J. Trahms, K. Eberlein, H.D. Junge, E. Maier-Reimer and H. Trageser: The development of a natural plankton population in an outdoor tank with nutrient-poor seawater. III. Succession and development of zooplankton (In preparation, b)
Curl, H.J. and G.C. McGleod: The physiological ecology of a marine diatom, Skeletonema costatum (Grév.) Cleve. J. mar. Res. 19, 70–88 (1961)
Eppley, R.W., R.W. Holmes and J.D.H. Strickland: Sinking rates of marine phytoplankton measured with a fluorometer. J. exp. mar. Biol. Ecol. 1, 191–208 (1967)
— and E.H. Renger: Nitrogen assimilation of an oceanic diatom in nitrogen-limited continuous culture. J. Phycol. 10, 15–23 (1974)
—, J.N. Rogers and J.J. McCarthy: Half-saturation constants for uptake of nitrate and ammonium by marine phytoplankton. Limnol. Oceanogr. 14, 912–920 (1969)
Finenko, Z.Z. and D.K. Krupatkina-Akinina: Effect of inorganic phosphorus on the growth rate of diatoms. Mar. Biol. 26, 193–201 (1974)
Fogg, G.E.: Algal cultures and phytoplankton ecology, 126 pp. Madison,Milwaukee & London: University of Wisconsin Press 1966
Grall, J.-R.: Développement “printanier” de la diatomée Rhizosolenia delicatula près de Roscoff. Mar. Biol. 16, 41–48 (1972)
Gross, F. and E. Zeuthen: The buoyancy of plankton diatoms: a problem of cell physiology. Proc. R. Soc. (Ser. B) 135, 382–389 (1948)
Hagmeier, E., K. Treutner und E.-H. Harms: Hydrographie, Chemie und Sestongehalt des Wassers bei Helgoland. Jber. biol. Anst. Helgoland 1972, 27–29 (1973)
Harvey, H.W.: Nitrogen and phosphorus required for the growth of phytoplankton. J. mar. biol. Ass. U.K. 24, 115–123 (1940)
Hasle, G.R.: Phototactic vertical migration in marine dinoflagellates. Oikos 2, 162–175 (1950)
—: More on phototactic diurnal migration in marine dinoflagellates. Nytt Mag. Bot. 2, 139–147 (1954)
Jitts, H.R., C.D. McAllister, K. Stephens and J.D.H. Strickland: The cell division rates of some marine phytoplankters as a function of light and temperature. J. Fish. Res. Bd Can. 21, 139–157 (1964)
Jørgensen, E.G.: Photosynthetic activity during the life cycle of synchronous Skeletonema cells. Physiologia Pl. 19, 789–799 (1966)
Kain, J.M. and G.E. Fogg: Studies on the growth of marine phytoplankton. III. Prorocentrum micans (Ehrenberg). J. mar. biol. Ass. U.K. 39, 33–50 (1960)
Kesseler, H.: Beitrag zur Kenntnis der chemischen und physikalischen Eigenschaften des Zellsaftes von Noctiluca miliaris. Veröff. Inst. Meeresforsch. Bremerh. (Sonderbd) 2, 357–368 (1966)
Margalef, R., M. Durán y F. Saiz: El fitoplancton de la ria de Vigo de enero de 1953 a marzo 1954. Investigación pesq. 2, 85–129 (1955)
McAllister, C.D., T.R. Parsons, K. Stephens and J.D.H. Strickland: Measurements of primary production in coastal sea water using a largevolume plastic sphere. Limnol. Oceanogr. 6, 237–258 (1961)
Paasche, E.: The influence of salinity on the growth of some plankton diatoms from brackish water. Norw. J. Bot. 22, 209–215 (1975)
Schöne, H.K.: Untersuchungen zur ökologischen Bedeutung des Seegangs für das Plankton mit besonderer Berücksichtigung mariner Kieselalgen. Int: Revue ges. Hydrobiol. 55, 595–677 (1970)
—: Experimentelle Untersuchungen zur Ökologie der marinen Kieselalge Thalassiosira rotula. I. Temperatur und Licht. Mar. Biol. 13, 284–291 (1972)
—: Experimentelle Untersuchungen zur Ökologie der marinen Kieselalge Thalassiosira rotula. II. Der Einfluß des Salzgehaltes. Mar. Biol. 27, 287–298 (1974)
Smayda, T.J.: Succession of phytoplankton, and the ocean as an holocoenotic environment. In: Symposium on marine microbiology, pp 260–274. Ed. by C.H. Oppenheimer. Springfield, Ill.: C.G. Thomas 1963
—: The suspension and sinking of phytoplankton in the sea. Oceanogr. mar. Biol. A. Rev. 8, 353–414 (1970)
—: The growth of Skeletonema costatum during a winter-spring bloom in Narragansett Bay, Rhode Island. Norweg. J. Bot. 20, 219–247 (1973)
—: and B.J. Boleyn: Experimental observations on the flotation of marine diatoms. I. Thalassiosira cf. nana, Thalassiosira rotula and Nitzschia seriata. Limnol. Oceanogr. 10, 499–509 (1965)
——: Experimental observations on the flotation of marine diatoms. II. Skeletonema costatum and Rhizosolenia setigera. Limnol. Oceanogr. 11, 18–34 (1966)
Stavn, R.H.: The horizontal vertical distribution hypothesis: Langmuir circulations and Daphnia distributions. Limnol. Oceanogr. 16, 453–466 (1971)
Takahashi, M., W.H. Thomas, D.L.R. Seibert, J. Beers, P. Koeller and T.R. Parsons: The replication of biological events in enclosed water columns. Arch. Hydrobiol. 76, 5–23 (1975)
Uhlig, G.: Entwicklung von Noctiluca miliaris. IWF, Wissenschaftlicher Film C 897/1965, Begleitveröffentlichung, 15 pp. Göttingen: Institut für Wissenschaftlichen Film 1972
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
Communicated by O. Kinne, Hamburg
This work was supported by the Sonderforschungsbereich 94, Hamburg, of the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Brockmann, U.H., Eberlein, K., Hosumbek, P. et al. The development of a natural plankton population in an outdoor tank with nutrient-poor sea water. I. Phytoplankton succession. Mar. Biol. 43, 1–17 (1977). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00392567
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00392567