Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Adaptation and equivalence in open-ocean phytoplankton

  • Published:
Marine Biology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Two marine phytoplankton species of the North Atlantic Ocean have inherently differt growth responses to changing nutrient conditions. Yet they co-occur. Thus, they can be compared under the same conditions via equivalence, provided that their adaptedness is linked to their responsiveness as follows. If Species x is adapted to nutrient changes, then it is responsive to these conditions and, certainly, if it is responsive to these conditions, then it is adapted to them. There is another expression that is equivalent to this one (that says the same thing): either Species x is adapted and responsive to these conditions or it is neither adapted nor responsive to them. The option just mentioned is resolved so that Emiliania huxleyi as Species “x” is adapted and responsive and Cyclococcolithus leptoporus as Species “x” is not adapted and not responsive. All the frequently observed species in the winter half of the year, November to April, from 1961 to 1972 are like E. huxleyi in being adapted and responsive or like C. leptoporus in being unadapted and unresponsive.

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

  • Bé, A. W. H., J. M. Forns and O. A., Roels: Plankton abundance in the North Atlantic Ocean. In: Fertility of the sea, Vol. 6, pp 17–50. Ed. by J. D. Costlow, London: Gordon & Breach 1971

    Google Scholar 

  • Brand, L. E. and R. R. L. Guillard: The effects of continuous light and light intensity on the reproduction rates of twenty-two species of marine phytoplankton. J. exp. mar. biol. Ecol. 50, 119–132 (1981)

    Google Scholar 

  • Deevey, G. B. and A. L. Brooks: The annual cycle in quantity and composition of the zooplankton of the Sargasso Sea off Bermuda. II. The surface to 2 000 m. Limnol. Oceanogr. 16, 927–943 (1971)

    Google Scholar 

  • Futuyma, D. J.: Evolutionary biology, 565 pp. Sunderland: Sinauer Associates 1979

    Google Scholar 

  • Hulburt, E. M.: The distribution of phytoplankton, and its relationship to hydrography, between southern New England and Venezuela. J. mar. Res. 24, 67–81 (1966)

    Google Scholar 

  • Hulburt, E. M.: Limitation of phytoplankton species in the ocean off western Africa. Limnol. Oceanogr. 21, 193–211 (1976)

    Google Scholar 

  • Hulburt, E. M.: An ecological context for classification of phytoplankton and environmental variables in New York waters. Ocean Sci. Engng 6, 195–222 (1981)

    Google Scholar 

  • Hulburt, E. M.: The adaptation of marine phytoplankton species to nutrient and temperature. Ocean Sci. Engng 7, 187–228 (1982a)

    Google Scholar 

  • Hulburt, E. M.: The control of marine phytoplankton. Use of Quine's view of “object” in assessing productivity and control. Biol. Oceanogr. 1, 239–253 (1982b)

    Google Scholar 

  • Hulburt, E. M. and N. Corwin: Influence of the Amazon River outflow on the ecology of the western North Atlantic. III. The planktonic flora between the Amazon River and Windward Islands. J. mar. Res. 27, 55–72 (1969)

    Google Scholar 

  • Kahane, H.: Logic and philosophy, 419 pp. Belmont, Calif.: Wadsworth Publishing Co. 1978

    Google Scholar 

  • Kinne, O.: Temperature-invertebrates. In: Marine ecology, Vol. I. Part 1. pp 407–514. Ed. by O. Kinne London: Wiley-Interscience 1970

    Google Scholar 

  • Kinne, O.: 14th European Marine Biology Symposium “Protection of life in the sea”: summary of symposium papers and conclusions. Helgoländer Meeresunters. 33, 732–761 (1980)

    Google Scholar 

  • Lewontin, R. C.: Adaptation. Scient. Am. 238, 213–230 (1978)

    Google Scholar 

  • Menzel, D. W. and J. H. Ryther: Zooplankton in the Sargasso Sea off Bermuda and its relation to organic production. J. Cons. perm. int. Explor. Mer. 26, 250–258 (1961)

    Google Scholar 

  • Pianka, E. R.: Evolutionary ecology, 397 pp. London: Harper & Row 1978

    Google Scholar 

  • Quine, W. V.: From a logical point of view, 184 pp. Evanston, N.Y.: Harper & Row 1963

    Google Scholar 

  • Quine, W. V.: Ontological relativity, 165 pp. New York: Columbia University Press 1969

    Google Scholar 

  • Strickland, J. D. H. and T. R. Parsons: A manual of sea water analysis (2nd ed., revised). Bull. Fish. Res. Bd Can. 125, 1–203 (1965)

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, 02543, Woods Hole, Massachusetts, USA

    E. M. Hulburt

Authors
  1. E. M. Hulburt
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Additional information

Communicated by O. Kinne, Oldendorf/Luhe

Contribution No. 5806 from the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Hulburt, E.M. Adaptation and equivalence in open-ocean phytoplankton. Mar. Biol. 89, 303–309 (1985). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00393664

Download citation

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00393664

Keywords

Search

Navigation