Photosynthetic response of lake plankton to nutrient enrichment a test for nutrient limitation
Lean, D.R.S.; Pick, F.R.
Limnology and Oceanography 26(6): 1001-1019
1981
ISSN/ISBN: 0024-3590 DOI: 10.2307/2835871
Accession: 006112961
Measurements of C uptake by lake plankton at different levels of added P reveal some phytoplankton strategies that contribute to their survival in low-nutrient waters. Nutrient-deficient populations seem to temporarily reduce, rather than enhance, photosynthesis when P becomes available. This contradicts the basic hypothesis of the 14C bioassay used to determine limiting nutrients in natural waters. The reduction of C uptake rate continues until either the nutrient addition is taken up or no further storage is possible; at this time C uptake may be enhanced. Concurrent measurements of P uptake showed no light response unless the plankton were exposed to significant P concentrations in the dark for several hours. Phytoplankton seem to be adapted for and dependent upon intermittent events exposing them to nutrient-enriched water. The ability of phosphate-depleted plankton to take up phosphate in excess of their growth requirements was used to develop an index for phosphate deficiency. To normalize for different biomass levels, the optimum photosynthetic rate was divided by the maximum uptake velocity giving a range for the C:P maximum uptake from 1.2-206 for plankton samples of varying phosphate deficiency.