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The C:N:P ratio of phytoplankton determines the relative amounts of dissolved inorganic nitrogen and phosphorus released during aerobic decomposition

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Abstract

Three phytoplankton assemblages, with different C:N:P ratios of 314:55:1, 103:17:1, and 57:5.5:1 (by weight), were prepared by growing lake phytoplankton in artificial media with different N:P supply ratios and then decomposed under aerobic conditions for three months.

There was no net release of dissolved inorganic phosphorus (DIP) from the phytoplankton assemblage with the highest C:N:P ratio, in contrast with an abundant liberation of DIP from that with the lowest C:N:P ratio. On the other hand, there was an abundant release of dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN) from the phytoplankton assemblage with the highest C:N:P ratio, in contrast with little or virtually no release of DIN from those with lower C:N:P ratios. Thus, it was concluded that the C:N:P ratio of phytoplankton is an important parameter to determine the relative amounts of DIP and DIN released, when they are decomposed under aerobic conditions.

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Contribution from Otsu Hydrobiological Station, Kyoto University, No. 316 (Foreign Language Series).

Contribution from Otsu Hydrobiological Station, Kyoto University, No. 316 (Foreign Language Series).

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Tezuka, Y. The C:N:P ratio of phytoplankton determines the relative amounts of dissolved inorganic nitrogen and phosphorus released during aerobic decomposition. Hydrobiologia 173, 55–62 (1989). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00008598

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00008598

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