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Alteration of phytoplankton phosphorus status during enrichment experiments: implications for interpreting nutrient enrichment bioassay results

Hydrobiologia volume 133, pages 217–222 (1986)Cite this article

Abstract

We compared the results of phosphorus-enrichment bioassay experiments with alkaline phosphatase activity (APA) assays as indicators of phosphorus (P) limitation of in situ phytoplankton growth. In 4-d experiments, phytoplankton APA decreased or remained unchanged in P-enriched samples, but increased in unenriched samples, indicating a rapid alteration of the P status of the unenriched algae during the experimental incubations. In direct comparisons of enrichment bioassays and APA assays of reservoir phytoplankton samples, the results of the two methods corresponded in general, although contradictory results were not uncommon. Our data support the conclusion that enrichment experiments can indicate the potential for nutrient limitation of algal growth in the absence of other limiting factors, but do not necessarily demonstrate the occurrence of in situ nutrient limitation of phytoplankton production.

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Author notes

  1. James J. Elser

    Present address: Department of Biology, University of Notre Dame, 46556, Notre Dame, USA

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Graduate Program in Ecology, University of Tennessee, 37996, Knoxville, TN, USA

    James J. Elser

  2. Environmental Sciences Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, 37831, Oak Ridge, TN, USA

    Bruce L. Kimmel

Authors
  1. James J. Elser
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  2. Bruce L. Kimmel
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Elser, J.J., Kimmel, B.L. Alteration of phytoplankton phosphorus status during enrichment experiments: implications for interpreting nutrient enrichment bioassay results. Hydrobiologia 133, 217–222 (1986). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00005593

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00005593

Keywords

  • phytoplankton production
  • limiting factors
  • nutrient enrichment bioassay
  • alkaline phosphatase assay