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Dominance of phosphorus over nitrogen as the limiter to phytoplankton growth rate

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Abstract

Laboratory experiments with natural phytoplankton assemblages from three lakes (two mesotrophic and one oligotrophic) showed that added PO4 predictably affected growth rate (µ, determined as P : B) while NO3 had little effect even when the N P ratio approached one. The response to PO4 followed the typical Monod-type function. The lack of effect of NO3 on µ at such low N : P ratios is in striking contrast to the added effect of NO3 Plus PO4 on maximum biomass produced versus only PO4 alone.

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  1. E. B. Welch, P. Sturtevant & M. A. Perkins

    Present address: URS Company, Seattle, Washington

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Civil Engineering, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington

    E. B. Welch, P. Sturtevant & M. A. Perkins

Authors
  1. E. B. Welch
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  2. P. Sturtevant
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  3. M. A. Perkins
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Additional information

Contribution No. 193 to the IBP-Coniferous Forest Biome. The work was supported in part by National Science Foundation Grant No. GB-20963 (IBP-Coniferous Forest Biome), and in part by Environmental Protection Agency Training Grant T900313-W P293-03,04.

Contribution No. 193 to the IBP-Coniferous Forest Biome. The work was supported in part by National Science Foundation Grant No. GB-20963 (IBP-Coniferous Forest Biome), and in part by Environmental Protection Agency Training Grant T900313-W P293-03,04.

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Welch, E.B., Sturtevant, P. & Perkins, M.A. Dominance of phosphorus over nitrogen as the limiter to phytoplankton growth rate. Hydrobiologia 57, 209–215 (1978). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00014575

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00014575

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