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Growth of plankton algae as a function of N-concentration, measured by means of batch technique

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Abstract

Employing a special batch technique which involves extremely low concentrations of the alga Selenastrum capricornutum, it is shown that a growth rate of ca. 75% of optimum growth occurs at a concentration of 0.02 μg-at N(NH4 +) l-1. The low concentrations of this N-source in the oligotrophic parts of the oceans (ca. 0.06 μg-at l-1) thus give rise to a borderline deficiency. As the half-saturation constant (K S) for growth was recorded at 0.05 μg-at N(NO3 -), this ion can hardly be of much importance at the low concentrations present in these parts of the oceans. It is wrong to assert that N is the primary limiting nutrient. Phosphate also is found at concentrations giving rise to a borderline deficiency.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Freshwater Biological Laboratory, University of Copenhagen, Hillerød, Denmark

    E. Steemann Nielsen

  2. Vejlesøparken 9, DK-2840, Holte, Denmark

    E. Steemann Nielsen

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  1. E. Steemann Nielsen
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Communicated by T.M. Fenchel, Aarhus

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Nielsen, E.S. Growth of plankton algae as a function of N-concentration, measured by means of batch technique. Mar. Biol. 46, 185–189 (1978). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00390679

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00390679

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