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Nitrogen utilization during spring blooms of marine phytoplankton in Bedford Basin, Nova Scotia, Canada

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Abstract

Spring diatom flowerings in Bedford Basin, Nova Scotia, almost exhausted the available nitrogen supplies. The supply of nitrate appeared to regulate the magnitude of the bloom. Other nutrient supplies may also have been limiting. Certain alterations in quantities of major metabolites could be interpreted in terms of nitrogen limitation. Nitrate, (nitrite), and ammonium were generally utilized simultaneously by Thalassiosira nordenskioldii, the dominant bloom organism. This species did not effectively utilize urea in either laboratory culture or in the natural environment. T. fluviatilis simultaneously utilized all nitrogen sources provided in laboratory experiments simulating natural nutrient conditions.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Oceanography, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada

    S. A. M. Conover

  2. Genu Products Canada Ltd., Suite 606, Cogswell Tower Scotia Square, B3J 3K1, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada

    S. A. M. Conover

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  1. S. A. M. Conover
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Communicated by T.R. Parsons, Vancouver

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Conover, S.A.M. Nitrogen utilization during spring blooms of marine phytoplankton in Bedford Basin, Nova Scotia, Canada. Mar. Biol. 32, 247–261 (1975). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00399204

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