Skip to main content
Log in

Variation of cellular phosphorus composition of Skeletonema costatum and Heterosigma akashiwo grown in chemostats

  • Published:
Marine Biology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Two coastal species of phytoplankton, Skeletonema costatum (Grev.) Cleve and Heterosigma akashiwo Hada, were grown in chemostats at a constant dilution (growth) rate using media with various P:N ratios. The variations of their cellular phosphorus composition were investigated using a phosphorus fractionation technique and 31P nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. S. costatum stores phosphorus mainly in the form of orthophosphate, and H. akashiwo in the form of polyphosphates. This explains the orthophosphate accumulation observed in natural phytoplankton populations in Tokyo Bay where S. costatum is dominant.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

Literature cited

  • Atkinson, D. E.: Biological feedback control at the molecular level. Science, Wash, D. C. 150, 851–857 (1965)

    Google Scholar 

  • Bieleski, R. L.: Phosphate pools, phosphate transport, and phosphate availability. A. Rev. Plant Physiol. 24, 225–252 (1973)

    Google Scholar 

  • Bieleski, R. L. and I. B. Ferguson: Physiology and metabolism of phosphate and its compounds. In: Encyclopedia of plant physiology, vol. 15A: Inorganic plant nutrition, pp 422–449. Ed. by A. Lauchli and R. L. Bieleski. Berlin: Springer-Verlag 1983

    Google Scholar 

  • Caperon, J. and J. Meyer: Nitrogen-limited growth of marine phytoplankton. I. Changes in population characteristics with steady-state growth rate. Deep-Sea Res. 19, 601–618 (1972)

    Google Scholar 

  • DeManche, J. M., H. C. Curl, Jr., D. W. Lundy and P. L. Donaghay: The rapid response of the marine diatom Skeletonema costatum to change in external and internal nutrient concentration. Mar. Biol. 53, 323–333 (1979)

    Google Scholar 

  • Dortch, Q.: Effect of growth conditions on accumulation of internal nitrate, ammonium, amino acids, and protein in three marine diatoms. J. exp. mar. Biol. Ecol. 61, 243–264 (1982)

    Google Scholar 

  • Elgavish, A. and G. A. Elgavish: 31P-NMR differentiation between intracellular phosphate pools in Cosmarium (Chlorophyta). J. Phycol. 16, 368–374 (1980)

    Google Scholar 

  • Fuhs, G. W.: Phosphorus content and rate of growth in the diatoms Cyclotella nana and Thalassiosira fluviatilis. J. Phycol. 5, 312–321 (1969)

    Google Scholar 

  • Guillard, R. R. L.and J. H. Ryther: Studies on marine planktonic diatoms. I. Cyclotella nana Hustedt and Detonula confervaceae (Cleve) Gran. Can. J. Microbiol. 8, 229–239 (1962)

    Google Scholar 

  • Harold, F. M.: Inorganic polyphosphates in biology: structure, metabolism, and function. Bacteriol. Rev. 30, 772–794 (1966)

    Google Scholar 

  • Harrison, P. J., H. L. Conway and R. C. Dugdale: Marine diatoms grown in chemostats under silicate or ammonium limitation. I. Cellular chemical composition and steady-state growth kinetics of Skeletonema costatum. Mar. Biol. 35, 177–186 (1976)

    Google Scholar 

  • Ishimaru, T. and Y. Fujita: Experimental culture systems. In: Marine biological processes, pp 282–289. Ed. by R. Marumo. Tokyo: Koseisha-Koseikaku Press 1984 (in Japanese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Ketchum, B. H.: The development and restoration of deficiencies in the phosphorus and nitrogen composition of unicellular plants. J. Cell. comp. Physiol. 13, 373–381 (1939)

    Google Scholar 

  • Kuenzler, E. J. and B. H. Ketchum: Rate of phosphorus uptake by Phaeodactylum tricornutum. Biol. Bull. mar. biol. Lab., Woods Hole 123, 134–145 (1962)

    Google Scholar 

  • Kuhl, A.: Phosphorus. In: Algal physiology and biochemistry, pp 636–654. Ed. by W. P. D. Stewart.Oxford: Blackwell Scientific Publications 1973

    Google Scholar 

  • Kulaev, I. S.: Biochemistry of inorganic polyphosphates. Rev. Physiol. Biochem. Pharmacol. 73, 131–158 (1975)

    Google Scholar 

  • Mackereth, F. G.: Phosphorus utilization by Asterionella formosa Hass. J. exp. Bot. 4, 296–313 (1953)

    Google Scholar 

  • McLachlan, J.: Growth media-marine. In: Handbook of physiological method, pp 25–51. Ed. by J. Stein Cambridge: Cambridge University Press 1973

    Google Scholar 

  • Menzel, D. W. and N. Corwin: The measurement of total phosphorus in seawater based on the liberation of organically bound fractions by persulfate oxidation. Limnol. Oceanogr. 10, 280–282 (1965)

    Google Scholar 

  • Miyata, K. and A. Hattori: Distribution and seasonal variation of phosphorus in Tokyo Bay. J. oceanogr. Soc. Japan 42, 241–254 (1986a)

    Google Scholar 

  • Miyata, K. and A. Hattori: A simple fractionation method for determination of phosphorous components in phytoplankton: application to natural populations of phytoplankton in summer surface waters of Tokyo Bay. J. oceanogr. Soc. Japan 42, 255–265 (1986b)

    Google Scholar 

  • Murphy, J. and J. P. Riley: A modified single solution method for the determination of phosphate in natural waters. Anal. Chim. Acta 27, 31–36 (1962)

    Google Scholar 

  • Raven, J. A.: Phosphate transport in Hydrodictyon africanum. New Phytol 73, 421–432 (1974)

    Google Scholar 

  • Rebeille, F., R. Biligny, J.-P Martin and R. Douce: Relationship between the cytoplasm and the vacuole phosphate pool in Acer pseudoplatanus cells. Arch. Biochem. Biophys. 225, 143–148 (1983)

    Google Scholar 

  • Rhee, G.-Y.: A continuous culture study of phosphate uptake, growth rate and polyphosphate in Scenedesmus sp. J. Phycol. 9, 495–506 (1973)

    Google Scholar 

  • Rhee, G.-Y.: Effects of N:P atomic ratios and nitrate limitation on algal growth, cell composition, and nitrate uptake. Limnol. Oceanogr. 23, 10–25 (1978)

    Google Scholar 

  • Rhee, G.-Y.: Continuous culture in phytoplankton ecology. In: Advances in aquatic microbiology vol. 2, pp 151–203. Ed. by M. R. Droop and H. W. Jannasch. New York: Academic Press 1980

    Google Scholar 

  • Smayda, T. J.:A quantitative analysis of the phytoplankton of the Gulf of Panama. II. On the relationship between C14 assimilation and the diatom standing crop. Inter-Am. Trop. Tuna Comm. Bull. 9, 467–531 (1965)

    Google Scholar 

  • Smith, F. A.: Active phosphate uptake by Nitella translucens. Biochim. biophys. Acta 126, 94–99 (1966)

    Google Scholar 

  • Strickland, J. H. D. and T. R. Parsons: A practical handbook of seawater analysis, 2nd ed., 311 pp. Ottawa: Fish. Res. Bd Can. 1972

    Google Scholar 

  • Ullrich-Eberius, C. I., A. Novacky, E. Fischer and U. Lüttge: Relationship between energy-dependent phosphate uptake and the electrical membrane potential in Lemna gibba Gl. Plant Physiol. 67, 797–801 (1981)

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Additional information

Communicated by M. Anraku, Tokyo

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Miyata, K., Hattori, A. & Ohtsuki, A. Variation of cellular phosphorus composition of Skeletonema costatum and Heterosigma akashiwo grown in chemostats. Mar. Biol. 93, 291–297 (1986). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00508266

Download citation

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00508266

Keywords

Navigation