Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

The measurement of primary production: Problems and recommendations

  • Published:
Hydrobiological Bulletin Aims and scope Submit manuscript

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

Access this article

Log in via an institution

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

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

References

  • AHLGREN, G., 1970. Limnological studies of Lake Norrviken, a eutrophicated Swedish lake. II. Phytoplankton and its production. Schw. Z. Hydrol., 32: 353–396.

    Google Scholar 

  • BELAY, A. and G.E. FOGG, 1978. Photo-inhibition of photosynthesis inAsterionella formosa (Bacillariophycease). J. Phycol., 14: 341–347.

    Google Scholar 

  • BERGER, C., 1975. Occurrence ofOscillatoria agardhii. Gom. in some shallow eutrophic lakes, Verh. Internat. Verein. Limnol., 19: 2689–2697.

    Google Scholar 

  • BERGER, C., 1982. Een benadering van de habitat vanOscillatoria agardhii. Gom., Resultaten uit een veldonderzoek van 1971 t/m 1981 in de randmeren van Flevoland en van 1973 t/m 1977 in het IJsselmeer, Flevobericht Rijksdienst voor de IJsselmeerpolders, Lelystad.

  • BINDLOSS, M.E., 1974. Primary productivity in Loch Leven, Kingross, Proc. R.S.E. (B), 10: 157–181.

    Google Scholar 

  • BRULAND, K.W., R.P. FRANKS, G.A. KNAUER and J.H. MARTIN, 1979. Sampling and analytical methods for the determination of copper, cadmium, zinc and nickel at the nanogram per liter level in seawater. Anal. Chim. Acta, 105: 233–245.

    Google Scholar 

  • BURRIS, J.E., 1981. Effects of oxygen and inorganic carbon concentrations on the photosynthetic quotients of marine algae. Mar. Biol., 65: 215–219.

    Google Scholar 

  • CADÉE, G.C. and J. HEGEMAN, 1974. Primary production of phytoplanktion in the Dutch Wadden Sea. Neth. J. Sea Rea., 8: 240–259.

    Google Scholar 

  • CADÉE, G.C. and J. HEGEMAN, 1979. Phytoplanktion primary production, chlorophyll and composition in an inlet of the Western Wadden Sea (Marsdiep). Neth. J. Sea Res., 13: 224–241.

    Google Scholar 

  • CARPENTER, E.J. and J.S. LIVELY, 1980. Review of estimates of algal growth using14C tracer techniques. In: Falkowski, P.G., ed., Primary productivity in the sea; Plenum Press, New York, p. 166–178.

    Google Scholar 

  • CEELEN, P.R.J., 1976. Het bepalen van de samenstelling van het gas dat onstaat als gevolg van biologische activiteit in het water van het Veluwemeer, WD 1976, Bbw, 1–5, Rijksdienst voor de IJsselmeerpolders, Lelystad.

  • COLIJN, F., 1978. Primary production measurements in the Ems-Dollard estuary during 1975 and 1976. Intern Verslag Biologisch Onderzoek Eems-Dollard estuarium 1978-1 (unpubl. rep.).

  • COLIJN, F., 1982. Light absorption in the waters of the Ems-Dollard estuary and its consequences for the growth of phytoplankton and microphytobenthos. Neth. J. Sea Res., 15: 196–216.

    Google Scholar 

  • EILERS, P. and PEETERS, J.C.H., 1981. Notitie over fotosyntheses model voor BION-overleg. DDMI-81.705; 1–41.

  • FALKOWSKI, P.G. and T.G. OWENS, 1978. Effects of light intensity on photosynthesis and dark respiration in six species of marine phytoplankton. Mar. Biol., 45: 289–295.

    Google Scholar 

  • FEE, E.J., 1973a. A numerical model for determining integral primary production and its application to Lake Michigan. J. Fish. Res. Bd. Canada, 30: 1447–1468.

    Google Scholar 

  • FEE, E.J., 1973b. Modelling primary production in water bodies, a numerical approach that allows vertical inhomogenities. J. Fish. Res. Bd. Canada, 30: 1469–1473.

    Google Scholar 

  • FEE, E.J., 1975. The importance of diurnal variation of photosynthesis vs. light curves to estimates of primary production. Verh. Intermat. Verein. Limnol., 19: 39–46.

    Google Scholar 

  • FEE, E.J., 1978. Procedure for improving estimates ofin situ primary production at low irradiances with an incubator technique. Verh. Internat. Verein. Limnol., 20: 59–67.

    Google Scholar 

  • FITZWATER, S.E., G.A. KNAUER and J.H. MARTIN, 1982. Metal contamination and its effect on primary production measurements. Limnol. Oceanogr., 27: 544–551.

    Google Scholar 

  • FLIK, B.J.G. and A. DE KEYSER, 1981. Estimation of the primary production in lake Maarsseveen I with an incubator technique. Hydrobiol. Bull., 15: 41–50.

    Google Scholar 

  • FOGG, G.E., 1958. Extracellular products of phytoplankton and the estimation of primary productivity. Rapp. P.V. Reun. Cons. Int. Explor. Mer., 144: 56–60.

    Google Scholar 

  • FOGG, G.E., 1966. The extracellular products of algee. Oceanogr. Mar. Biol. Ann. Rev., 4: 199–212.

    Google Scholar 

  • GERLETTI, M., 1968. Dark bottle measurements in primary productivity studies. Mem. Inst. Ital. Idrobiol., 23: 197–208.

    Google Scholar 

  • GIESKES, W.W.C. and A.J. VAN BENNEKOM, 1973. Unreliability of the14C method for estimating primary productivity in eutrophic Dutch coastal waters. Limnol. Oceanogr., 18: 494–495.

    Google Scholar 

  • GIESKES, W.W.C., G.W. KRAAY and M.A. BAARS, 1979. Current14C methods for measuring primary production: gross underestimates in oceanic waters. Neth. J. Sea Res., 13: 58–78.

    Google Scholar 

  • GOLTERMAN, H.L., 1971. The determination of mineralization losses in correlation with the estimation of net primary production with the oxygen method and chemical inhibitors. Freshwat. Biol., 1: 249–256.

    Google Scholar 

  • HARDING, L.W. Jr., B.B. PRÉZELIN, B.M. SWEENEY, and J.L. COX, 1982. Diel oscillations of the Photosynthesis-Irradiance (P-I) relationship in naturai assemblages of phytoplankton. Mar. Biol., 67: 167–178.

    Google Scholar 

  • HARRIS, G.H., 1978. Photosynthesis, productivity and growth: the physiological ecology of phytoplankton. Arch. Hydrobiol. Ergebnisse der Limnologie, Heft 10, 1–171.

    Google Scholar 

  • HARRIS, G. and B. PICCINNIN, 1977. Photosynthesis by natural phytoplankton populations. Arch. Hydrobiol. 80: 405–457.

    Google Scholar 

  • HERBLAND, A., 1974. Influence de la dépression de filtration sur la measure simultanée de l'assimilation et de l'excrétion organique du phytoplakton. Cah. ORSTROM, ser Oceanogr., XLL, 173–177.

    Google Scholar 

  • I.C.E.S., 1981. Report of the working group on the methodology of primary production, including guidelines for the measurement of primary production in the ICES-area. Intern. Counc. Explor. Sea C.M. 1981/L: 46.

    Google Scholar 

  • JEWSON, D.H., 1976. The interaction of components controlling net phytoplankton photosynthesis in a well mixed lake (Lough Neagh, Northern Ireland). Freshw. Biol., 6: 551–576.

    Google Scholar 

  • JOHNSON, P.W. and J. McN. SIEBURTH, 1982.In situ morphology and occurrence of eucaryotic phototrophs of bacterial size in the picoplankton of estuarine and oceanic waters. J. Phycol., 18: 318–327.

    Google Scholar 

  • KERSTING, K., 1981. Annual and diel oxygen regime of the Lake Maarsseveen. Hydrobiol. Bull., 15: 10–28.

    Google Scholar 

  • KLEIN, B., 1981. Onderzoek aan de donker CO2 fixetie in de Grevelingenbodem: Een nieuwe methode voor het meten van de CO2 fixatie in de bodem. Studentenverslag Delta Instituut voor Hydrobiologisch Onderzoek. D9-1981 (unpubl. rep.).

  • KLOET, W.A. de, 1982. The primary production of phytoplankton in Lake Vechten (The Netherlands). Hydrobiologia, 95: 37–57.

    Google Scholar 

  • KOK, B. and J.A. BUSINGER, 1956. Kinetics at photosynthesis and photo-inhibition. Nature, 177: 135–136.

    Google Scholar 

  • LANCELOT, C., 1979. Gross excretion rates of natural marine phytoplankton and heterotrophic uptake of excreted products in the Southern North Sea, as determined by short term kinetics. Mar. Ecol. Progr. Ser., 1: 179–186.

    Google Scholar 

  • LARSSON, U. and A. HAGSTRÖM, 1979. Phytoplankton exudate release as an energy source for the growth of pelagic bacteria, Mar. Biol., 52: 199–206.

    Google Scholar 

  • LIERE, L. VAN and L.R. MUR, 1979. Growth kinetics ofOscillatoria agardhii Gomont in continuous culture, limited in its growth by the light-energy supply. J. Gen. Microbiol., 115: 153–160.

    Google Scholar 

  • LINDEBOOM, H.J. and B.H.H. DE BREE, 1982. Daily production and consumption in an eelgrass (Zostera marina) community in saline Lake Grevelingen: discrepancies between the O2 and14C method. Neth. J. Sea Res., 16: 362–379.

    Google Scholar 

  • LOOGMAN, J.G., 1982. Influence of photoperiodicity on algal growth kinetics. Ph.D. Thesis, Universiteit van Amsterdam.

  • LUDDEN, D.J.H., 1980. De primaire produktie van het fytoplankton in het Eems-Dollard estuarium. Biologisch Onderzoek Eems-Dollard Estuarium, Publikaties en Verslagen 1980–8. 46 pp.

  • MAGUE, G.W., E. FRIBERG, D.J. HUGHES and I. MORRIS, 1980. Extracellular release of carbon by marine phytoplankton: a physiological approach. Limnol. Oceanogr., 25: 262–279.

    Google Scholar 

  • MORRIS, I., C.M. YENTSCH and C.S. YENTSCH, 1971. The physiological state with respect to nitrogen of phytoplankton from low-nutrient subtropical water as measured by the effect of ammonium ion on dark carbon dioxide fixation. Limnol. Oceanogr., 16: 859–868.

    Google Scholar 

  • MUR, L.R. and R.O. BEIJDORFF, 1978. A model of the succession from green to blue-green algae based on light-limitation. Verh. Internat. Verein. Limnol., 20: 2314–2321.

    Google Scholar 

  • MUR, L.R., H.J. GONS and L. VAN LIERE, 1978. Competition of the green algaScenedesmus and the blue-green algaOscillatoria. Mitt. Internat. Verein. Limnol., 21: 473–479.

    Google Scholar 

  • PETERSON, B.J., 1980. Aquatic primary productivity and the14C−CO2 method: a history of the productivity problem. Ann. Rev. Ecol. Syst., 11: 359–385.

    Google Scholar 

  • POST, A.F., W. ZEVENBOOM and L.R. MUR, 1981. Effects of light temperature and minimum nutrient contents on the growth and photosynthesis ofOscillatoria agardhii. Progress Report no. 3. Wabasim Project.

  • POSTMA, H. and J.W. ROMMETS, 1970. Primary production in the Wadden Sea. Neth. J. Sea Res., 4: 470–793.

    Google Scholar 

  • REVSBECH, N.P., J. SØRENSEN, T.H. BLACKBURN and J. PLOMHOLT, 1980. Distribution of oxygen in marine sediments measured with microelectrodes. Limnol. Oceanogr., 25: 403–411.

    Google Scholar 

  • REVSBECH, N.P., B.B. JØRGENSEN and O. BRIX, 1981. Primary production of microalgae in sediments measured by oxygen microprofile, H14CO3 − fixation, and oxygen exchange methods. Limnol. Oceanogr., 26: 717–730.

    Google Scholar 

  • SANDEE, A.J.J. and H.J. LINDEBOOM, 1982. Micro-oxygen profiles in Lake Grevelingen sediment. In: E.K. Duursma, ed., Progress Report 1981 Delta Institute for Hydrobiological Research.

  • SAUNDERS, G.W., 1972. The kinetics of extracellular release of soluble organic matter by phytoplankton. Verh. Intermat. Verein. Limnol., 18: 140–146.

    Google Scholar 

  • SELLNER, K.G., R.G. ZINGMARK and T.G. MILLER, 1976. Interpretations of the14C method of measuring the total annual production of phytoplankton in a South Carolina Estuary. Bot. Mar., 19: 119–125.

    Google Scholar 

  • SHRP, J.H., 1977. Excretion of organic matter by marine phytoplankton: Do healthy cells do it? Limnol. Oceanogr., 22: 381–399.

    Google Scholar 

  • SOROKIN, Y.I., 1989. Bacterial production. Part I, General methods. In Vollenweider, R.A., ed., A manual on methods for measuring primary production in aquatic environments; IBP Handbook 12; Blackwell, Oxford, p. 128–146.

    Google Scholar 

  • STEEMANN NIELSEN, E., 1952. The use of radioactive carbon (14C) for measuring organic production in the sea. J. Cons. perm. int. Explor. Mer., 18: 117–140.

    Google Scholar 

  • STEEMANN NIELSEN, E., 1960. Dark fixation of CO2 and measurements of organic productivity with remarks on chemo-synthesis. Physiol. Plant. 13: 348–357.

    Google Scholar 

  • STEEMANN NIELSEN, E. and E. AABEY JENSEN, 1957. Primary oceanic production. The autotrophic production of organic matter in the oceans. Galathea Rep., 1: 49–136.

    Google Scholar 

  • STEEMANN NIELSEN, E. and S. WIUM-ANDERSEN, 1970. Copper ions as poison in the sea and in fresh water Mar. Biol., 6: 93–97.

    Google Scholar 

  • STRICKLAND, J.D.H. and T. PARSONS, 1968. A practical handbook of seawater analysis. Bull. Fish. Res. Bd. Canada, 167: 1–311.

    Google Scholar 

  • TAGUCHI, S. and T. PLATT, 1977. Assimilation of14CO2 in the dark compared to phytoplankton production in a small coastal iniet. Est. Coast. Mar. Sc., 5: 679–684.

    Google Scholar 

  • TSCHUMI, P.A., D. ZBÄREN and J. ZBÄREN, 1978. An improved oxygen method for measuring primary production in lakes, Verh. Internat. Verein. Limnol., 20: 43–48.

    Google Scholar 

  • VOLLENWEIDER, R.A., 1969. A manual on methods for measuring primary production in aquatic environments. In: IBP Handbook no. 12; Blackwell Scient. Publ.

  • WEB, W.L., M. NEWTON and D. STARR, 1974 Carbon dioxide exchange ofAlnus rubra. Oecologia, 17: 281–291.

    Google Scholar 

  • WILLIAMS, P.J., R.C.T. LE RAINE and J.R. RYAN, 1979. Agreement between the14C and oxygen methods of measuring phytoplankton production: reassessment of the photosynthetic quotient. Oceanol. Acta, 2: 411–416.

    Google Scholar 

  • WOLTER, K., 1982. Bacterial incorporation of organic substances released by natural phytoplankton populations. Mar. Ecol. Progr. Ser., 7: 287–295.

    Google Scholar 

  • ZEVENBOOM, W., 1980. Growth and nutrient uptake kinetics ofOscillatoria agardhii. Thesis. Universiteit van Amsterdam.

  • ZEVENBOOM, W., 1982. Nutrientopname en groeisnelheid-beperkende factoren van cyanobacteriën. Vakbl. Biol., 62: 308–314.

    Google Scholar 

  • ZEVENBOOM, W., and L.R. MUR, 1980. N2-fixing cyanobacteria: why they do not become dominant in Dutch, hypertrophic lakes, In: Barica and Mur, eds., Hypertrophic Ecosystems; Junk, The Hague, p. 123–130.

    Google Scholar 

  • ZEVENBOOM, W., A.F. POST, U.M. VAN HES and L.R. MUR, 1981a. A new incubator for measuring photosynthetic activity of phytoplankton specles, using the amperometric oxygen technique Progress Report no. 1. Wabasim Project.

  • ZEVENBOOM, W., A.F. POST and L.R. MUR, 1981b. Effects of light irradiance and L:D cycle on the growth and photosynthesis ofAphanizomenon flos-aquae. Progress Report no. 2. Wabasim Project.

  • ZEVENBOOM, W., A. BIJ DE VAATE and L.R. MUR, 1982a. Assessment of factors limiting growth rate ofOscillatoria agardhii in hypertrophic lake Wolderwijd, 1978, by use of physiological indicators. Limnol. Oceanogr., 27: 39–52.

    Google Scholar 

  • ZEVENBOOM, W.A.F. POST and L.R. MUR, 1982b. Effects of light, temperature and nutrient-starvation on the growth and photosynthesis ofMicrostis aeruginosa; A comparison withAphanizomenon andOscillatoria. Progress Report no. 4. Wabasim Project.

  • ZEVENBOOM, W., A.F. POST, U.M. VAN HES and L.R. MUR, 1983. A new incubator for measuring photosynthetic activity of phototrophic microorganisms, using the amperometric oxygen technique. Limnol. Oceanogr. (in press).

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Marine Biology, State University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands

    F. Colijn

  2. Netherlands Institute of Sea Research, Den Burg, The Netherlands

    W. W. C. Gieskes

  3. Laboratory of Microbiology, University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands

    W. Zevenboom

Authors
  1. F. Colijn
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. W. W. C. Gieskes
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. W. Zevenboom
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Colijn, F., Gieskes, W.W.C. & Zevenboom, W. The measurement of primary production: Problems and recommendations. Hydrobiological Bulletin 17, 29–51 (1983). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02255190

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02255190

Search

Navigation