Skip to main content
Log in

Effects of nitrogen specification and culture method on growth of Enteromorpha prolifera

  • Species and Species-Specific Patterns and Responses
  • Published:
Chinese Journal of Oceanology and Limnology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Eutrophication, which is the enrichment of a water mass with inorganic and organic nutrients that support plant growth, is a key factor in stimulating phytoplankton growth. In this study, we determined the effects of various nitrogen sources, different nitrogen concentrations in the culture medium, and two culture methods on the growth of the green alga, Enteromorpha prolifera. The relationship between the specific growth rate of E. prolifera and NO 3 -N concentration was consistent with that estimated using the Monod equation (R 2 = 0.9713, P < 0.01). In the NO 3 -N medium, the maximum specific growth rate was calculated to be 0.1634/d and the semi-saturation constant was calculated to be 16.86 μmol/L. Our results show that E. prolifera can effectively utilize NH +4 -N, NO 3 -N, and NO 2 -N and urea-N in the range of 5 to 50 μmol/L. NH +4 -N was preferentially assimilated by E. prolifera, and urea-N was favorable for long-term growth.

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

References

  • Arzul G, Seguel M, Clement A. 2001. Effect of marine animal excretions on differential growth of phytoplankton species. Marine Science, 58: 386–390.

    Google Scholar 

  • China Ocean News, 2007. <http://epaper.oceanol.com/zghyb/20070720/index.htm>.

  • China Ocean News, 2008b. <http://epaper.oceanol.com/zghyb/20080822/index.htm>.

  • China Ocean News, 2009. <http://epaper.oceanol.com/zghyb/20090724/index.htm>.

  • China Ocean News, 2010. <http://epaper.oceanol.com/zghyb/20100629/index.htm>.

  • Collos Y, Vaquer A, Bibent B et al. 2003. Response of coastal phytoplankton to ammonium and nitrate pulses: seasonal variations of nitrogen uptake and regeneration. Aquatic Ecology, 37: 227–236.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fletcher R T, 1996. The occurrence of ‘green-tide’. In: Schramm W, Nienhuis P H eds. Marine Benthic Vegetation — Recent Changes and the Effects of Eutrophication. Springer Verlag, Berlin. p.7–43.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fong P, Zedler J B, Donohoe R M. 1993. Nitrogen vs. phosphorus limitation of algal biomass in shallow coastal lagoons. Limnol. Oceanogr., 38(5): 906–923.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Franz D R, Friedman I. 2002. Effects of a macroalgal mat (Ulva lactuca) on estuarine sand flat copepods: an experimental study. J. Exp. Mar. Biol. Ecol., 271: 209–226.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hallegraeff G M. 1993. A review of harmful algal blooms and their apparent global increase. Phycologia, 32: 9–99.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hernandez I, Peralta G, Perez-Llorens J L, Vergara J J. 1997. Biomass and dynamics of growth of Ulva species in Palmones River estuary. J. Phycol., 33: 764–772.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hu X, Wang W, Lin J M. 2000. Effect of light, nitrate and ammonium on the activity of nitrate reductase from Biddulphia regia. Journal of Xiamen University: Natural Science, 39(4): 516–520. (in Chinese with English abstract)

    Google Scholar 

  • Jiang H M, Gao K S. 2004. Effects of nitrogen sources and concentrations on the growth and fatty acid composition of Phaeoda-ctylum Tricornutum. Acta Hydrobiologica Sinica, 28(5): 545–551. (in Chinese with English abstract)

    Google Scholar 

  • Kester D R, Duedall I W, Connors D N, Pytkowicz R M. 1967. Preparation of Artificial Seawater. Limnology & Oceanography, 12: 176–179.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • McGlathery K J. 2001. Macroalgal blooms contribute to the decline of seagrass in nutrient-enriched coastal waters. J. Phycol., 37: 453–456.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ménesguen A, Piriou J Y. 1995. Nitrogen loadings and macroalgal (Ulva sp.) mass accumulation in Brittany (France). Ophelia, 42: 227–237.

    Google Scholar 

  • Monod J. 1942. Recherche sur la croissance des cultures bactériennes. Paris: Harmann et Cie, 210.

    Google Scholar 

  • Morand P, Briand X. 1996. Excessive growth of macroalgae: a symptom of environmental disturbance. Bot. Mar., 39: 491–516.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Morand P, Merceron M. 2004. Coastal Eutrophication and Excessive Growth of Macroalgae. In: Pandalai S G ed. Recent Research Developments in Environmental Biology. 1st edn. Research Signpost, Trivandrum, Kerala, India. p.395–449.

    Google Scholar 

  • Nelson TA, Lee A. 2001. A manipulative experiment demonstrates that blooms of the macroalga Ulvaria obscura can reduce eelgrass shoot density. Aquat. Bot., 71:149–154.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pedersen M F. 1995. Nitrogen limitation of photosynthesis and growth: comparison across aquatic plant communities in a Danish estuary (Roskilde Fjord). Ophelia, 41: 261–272.

    Google Scholar 

  • Provasoli L. 1963. Organic regulation of phytoplankton fertility. In: Hill M N ed. In the Sea. Wiley-Interscience, New York. p.165–219.

    Google Scholar 

  • Schramm W, Nienhuis P H. 1996. Introduction. In: Schramm W, Nienhuis P H eds. Marine Benthic Vegetation: Recent Changes and the Effects of Eutrophication. Springer-Verlag, Berlin, Heidelberg. p.1–4.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sfriso A, Pavoni B, Marcomini A, Orio A A. 1988. Annual variations of nutrients in the lagoon of Venice. Mar. Pollut Bull., 19: 54–60.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Xu C L, Xu W L, Zhang C M. 1998. The Specification for Marine Monitoring. Standard Press of China, Beijing, China. p.165. (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Yasumoto T. 1990. Marine microorganisms toxins — an overview. In: Graneli E, Sundstrom B, Edler L, Anderson D M ed. Toxic Marine Phytoplankton. Elsevier, New York. p.3–8.

    Google Scholar 

  • Valiela I, Clelland M J, Hauxwell J, Beh P J Hersh, D, Foreman K. 1997. Macroalgal blooms in shallow estuaries: controls and ecophysiological and ecosystem consequences. Limnol. Oceanogr., 42: 1 105–1 118.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wang H, Wang H W. 2009. Investigation and Study on Enteromorpha in Liaoning Province. Journal of Anhui Agri. Sci., 37(6): 2 676–2 678. (in Chinese with English abstract)

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Weihong Zhao  (赵卫红).

Additional information

Supported by the Major Projects of Knowledge Innovation Program of Chinese Academy of Sciences (No. KZCX2-SW-208-01); the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 40976047), and National Basic Research Program of China (973 Program) (No. 2010CB428701)

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Li, J., Zhao, W. Effects of nitrogen specification and culture method on growth of Enteromorpha prolifera . Chin. J. Ocean. Limnol. 29, 874–882 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00343-011-0516-6

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00343-011-0516-6

Keyword

Navigation