Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Effects of different phosphorus concentrations and N/P ratios on the growth and photosynthetic characteristics of Skeletonema costatum and Prorocentrum donghaiense

  • Biology
  • Published:
Chinese Journal of Oceanology and Limnology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The effects of different phosphorus (P) concentrations (0.36, 3.6, and 36 μmol/L corresponding to low-, middle-, and high-P concentration groups, respectively) and nitrogen (N)/P ratios on the growth and photosynthetic characteristics of Skeletonema costatum and Prorocentrum donghaiense were studied. For both species, the high-P (HP) concentration group showed the greatest algal density and highest specific growth rate. Changes in the maximum efficiency of photosystem II (F v /F m ) were monitored under the various P and N/P conditions. The largest decrease in F v /F m was in the low-P (LP) group in S. costatum and in the HP group in P. donghaiense. There were high rapid light curves and photochemical quantum yields (Φ PSII) for S. costatum in the HP group, while the actual photosynthetic capacity was higher in P. donghaiense than in S. costatum in the MP group. Under eutrophic but relatively P-restricted conditions, P. donghaiense had higher photosynthetic activity and potential, which could cause this dinoflagellate to increasingly dominate the phytoplankton community in these conditions. Under the same P concentration and N/P ratio, P. donghaiense had a larger relative maximum rate of electron transport and higher Φ PS II values than those of S. costatum. These differences between P. donghaiense and S. costatum may explain the interaction and succession patterns of these two species in the Changjiang (Yangtze) River estuary from a photosynthesis perspective.

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

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Bilger W, Björkman O. 1990. Role of the xanthophyll cycle in photoprotection elucidated by measurements of lightinduced absorbance changes, fluorescence and photosynthesis in leaves of Hedera canariensis. Photosynthesis Research, 25 (3): 173–185.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bolhar-Nordenkampf H R, Long S P, Baker N R, Oquist G, Schreiber U, Lechner E G. 1989. Chlorophyll fluorescence as a probe of the photosynthetic competence of leaves in the field: a review of current instrumentation. Functional Ecology, 3 (4): 497–514.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Capriulo G M, Smith G, Troy R, Wikfors G H, Pellet J, Yarish C. 2002. The planktonic food web structure of a temperate zone estuary, and its alteration due to eutrophication. Hydrobiologia, 475-476 (1): 263–333.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chai C, Yu Z M, Shen Z L, Song X X, Cao X H, Yao Y. 2009. Nutrient characteristics in the Changjiang River estuary and the adjacent East China Sea before and after impoundment of the Three Gorges Dam. Science of the Total Environment, 407 (16): 4687–4695.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chen S, Zhu M Y, Li R X et al. 2000. Impact of phosphate enrichment on marine pelagic ecosystem in the Changjiang River estuary: mesocosm study. Acta Oceanologica Sinica, 22 (Suppl.): 272–280. (in Chinese with English abstract)

    Google Scholar 

  • Cosper E M, Bricelj V M, Carpenter E J. 1989. Novel Phytoplankton Blooms: Causes and Impacts of Recurrent Brown Tides and Other Unusual Blooms: Coastal and Estuarine Studies. Springer-Verlag, Berlin Heidelberg, 35: 1–799.

    Google Scholar 

  • Diaz R J, Rosenberg R. 1995. Marine benthic hypoxia: a review of its ecological effects and the behavioural responses of benthic macrofauna. Oceanography and Marine Biology: An Annual Review, 33: 245–203.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dyhrman S T, Chappell P D, Haley S T, Moffett J W, Orchard E D, Waterbury J B, Webb E A. 2006. Phosphonate utilization by the globally important marine diazotroph Trichodesmium. Nature, 439 (7072): 68–71.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Field C B, Behrenfeld M J, Randerson J T, Falkowski P. 1998. Primary production of the biosphere: integrating terrestrial and oceanic components. Science, 281 (5374): 237–240.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fredeen A L, Raab T K, Rao I M, Terry N. 1990. Effects of phosphorus nutrition on photosynthesis in Glycine max (L.) Merr. Planta, 181 (3): 399–405.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Geider R J, La Roche J, Greene R M, Olaizola M. 1993. Response of the photosynthetic apparatus of Phaeodactylum tricornutum (Bacillariophyceae) to nitrate, phosphate, or iron starvation. Journal of Phycology, 29 (6): 755–766.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Glibert P M, Kana T M, Anderson D M. 1988. Photosynthetic response of Gonyaulax tamarensis during growth in a natural bloom and in batch culture. Marine Ecology Progress Series, 42: 303–399.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Goldman J C, McCarthy J J, Peavey D G. 1979. Growth rate influence on the chemical composition of phytoplankton in oceanic waters. Nature, 279 (5710): 201–215.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Guillard R R, Ryther J H. 1962. Studies of marine planktonic diatoms. I. Cyclotella nana Hustedt, and Detonula confervacea (cleve) Gran. Canadian Journal of Microbiology, 8 (2): 229–239.

    Google Scholar 

  • Häder D P, Porst M, Santas R. 1998. Photoinhibition by solar radiation in the Mediterranean alga Peyssonnelia squamata measured on site. Plant Ecology, 139 (2): 167–175.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hallegraeff G M. 1993. A review of harmful algal blooms and their apparent global increase. Phycologia, 32 (2): 79–99.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hodgkiss I, Chan B S S. 1987. Phytoplankton dynamics in Tolo Harbour. Asian Marine Biology, 4: 103–112.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hodgkiss I, Ho K. 1997. Are changes in N: P ratios in coastal waters the key to increased red tide blooms? In: Wong Y S, Tam N F Y eds. Asia -Pacific Conference on Science and Management of Coastal Environment. Springer, Netherlands. p.141–147.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Huo W Y, Yu Z M, Zou J J, Song X X, Hao J H. 2001. Outbreak of Skeletonema costatum red tide and its relations to environmental factors in Jiaozhou Bay. Oceanologia et Limnologia Sinica, 32 (3): 311–318. (in Chinese with English abstract)

    Google Scholar 

  • Jacob J, Lawlor D W. 1991. Stomatal and mesophyll limitations of photosynthesis in phosphate deficient sunflower, maize and wheat plants. Journal of Experimental Botany, 42 (8): 1003–1011.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jakob T, Schreiber U, Kirchesch V, Langner U, Wilhelm C. 2005. Estimation of chlorophyll content and daily primary production of the major algal groups by means of multiwavelength-excitation PAM chlorophyll fluorometry: performance and methodological limits. Photosynthesis Research, 83 (3): 343–361.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kashino Y, Kudoh S, Hayashi Y, Suzuki Y, Odate T, Hirawake T, Satoh K, Fukuchi M. 2002. Strategies of phytoplankton to perform effective photosynthesis in the North Water. Deep Sea Research Part II: Topical Studies in Oceanography, 49 (22-23): 5049–5061.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kolber Z, Zehr J, Falkowski P. 1988. Effects of growth irradiance and nitrogen limitation on photosynthetic energy conversion in photosystem II. Plant Physiology, 88 (3): 923–929.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lalli C M, Parsons T R. 1993. Biological Oceanography: An Introduction. Pergamon Press, New York, USA.

    Google Scholar 

  • Li M T, Xu K Q, Watanabe M, Chen Z Y. 2007. Long-term variations in dissolved silicate, nitrogen, and phosphorus flux from the Yangtze River into the East China Sea and impacts on estuarine ecosystem. Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science, 71 (1-2): 3–12.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Li Y. 2006. The Eco-physiological Studies of Phosphorus on the Growth of Prorocentrum donghaiense. Jinan University, Guangzhou, China. (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Liang Y, Yin C L, Jiang X Q, Yu Y Z. 2007. Effects of different Si concentrations on the growth and chlorophyll fluorescence of Chaetoceros gracilis and Phaeodactylum tricornutum. Marine Fisheries Research, 28 (5): 89–94. (in Chinese with English abstract)

    Google Scholar 

  • Lippemeier S, Frampton D M F, Blackburn S I, Geier S C, Negri A P. 2003. Influence of phosphorus limitation on toxicity and photosynthesis of Alexandrium minutum (Dinophyceae) monitored by in-line detection of variable chlorophyll fluorescence. Journal of Phycology, 39 (2): 320–331.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lippemeier S, Hintze R, Vanselow K, Hartig P, Colijn F. 2010. In-line recording of PAM fluorescence of phytoplankton cultures as a new tool for studying effects of fluctuating nutrient supply on photosynthesis. European Journal of Phycology, 36 (1): 89–100.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lobban C S, Chapman D J, Kremer B P. 1988). Experimental Phycology: A laboratory manual. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge. p.16–22.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lomas M W, Glibert P M. 2000. Comparisons of nitrate uptake, storage, and reduction in marine diatoms and flagellates. Journal of Phycology, 36 (5): 903–913.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lu D D, Qi Y Z, Goebel J, Zou J Z, Gao Y H. 2003. Redescription of Prorocentrum donghaiense Lu and comparison with relevant Prorocentrum species. Chinese Journal of Applied Ecology, 14 (7): 1060–1064. (in Chinese with English abstract)

    Google Scholar 

  • Lü S H, Li Y. 2006. Nutritional storage ability of four harmful algae from the East China Sea. The Chinese Journal of Process Engineering, 6 (3): 439–444. (in Chinese with English abstract)

    Google Scholar 

  • Lü S H, Ou M S. 2006. Effects of different nitrogen sources and N/P ratios on the growth of a marine dinoflagellate Prorocentrum donghaiense. Mar ine Environ mental Sci ence, 25 (2): 33–36. (in Chinese with English abstract)

    Google Scholar 

  • Napoléon C, Claquin P. 2012. Multi-parametric relationships between PAM measurements and carbon incorporation, an in situ approach. PLoS One, 7 (7): e40284.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Olaizola M, Yamamoto H Y. 1994. Short-term response of the diadinoxanthin cycle and fluorescence yield to high irradiance Chaetoceros muelleri (Bacillariophyceae). Journal of Phycology, 30 (4): 606–612.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Papageorgiou G C, Tsimilli-Michael M, Stamatakis K. 2007. The fast and slow kinetics of chlorophyll a fluorescence induction in plants, algae and cyanobacteria: a viewpoint. Photosynthesis Research, 94 (2-3): 275–290.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Platt T, Gallegos C L, Harrison W G. 1980. Photoinhibition of photosynthesis in natural assemblages of marine phytoplankton. Journal of Marine Research, 38: 687–701.

    Google Scholar 

  • Redfield A C. 1958. The biological control of chemical factors in the environment. American S cientist, 46 (3): 205–221.

    Google Scholar 

  • Schreiber U, Bilger W, Neubauer C. 1994. Chlorophyll fluorescence as a nonintrusive indicator for rapid assessment of in vivo photosynthesis. In: Schulze E D, Caldwell M M eds. Ecophysiology of Photosynthesis: Ecological Studies: Analysis and Synthesis: Volume 100. Springer, Berlin Heidelberg.

    Google Scholar 

  • Shen Z L, Liu Q, Zhang S M, Miao H, Zhang P. 2001. The dominant controlling factors of high content inorganic N in the Changjiang River and its mouth. Oceanologia et Limnologia Sinica, 32 (5): 465–473. (in Chinese with English abstract)

    Google Scholar 

  • Smayda T J. 1990. Novel and nuisance phytoplankton blooms in the sea: evidence for a global epidemic. In: Graneli E, Sundstrom B, Edler L, Anderson D M eds. Toxic Marine Phytoplankton. Elsevier Science, NY, USA. p.29–40.

    Google Scholar 

  • Strzepek R F, Harrison P J. 2004. Photosynthetic architecture differs in coastal and oceanic diatoms. Nature, 431 (7009): 689–692.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sun X X, Ren L L, Zheng S, Wen F, Zhao Y F, Sun S. 2012. Phytoplankton size structure in the Yellow Sea and East China Sea in the spring and summer of 2011. Oceanologia et Limnologia Sinica, 43 (3): 419–428. (in Chinese with English abstract)

    Google Scholar 

  • Sun X X, Wang S W, Sun S. 2011. Introduction to the China jellyfish project. Chinese Journal of Oceanology and Limnology, 29 (2): 491–492.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • van Kooten O, Snel J F H. 1990. The use of chlorophyll fluorescence nomenclature in plant stress physiology. Photosynthesis Research, 25 (3): 147–150.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wang B D. 2003. Nutrient distributions and their limitation on phytoplankton in the Yellow Sea and the East China Sea. Chinese Journal of Applied Ecology, 14 (7): 1122–1126. (in Chinese with English abstract)

    Google Scholar 

  • Wang J H, Huang X Q, Xu R, et al. 2001. Effect of phosphate enrichment and algae bloom on phytoplankton community by the ordination in Mesocosm. Marine Environmental Science, 20 (1): 32–36, 54. (in Chinese with English abstract)

    Google Scholar 

  • Wu Y L, Sun S, Zhang Y S. 2005. Long-term change of environment and it’s influence on phytoplankton community structure in Jiaozhou Bay. Oceanologia et Limnologia Sinica, 36 (6): 487–498. (in Chinese with English abstract)

    Google Scholar 

  • Yin C L, Liang Y, Zhang Q F. 2007. Effects of different P concentrations on the growth and chlorophyll fluorescence of Dunaliella salina and Chaetoceros gracilis. Fisheries Sci ence, 26 (3): 154–159. (in Chinese with English abstract)

    Google Scholar 

  • Young E B, Beardall J. 2003. Photosynthetic function in Dunaliella tertiolecta (Chlorophyta) during a nitrogen starvation and recovery cycle. Journal of Phycology, 39 (5): 897–905.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zhao Y F, Yu Z M, Song X X, Cao X H. 2009. Biochemical compositions of two dominant bloom-forming species isolated from the Changjiang River estuary in response to different nutrient conditions. Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology, 368 (1): 30–36.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zhou C B, Song Y Y, Wang B J, Li R, Li M Y, Li Y Y. 2009. Effects of drought stress on photosynthesis and chlorophyll fluorescence parameters of Populus euphratica. Journal of Northwest Forestry University, 24 (4): 5–9. (in Chinese with English abstract)

    Google Scholar 

  • Zhou M J, Shen Z L, Yu R C. 2008. Responses of a coastal phytoplankton community to increased nutrient input from the Changjiang (Yangtze) River. Continental Shelf Research, 28 (12): 1483–1489.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zhou M J, Yan T, Zou J Z. 2003. Preliminary analysis of the characteristics of red tide areas in Changjiang River estuary and its adjacent sea. Chinese J ournal of A pplied E cology, 14 (7): 1031–1038. (in Chinese with English abstract).

    Google Scholar 

  • Zhou M J, Zhu M Y, Zhang J. 2001. Status of harmful algal blooms and related research activities in China. Chinese Bulletin of Life Sciences, 13 (2): 53–59. (in Chinese with English abstract)

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Jiaozhou Bay Marine Ecosystem Research Station, Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Qingdao, 266071, China

    Junlei Li  (李俊磊) & Xiaoxia Sun  (孙晓霞)

  2. University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China

    Junlei Li  (李俊磊)

  3. Laboratory of Marine Ecology and Environmental Science, Qingdao National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology, Qingdao, 266071, China

    Xiaoxia Sun  (孙晓霞)

Authors
  1. Junlei Li  (李俊磊)
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Xiaoxia Sun  (孙晓霞)
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Xiaoxia Sun  (孙晓霞).

Additional information

Supported by the “Strategic Priority Research Program—Climate Change: Carbon Budget and Relevant Issues” of Chinese Academy of Sciences (No. XDA05030401), the National Basic Research Program of China (973 Program) (No. 2014CB441504), the Key Program of National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 41230963), and the NSFC-Shandong Province Joint Fund Project (No. U1406403)

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Li, J., Sun, X. Effects of different phosphorus concentrations and N/P ratios on the growth and photosynthetic characteristics of Skeletonema costatum and Prorocentrum donghaiense . Chin. J. Ocean. Limnol. 34, 1158–1172 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00343-016-5169-z

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00343-016-5169-z

Keywords

Search

Navigation