Abstract
Changes in the elemental composition of the blue-green alga Anabaena at Rostherne Mere (Cheshire, U.K.) were studied over an extended bloom period in 1996. Elemental analysis was carried out in relation to intracellular concentrations, intracellular elemental correlations, time series correlations and total quantities of elements in lake water. Most of the intracellular elements showed considerable variation both between and within samples. Correlations between these elements also varied considerably, though certain pairs – K/Cl, K/Mg, P/K and P/Mg were significantly correlated in at least 50% of the samples. Analysis of the time series demonstrated clear correlations between lake water P and intracellular P and Mg. The growth of Anabaena coincided with a considerable increase in the overall amount of chemicals contained in its population. The total amounts of chemicals in the lake water, however, always substantially exceeded those present in the population of Anabaena cells. Elemental relationships within cells are considered in relation to an elemental correlation pattern, consisting of three main groupings – Mg-K-P, Na-S and Ca-Cl. The structural model of intracellular elemental associations presented here may be helpful in the investigation of algal response to changes in environmental parameters.The incorporation of this model into a dynamic model simulating phytoplankton–environmental interactions is discussed.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Baxter, M. & T. Jensen, 1980. Uptake of Magnesium, Strontium, Barium and Manganese by Plectronema Boryanum (Cyanophycea) with special reference to polyphosphate bodies. Protoplasma 104: 81–89.
Behrendt, H., 1990. The chemical composition of phytoplankton and zooplankton in a eutrophic lake. Arch. Hydrobiol. 118: 129–145.
Clay, S., 1992. An X-ray microanalytical study of the elemental composition of phytoplankton at Rostherne Mere, Cheshire. Ph.D. Thesis, The University of Manchester.
El-Bestawy, E., E. G. Bellinger & D. C. Sigee, 1996. Elemental composition of phytoplankton in a subtropical lake: X-ray microanalytical studies on the dominant algae Spirulina platensis (Cyanophyta) and Cyclotella meneghiniana (Bacillariophycea). Eur. J. Phycol. 31: 157–166.
HMSO, 1981. Phosphorus in waters, effluents and sewages, 1980. In Methods for the Examination of Waters, and Associated Materials. Department of the Environment Standing Commitee of Analysis. vol.7. HMSO. London.
Ingram, F. D & M. J. Ingram, 1980. Quantitative X-ray microanalysis of bulk specimens. X-ray microanalysis in biology. In Hayat, A. M. (ed.), Macmillan, London.
Jensen, T. E., M. Baxter & V. Jani, 1982. Uptake of heavy metalls by Plectronema Boryanum (Cyanophycea) into cellular components, especially polyphosphate bodies: X-ray energy dispersive study. Envir. Pollut. (Series A) 27: 119–127.
Krivtsov, V., 1995. Monitoring of the summer algal bloom using XRMA. Msc Thesis. The University of Manchester.*
Krivtsov, V., E. Bellinger, D. Sigee & J. Corliss, 1998. Application of SEM XRMA data to lake ecosystem modelling. Ecol. Model. 113/1–3: 95–123.
Lyman, C. E., J. I. Goldstein, A. D. Romig, P. Echlin, D. C. Joy, D. E. Newbury, D. B. Williams, J. T. Armstrong, C. E. Fiori, E. Lifshin & K. Peters, 1990. Scanning Electron Microscopy, Xray Microanalysis and Analytical Electron Microscopy. Plenum Press, New York.
Moss, B., M. Beklioglu, L. Carvalho, L. Kilinc & S. McGowan, 1997. Vertically-challenged limnology; contrasts between deep and shallow lakes. Hydrobiologia 342/343 (Dev. Hydrobiol. 119): 257–267.
Pearsall, W. H., 1923. The phytoplankton of Rostherne Mere. Mem. and Proc. Manchester. Lit. Phil. Soc. 67: 45–55.
Reynolds, C. S., 1984.The Ecology of Freshwater Phytoplankton. Cambridge Studies in Ecology. Cambridge University Press.
Reynolds, C. S. & E. G. Bellinger, 1992. Patterns of abundance and dominance of the phytoplankton of Rostherne Mere, England: evidence from an 18 year data set. Aquat. Sci. 54: 10–36.
Reynolds, C. S. & C. Sinker, 1976. The Meres: Britains eutrophic lakes. New Scientist 71(1007): 10–12.
Sigee, D. C. & R. Holland, 1997. Elemental composition, correlations and ratios within a population of Staurastrum planctonicum (Zygnematales): an X-ray microanalytical study. J. Phycol. 33: 182–190.
Sigee, D., V. Krivtsov & E. Bellinger, 1998. Elemental concentrations, correlations and ratios in micropopulations of Ceratium Hirundinella (pyrrhophyta): an X-ray microanalytical study. Eur. J. Phycol. 33: 155–164.
Skalar Analytical B. V., 1993. Skalar automated N & P analyser. Publication No.: 0711293. Headquarters Skalar Analytical B.V., P. O. Box 3237, 4800 DE Breda, The Netherlands.
Stephen, D., 1997. The role of macrophytes in shallow lake systems: whole-lake, mesocosm and laboratory approaches. PhD Theses, The University of Liverpool.
Tatersall, W. M. & T. A. Coward, 1914. Faunal survey of Rostherne Mere. Mem. and Proc. Manchester. Lit. Phil. Soc. 58: 1–21.
Villareal, T. A. & F. Lipschultz, 1995. Internal nitrate concentrations in single cells of large phytoplankton from the Sargasso Sea. J. Phycol. 31: 689–696.
Woof, C. & T. Wall, 1984. The morphometry of Rostherne Mere, Cheshire. Naturalist 109: 143–146.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Krivtsov, V., Bellinger, E.G. & Sigee, D.C. Modelling of elemental associations in Anabaena. Hydrobiologia 414, 75–81 (1999). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1003807013595
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1003807013595