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Nutrient Interactions and Microbes

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Book cover Heterotrophic Activity in the Sea

Part of the book series: NATO Conference Series ((MARS,volume 15))

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Abstract

This paper is concerned with microbial processes that alter the composition of seawater; the alterations represent modifications of the environment that in turn can be expected to influence microbial activity. Such processes can be examined with a view to many of the chemical elements, which may be involved because they are essential to the growth and metabolism of plants and animals, which may be concentrated in or on the bodies of organisms either biochemically or physico-chemically, or which may have special stimulating or toxic effects. As suggested by the organizing committee, most of the presentation will deal with the elements considered in the “Redfield ratios”, carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus, and dissolved oxygen. The discussion will, however, be extended to the consideration of oxygen-deficient and anoxic waters, in which the role of sulfur compounds becomes important, and some speculation as to the possible role of phosphate as a free energy source will be included. It will be important to review the assumptions implicit in the Redfield ratios and the departures in nature from the ratios and assumptions. The departures may sometimes be more interesting than the ratios themselves, because they may indicate significant peculiarities in the populations or in the environment.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of the Navy, Office of Naval Research, Branch Office, Box 39, 09510, FPO New York, USA

    Francis A. Richards

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  1. Francis A. Richards
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Marine Biological Laboratory, Woods Hole, Massachusetts, USA

    John E. Hobbie

  2. Department of Marine Microbiology, Gothenburg University, Gothenburg, Sweden

    Peter J. leB. Williams

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© 1984 Plenum Press, New York

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Richards, F.A. (1984). Nutrient Interactions and Microbes. In: Hobbie, J.E., Williams, P.J.l. (eds) Heterotrophic Activity in the Sea. NATO Conference Series, vol 15. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4684-9010-7_14

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4684-9010-7_14

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4684-9012-1

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4684-9010-7

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

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