Abstract
Nitrogen transport in a Laminaria digitata (Huds.) Lamour population growing at Arbroath, Scotland has been investigated (during the period 3 June 1981 to 3 July 1981), using 15N as tracer. NO -3 was assimilated both by the blade meristem and by the mature blade. NO -3 uptake by the blade meristem alone was insufficient to supply the nitrogen demand for growth. This additional demand was met by nitrogen transport from the mature blade to the meristem. It was estimated that 70% of the nitrogen demand of the meristematic region was supplied by nitrogen transport from the mature blade. Although transport occurred, the size of the endogenous pool of stored nitrogen in the mature blade did not change, the quantity of nitrogen transported being equivalent to the amount of NO -3 assimilated during the experimental period. The possible co-transport of nitrogen and carbon is discussed.
Similar content being viewed by others
Literature cited
Black, W. A. P.: The seasonal variation in chemical constitution of some sub-littoral seaweeds common to Scotland. J. Soc. chem. Ind., Lond. 67, 165–172 (1948)
Black, W. A. P. and E. T. Dewar: Correlation of some of the physical and chemical properties of the sea with the chemical constitution of the algae. J. mar. biol. Ass. U.K. 28, 673–699 (1949)
Bremner, J. M.: Total nitrogen. In: Methods of soil analysis. 2. Chemical and microbiological properties, pp 1149–1176. Ed. by C. A. Black, D. D. Evans, J. L. White, L. E. Ensminger and F. E. Clark. Wisconsin: American Society of Agronomy 1965
Buggeln, R. G.: A general method for determining translocation velocity in Laminariales. Can. J. Bot. 59, 132–136 (1981)
Chapman, A. R. O. and J. S. Craigie: Seasonal growth in Laminaria longicruris: relations with dissolved inorganic nutrients and internal reserves of nitrogen. Mar. Biol. 40, 197–205 (1977)
Chapman, A. R. O. and J. E. Lindley: Seasonal growth of Laminaria solidungula in the Canadian High Arctic in relation to irradiance and dissolved nutrient concentrations. Mar. Biol. 57, 1–5 (1980)
Evans, G. C.: The quantitative analysis of plant growth, 734 pp. Oxford: Blackwell Publishing Co. 1972
Gagne, J. A. and K. H. Mann: Comparison of growth strategy in Laminaria populations living under differing seasonal patterns of nutrient availability. Proc. int. Seaweed Symp. 10 (Göteborg). 297–302 (1981). (Ed. by T. Levring. Berlin: Walter de Gruyter)
Johnston, C. S., R. G. Jones and R. D. Hunt: A seasonal carbon budget for a laminarian population in a Scottish sea-loch. Helgoländer wiss. Meeresunters. 30, 527–545 (1977)
King, R. J. and W. Schramm: Determination of photosynthetic rates for the marine algae Fucus vesiculosus and Laminaria digitata. Mar. Biol. 37, 209–213 (1976)
Küppers, U. and B. P. Kremer: Longitudinal profiles of carbon dioxide fixation capacities in marine macroalgae. Pl. Physiol., Lancaster 62, 49–53 (1978)
Larsen, B. and A. Jensen: The determination of nitrate and nitrite in algal material, and the seasonal variation in the nitrate content of some Norwegian seaweeds. Rep. Norw. Inst. Seaweed Res. 15, 1–22 (1957)
Lüning, K.: Growth of amputated and dark-exposed individuals of the brown alga Laminaria hyperborea. Mar. Biol. 2, 218–223 (1969)
Lüning, K.: Seasonal growth of Laminaria hyperborea under recorded underwater light conditions near Helgoland. Proc. 4th Eur. mar. Biol. Symp. 347–360 (1971). (Ed. by D. J. Crisp. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press)
Lüning, K., K. Schmitz and J. Willenbrink: Translocation of 14C labelled assimilates in two laminarian species. Proc. int. Seaweed Symp. 7 (Sapporo), 420–425 (1972) (Ed. by K. Nisizawa [Ed. in chief]: Tokyo: University of Tokyo Press)
Lüning, K., K. Schmitz and J. Willenbrink: CO2 fixation and translocation in benthic marine algae. III. Rates and ecological significance of translocation in Laminaria hyperborea and Laminaria saccharina (L.) Lamour. J. mar. biol. Ass. U.K. 27
Mackereth, F. J. H., J. Heron and J. F. Talling: Water analysis. Scient. Publs Freshwat. biol. Ass. 36, 1–120 (1978)
Mann, K. H. and C. Mann: Problems of converting linear growth increments of kelps to estimates of biomass productions. Proc. int. Seaweed Symp. 10, (Göteborg), 699–704 (1981). (Ed. by T. Levring. Berlin: Walter de Gruyter)
Parke, M.: Studies on British Laminariaceae. I: Growth in Laminaria saccharina (L) Lamour. J. mar. biol. Ass. U.K. 27, 651–670 (1948)
Pénot, M., J. Y. Floch et M. Pénot: Physiologie comparée des transports à longue distance chez les végétaux superieurs et chez les algues marines. Phycologia 15, 299–308 (1976)
Schmitz, K., K. Lüning und J. Willenbrink: CO2-Fixierung und Stofftransport in benthischen marinen Algen. II. Zum Ferntransport 14C-markierter Assimilate bei Laminaria hyperborea and Laminaria saccharina. Z. PflPhysiol. 67, 418–429 (1972)
Strickland, J. D. H. and T. R. Parsons: A practical handbook of seawater analyses. Bull. Fish. Res. Bd Can. 167, 1–311 (1968)
Sundene, O.: The ecology of Laminaria digitata in Norway in view of transplant experiments. Nytt Mag. Bot. 11, 83–107 (1964)
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
Communicated by J. Mauchline, Oban
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Davison, I.R., Stewart, W.D.P. Occurrence and significance of nitrogen transport in the brown alga Laminaria digitata . Mar. Biol. 77, 107–112 (1983). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00396307
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00396307