Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Regional studies of daily, seasonal and size fraction variability in ammonium remineralization

  • Published:
Marine Biology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Rates of ammonium remineralization were determined using a 15N isotope dilution technique for two oceanic regions, one coastal region, and one estuarine region, covering a wide range of ambient nutrient, light, and temperature conditions. Results showed that NH +4 assimilative and regenerative fluxes were primarily in balance, even when the ambient nitrogenous pool was completely dominated by NO -3 . Variations in uptake and remineralization rates relative to time of day and season were also determined. Size fraction studies at several of the sites showed that the smallest size fraction (<10 μm) was usually the most important in remineralizing NH +4 , and the importance of the apparent bacterial fraction (<1 μm) may increase following blooms. The results support the concept that, over a wide variety of conditions, the fluxes of NH +4 remineralization and uptake are tightly coupled; phytoplankton are able to utilize NH +4 at the rate that it is produced by heterotrophic processes.

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

Literature Cited

  • Alexander, V.: Relationships between turnover rates in the biological nitrogen cycle and algal productivity. In: Dynamics of the nitrogen cycle in lakes, pp. 37–50. Fairbanks, Alaska: Institute of Marine Science, University of Alaska 1970. (Rep. Inst. mar. Sci. Univ. Alaska No. R 71-7)

    Google Scholar 

  • Axler, R. P., G. W. Redfield and C. R. Goldman: The importance of regenerated nitrogen to phytoplankton productivity in a subalpine lake. Ecol. 62, 345–354 (1981)

    Google Scholar 

  • Beers, J. R.: Ammonia and inorganic phosphorus, excretion by the planktonic chaetognath, Sagitta hispida Conant. J. Cons. perm. int. Explor. Mer. 29, 123–129 (1964)

    Google Scholar 

  • Biggs, D. C.: Respiration and ammonium excretion of open-ocean gelatinous zooplankton. Limnol. Oceanogr. 22, 108–117 (1977)

    Google Scholar 

  • Biggs, D. C.: Non-biogenic fixed nitrogen in Antarctic surface waters Nature. Lond. 276 96–97 (1978)

    Google Scholar 

  • Blackburn, T. H.: Method for measuring rates of NH +4 turnover in anoxic marine sediments, using a 15N−NH +4 dilution technique. Appl. environ. Microb. 37, 760–765 (1979)

    Google Scholar 

  • Bremner, J. M.: Inorganic forms of nitrogen. In: Methods of soil analysis, part 2, Vol. 9, pp 1179–1237. Ed. by C. A. Black. Madison, Wisconsin: American Soc. of Agronomy 1965

    Google Scholar 

  • Bremner, J. M. and A. P. Edwards. Determination and isotoperatio analysis of different forms of nitrogen in soils: I. Apparatus and procedure for distillation and determination of ammonium. Soil. Sci. Soc. Am. Proc. 29, 504–507 (1965)

    Google Scholar 

  • Bremner, J. M. and D. R. Keeney: Steam distillation methods for determination of ammonium, nitrate, and nitrite. Anal. chim. Acta 32, 485–495 (1965)

    Google Scholar 

  • Bremner, J. M. and D. R. Keeny: Determination and isotoperatio analysis of different forms of nitrogen, in soils. 3. Exchangeable ammonium, nitrate, and nitrite by extraction-distillation methods. Soil. Sci. Soc. Am. Proc. 30, 577–582 (1966)

    Google Scholar 

  • Brezonik, P. L.: Nitrogen: sources and transformations in natural waters. In: Nutrients in natural waters, pp 1–47. Ed. by H. E. Allen and J. R. Kramer. New York: Wiley 1972

    Google Scholar 

  • Caperon, J., D. Schell, J. Hirota and E. Laws: Ammonium excretion rates in Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii, measured by a 15N isotope dilution technique. Mar. Biol. 54, 33–40 (1979)

    Google Scholar 

  • Corner, E. D. S. and B. S Newell: On the nutrition and metabolism of zooplankton. IV. The forms of nitrogen excreted by Calanus. J. mar. biol. Assoc. U.K. 47, 113–120 (1967)

    Google Scholar 

  • Dugdale, R. C. and J. J. Goering: Uptake of new and regenerated forms of nitrogen in primary productivity. Limnol. Oceanogr. 12, 196–206 (1967)

    Google Scholar 

  • Eppley, R. W. and B. J. Peterson: Particulateorganic matter flux and planktonic new production in the deep sea. Nature, Lond. 282, 677–680 (1979)

    Google Scholar 

  • Glibert, P. M., D. C. Biggs and J. J. McCarthy: Utilization of ammonium and nitrate during austral summer in the Scotia Sea. Deep-Sea Res. 29, 837–850 (1982a)

    Google Scholar 

  • Glibert, P. M. and J. C. Goldman: Rapid ammonium uptake by marine phytoplankton. Mar. Biol. Lett. 2, 25–31 (1981)

    Google Scholar 

  • Glibert, P. M., J. C. Goldman and E. J. Carpenter: Seasonal variations in the utilization of ammonium and nitrate by phytoplankton in Vineyard Sound Massachusetts. Mar. Biol. (1982b). (In press)

  • Glibert, P. M., F. Lipschultz, J. J. McCarthy and M. A. Altabet: Isotope dilution models of uptake and remineralization of ammonium by marine plankton. Limnol. Oceanogr. 27, 639–650 (1982c)

    Google Scholar 

  • Goldman, J. C., C. D. Taylor and P. M. Glibert: Nonlinear timecourse uptake of carbon and ammonium by marine phytoplankton. Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser. 6, 137–148 (1981)

    Google Scholar 

  • Haines, E. B.: Nutrient inputs to the coastal zone: the Georgia and South Carolina shelf. In: Estuarine research, vol. 1, pp 303–324. Ed. by L. E. Cronin. New York: Academic Press 1975

    Google Scholar 

  • Harris, E.: The nitrogen cycle in Long Island Sound. Bull. Bingham Oceanogr. Coll. 17, 31–65 (1959)

    Google Scholar 

  • Harrison, W. G.: Experimental measurement of nitrogen remineralization in coastal waters. Limnol. Oceanogr. 23, 684–694 (1978)

    Google Scholar 

  • Harrison, W. G.: Nutrient regeneration and primary production in the sea, pp 433–460 Ed. by P. G. Falkowski New York Plenum Press 1980

    Google Scholar 

  • Jacobs, S. S., A. L. Gordon and A. F. Amos: Effect of glacial ice melting on the Antarctic surface water. Nature, Lond. 277, 468–471 (1979)

    Google Scholar 

  • Jawed, M.: Body nitrogen and nitrogenous excretion in Neomysis rayii Murdoch and Euphausia pacifica hansen. Limnol. Oceanogr. 14, 748–754 (1969)

    Google Scholar 

  • Johannes, R. E.: Phosphorus excretion and body size in marine animals: Microzooplankton and nutrient regeneration. Science, N. Y. 146, 923–924 (1964)

    Google Scholar 

  • Johannes, R. E.: Nutrient regeneration in lakes and oceans. Adv. Microbiol. Sea 1, 203–212 (1968)

    Google Scholar 

  • mcCarthy, J. J. and J. C. Goldman: Nitrogenous ntrition of marine phytoplankton in nutrient depleted waters. Science, N.Y. 203, 670–672 (1979)

    Google Scholar 

  • McCarthy, J. J. and D. Kamykowski: Urea and other nitrogenous nutrients in La Jolla Bay during February, March, and April 1970. Fish. Bull. U.S. 70, 1261–1274 (1972)

    Google Scholar 

  • McCarthy, J. J., W. R. Taylor and J. L. Taft: The dynamics of nitrogen and phosphorus cycling in the open waters of the Chesapeake Bay. In. Marine chemistry in the coastal, environment, pp 664–681. Ed. by T. M. Church. Philadelphia, Penn: Am. Chem. Soc. 1975

    Google Scholar 

  • McCarthy, J. J., W. R. Taylor and J. L. Taft: Nitrogenous nutrition, of the plankton in the chesapeake Bay. I. Nutrient availability and phytoplankton preferences. Limnol. Oceanogr. 22, 996–1011 (1977)

    Google Scholar 

  • McCarthy, J. J. and T. E. Whitledge: Nitrogen excretion by the anchovy (Engraulis mordax and ringens) and jack mackeral (Trachurus symmetricus). Fish Bull., U.S. 70, 395–401 (1972)

    Google Scholar 

  • Nixon, S. W., C. A. Oviatt and S. S. Hale: Nitrogen regeneration and the metabolism of coastal marine bottom communities. In: The role of terrestrial and aquatic organisms in decomposition processes, pp 269–283 Ed. by J. M. Anderson and A. Macfayden. Oxford, England: Blackwell 1975

    Google Scholar 

  • Olson, R. J.: Nitrate and ammonium uptake in Atarctic, waters. Limnol. Oceanogr. 25, 1064–1074 (1980)

    Google Scholar 

  • Paasche, E. and S. Kristiansen: Ammonium regeneration by microzooplankton in the Oslofjord, Norway. Mar. Biol. 69 55–63 (1982)

    Google Scholar 

  • Parker, B. C., L. E. Heiskell W. J. Thompson, and E. J. Zeller: Nonbiogenic fixed nitrogen in Antarctica and some ecological implications. Nature, Lond. 271, 651–652 (1978)

    Google Scholar 

  • Seki, H., T. Tsuji and A. Hattori: Effect of zooplankton grazing on the formation of the anoxic layer in Tokyo Bay. Estuar. coast. mar. Sci. 2, 145–151 (1974)

    Google Scholar 

  • Smith, S. L.: Nutrient regeneration by zooplankton during a red tide off Peru, with notes on biomass and species composition of zooplankton. Mar. Biol. 49, 125–132 (1978a)

    Google Scholar 

  • Smith, S. L.: The role of zooplankton in the nitrogen dynamics of a shallow estuary. Estuar coast. mar. Sci. 7, 555–565 (1978b)

    Google Scholar 

  • Solórzano, L.: Determination of ammonia in natural waters by the phenolhypochlorite method. Limnol. Oceanogr. 14, 799–801 (1969)

    Google Scholar 

  • Strickland, J. D. H. and T. R. Parsons: A practical handbook of seawater analysis, 310 pp. Ottowa: Fish. Res. Bd Can. 1972

    Google Scholar 

  • Walsh, J. J. and R. C. Dugdale: A simulation model of nitrogen flow in the Peruvian upwelling system. Inv. Pesq. 35, 309–330 (1971)

    Google Scholar 

  • Wheeler, P. A., P. M. Glibert, and J. J. McCarthy: Ammonium uptake and incorporation by Chesapeake Bay phytoplankton: Short-term uptake kinetics. Limnol. Oceanogr. (In press)

Download references

Author information

Author notes

  1. P. M. Glibert

    Present address: Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, 02543, Woods Hole, Massachusetts, USA

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Museum of Comparative Zoology, Harvard University, 02138, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA

    P. M. Glibert

Authors
  1. P. M. Glibert
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Additional information

Communicated by S.K. Pierce, College Park

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Glibert, P.M. Regional studies of daily, seasonal and size fraction variability in ammonium remineralization. Mar. Biol. 70, 209–222 (1982). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00397687

Download citation

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00397687

Keywords

Search

Navigation