Summary
Twelve 24 h bioassay experiments were conducted in 1980 and 1981 to evaluate seasonal influences of NO -3 , NH +4 , PO 3-4 , N+P, vitamins, trace metals, a synthetic chelate and common salts on 14C and 15N primary production in Toolik Lake, Alaska. Addition of N+P, NO -3 or NH +4 significantly increased 14C primary production over all other treatments on most dates. Only on three occasions did any other treatment have any statistically significant effect on 14C primary production. 15NO -3 and 15NH +4 primary production were each significantly enhanced by PO 3-4 enrichement relative to all other nutrient applications on seven dates. Significantly depressed 15NO -3 primary production consistently resulted from NH +4 addition but enrichment with NO -3 gave significantly depressed 15NH +4 primary production in just three experiments. Other treatments significantly influenced 15N primary production on two occasions only. The general stimulatory influence of N+P, NO -3 and NH +4 on 14C primary production as well as the similar effect of PO 3-4 on 15N primary production had no seasonal pattern. The total data show that nitrogen and phosphorus are the most important chemical regulators of primary production in Toolik Lake.
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Whalen, S.C., Alexander, V. Chemical influences on 14C and 15N primary production in an arctic lake. Polar Biol 5, 211–219 (1986). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00446089
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00446089