Abstract
Enrichment experiments were carried out on seawater samples from the Israeli coast to characterise the nature of nutrient limitation. Phytoplankton chlorophyll, ATP, PC, PN, PP and bicarbonate and orthophosphate uptake rates indicate that phosphorus limitation is more extreme than that of nitrogen. A large increase in total nitrogen observed with P enrichment suggests that a substantial nitrogen fixation is mediated by picocyanobacteria in this kind of oligotrophic mediterranean waters.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Andersen, P., et Fenchel, T.: Bacterivory by microheterotrophic flagellates in seawater samples. Limnol. Oceanogr.30 198–202 (1985).
Andersson, A., Lee, C., Azam, F., et Hagström, Å.: Release of aminoacids and inorganic nutrients by heterotrophic marine microflagellates. Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser.23 99–106 (1985).
Armstrong, F. A. J., et Tibbitts, S.: Photochemical combustion of organic matter in sea water, for nitrogen, phosphorus and carbon determination. J. mar. biol. Ass. U. K.48 143–152 (1968).
Azov, Y.: Seasonal patterns of phytoplankton productivity and abundance in nearshore oligotrophic waters of the Levant Basin (Mediterranean). J. Plankt. Res.8 41–53 (1986).
Barber, R. T., et Ryther, J. H.: Organic chelators: factors affecting primary production in the Cromwell Current upwelling. J. exp. mar. Biol. Ecol.3 191–199 (1969).
Berland, B. R., Bonin, D. J., et Maestrini, S. Y.: Azote ou phosphore? Considérations sur le «paradoxe nutritionnel» de la mer Méditerranée. Oceanol. Acta3 135–142 (1980).
Berman, T.: Modifications in filtration methods for the measurement of inorganic 14C uptake by photosynthesizing algae. J. Phycol.9 327–330 (1973).
Berman, T.: Uptake of [32P] orthophosphate by algae and bacteria in Lake Kinneret. J. Plankt. Res.7 71–84 (1985).
Berman, T., Azov, Y., Schneller, A., Walline, P., et Townsend, D. W.: Extent, transparency, and phytoplankton distribution of the neritic waters overlying the Israeli coastal shelf. Oceanol. Acta9 439–447 (1986).
Berman, T., Townsend, D. W., El-Sayed, S. Z., Trees, C. C., et Azov, Y.: Optical transparency, chlorophyll and primary production in the Eastern Mediterranean near the Israeli coast. Oceanol. Acta7 367–372 (1984).
Béthoux, J. P.: Budgets of the Mediterranean Sea. Their dependance on the local climate and on the characterization of the Atlantic waters. Oceanol. Acta2 157–163 (1979).
Béthoux, J. P.: Mean water fluxes across sections in the Mediterranean Sea, evaluated on the basis of water and salt budgets and of observed salinities. Oceanol. Acta3 79–88 (1980).
Béthoux, J. P.: Le phosphore et l'azote en mer Méditerranée, bilans et fertilité potentielle. Mar. Chem.10 141–158 (1981).
Béthoux, J. P., et Copin-Montégut, G.: Biological fixation of atmospheric nitrogen in the Mediterranean Sea. Limnol. Oceanogr.31 1353–1358 (1986).
Capone, D. G.: Benthic nitrogen fixation. In: Nitrogen in the marine environment. (Eds. E. J. Carpenter, et D. G. Capone) pp. 105–137. Academic Press, New York 1983.
Carr, N. G., et Wyman, M.: Cyanobacteria: their biology in relation to the oceanic picoplankton. In: Photosynthetic picoplankton (Eds. T. Platt, et W. K. W. Li). Can. Bull. Fish. Aquat. Sci.214 159–204 (1986).
Cavari, B.: ATP in Lake Kinneret: indicator of microbial biomass or of phosphorus deficiency? Limnol. Oceanogr.21 231–236 (1976).
Cembella, A. D., Antia, N. J., et Harrison, P. J.: The utilization of inorganic and organic phosphorus compounds as nutrients by eukaryotic microalgae: a multidisciplinary perspective: Part I. In: Critical Reviews in Microbiology, vol. 10. (Ed. W. M. O'Leary) pp. 317–391, CRC Press, Boca Raton, Florida 1984.
Chisholm, S. W., Olson, R. J., Zettler, E. R., Goericke, R., Waterbury, J. B., et Welshmeyer, N. A.: A novel free-living prochlorophyte abundant in the oceanic euphotic zone. Nature, Lond.,334 340–343 (1988).
Christensen, J. P., Goldsmith, V., Walline, P., Schneller, A., Berman T., et El-Sayed, S. Z.: Sedimentary nutrient regeneration on the oligotrophic Eastern Mediterranean continental shelf. In: Océanographie pélagique méditerranéenne. (Eds. H. J. Minas, et P. Nival). Oceanol. Acta NoSP9 219–234 (1988).
Coste, B.: Echanges de sels nutritifs dissous entre la mer Méditerranée et l'océan Atlantique. Cah. océanogr.21 943–963 (1969).
Coste, B., Le Corre, P., et Minas, H. J.: Re-evaluation of the nutrient exchanges in the Strait of Gibraltar. Deep-Sea Res.35 767–775 (1988a).
Coste, B., Le Corre, P., Minas, H. J., et Morin, P.: Les éléments nutritifs dans le bassin occidental de la Méditerranée. Bilan des échanges avec l'océan Atlantique à Gibraltar. In: Océanographie pélagique méditerranéenne (Eds. H. J. Minas, et P. Nival). Oceanol. Acta, NoSP9 87–94 (1988b).
Coste, B., et Minas, H. J.: Influence des apports continentaux sur le régime et le bilan des sels nutritifs de la Méditerranée. Thalassia Jugoslavica.17 103–108 (1981).
Dowidar, N. M: Phytoplankton biomass and primary productivity of the south eastern Mediterranean. Deep-Sea Res.31 983–1000 (1984).
Fogg, G. E.: Marine plankton. In: The biology of cyanobacteria (Eds. N. G. Carr, et B. A. Whitton) pp. 491–513, Blackwell Sci. Publ., Oxford 1982.
Gascard, J. C., et Richez, C.: Water masses and circulation in the Western Alboran Sea and in the Straits of Gibraltar. Prog. Oceanogr.15 157–216 (1985).
Glibert, P. M.: Regional studies of daily, seasonal and size fraction variability in ammonium remiveralization. Mar. Biol.70 209–222 (1982).
Goldman, J. C.: On phytoplankton growth rates and particulate C:N:P ratios at low light. Limnol. Oceanogr.31 1358–1363 (1986).
Goldman, J. C., McCarthy, J. J., and Peavey, D. G.: Growth rate influence on the chemical composition of phytoplankton in oceanic waters. Nature, Lond.279 210–215 (1979).
Hamilton, R. D., et Holm-Hansen, O.: Adenosine triphosphate content of marine bacteria. Limnol. Oceanogr.12 319–324 (1967).
Healey, F. P.: Physiological indicators of nutrient deficiency in algae. Environment Canada, Fish. Mar. Serv. Res. Dev., Techn. Rep.585, 30 pp. (1975).
Herbland, A., Le Bouteiller, A., et Raimbault, P.: Size structure of phytoplankton biomass in the equatorial Atlantic Ocean. Deep-Sea Res.32 819–836 (1985).
Holm-Hansen, O., Lorenzen, C., Holmes, R. W., et Strickland, J. D. H.: Fluorometric determination of chlorophyll. J. Cons. perm. int. Explor. Mer30 3–15 (1965).
Holm-Hansen, O., et Booth, C. R.: The measurement of adenosine triphosphate in the ocean and its ecological significance. Limnol. Oceanogr.11 510–519 (1966).
Ignatiades, L., et Smayda, T. J.: Autoecological studies on the marine diatomRhizosolenia fragilissima Bergon. II. Enrichment and dark viability experiments. J. Phycol.6 357–364 (1970).
Johnson, P. W., et Sieburth, J. McN.: Chroococcoid cyanobacteria in the sea: A ubiquitous and diverse phototrophic biomass. Limnol. Oceanogr.24 928–935 (1979).
Johnson, P. W., et Sieburth, J. McN.: In situ morphology and occurence of eucaryotic phototrophs of bacterial size in the picoplankton of estuarine and oceanic waters. J. Phycol.18 318–327 (1982).
Joint, I. R.: Physiological ecology of picoplankton in various oceanographic provinces. In: Photosynthetic picoplankton. (Eds. T. Platt, et W. K. W. Li). Can. Bull. Fish. Aquat. Sci.214 287–309 (1986).
Joint, I. R., Owens, N. J. P., et Pomroy, A. J.: Seasonal production of photosynthetic picoplankton and nanoplankton in the Celtic Sea. Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser.28 251–258 (1986).
Karl, D. M.: Cellular nucleotide measurements and application in microbial ecology. Microb. Rev.44 739–796 (1980).
Kerambrun, P., et Szekielda, K. H.: Dosage simultané du carbone, de l'hydrogène et de l'azote dans le matériel en suspension dans l'eau de mer. Note technique. Téthys1 581–584 (1969).
Kiefer, D. A.: Chlorophyll a fluorescence in marine centric diatoms: Responses of chloroplasts to light and nutrient stress. Mar. Biol.23 39–46 (1973).
Koroleff, F.: Direct determination of ammonia in natural waters as indophenol blue. Interlab. Rep. Cons. perm. int. Explor. Mer3 19–22 (1970).
Li, W. K. W., Subba Rao, D. V., Harrison, W. G., Smith, J. C., Cullen, J. J., Irwin, B., et Platt, T.: Autotrophic picoplankton in the tropical ocean. Science219 292–295 (1983).
Loftus, M. E., et Seliger, H. H.: Some limitations of the in vivo fluorescence technique. Chesapeake Science16 79–92 (1975).
Lorenzen, C. J.: A method for the continuous measurement of in vivo chlorophyll concentration. Deep-Sea Res.13 223–227 (1966).
Maestrini, S. Y., Bonin, D. J., et Droop, M. R.: Phytoplankton as indicators of sea water quality: Bioassay approaches and protocols. In: Algae as ecological indicators. (Ed. L. E. Shubert) pp. 71–132, Academic Press, London 1984.
Magazzu, G., Bruni, V., Piccione, A., Platt, T., Irwin, B., et Subba Rao, D. V.: Picoplankton: Contribution to phytoplankton production in the Strait of Messina. P. S. Z. N. I.: Mar. Ecol.8 21–31 (1987).
McCarthy, J. J.: Nitrogen. In: The physiological ecology of phytoplankton. 1. Phytoplankton. (Ed. I. Morris) pp. 191–233, Blackwell Sci. Publ., Oxford 1980.
McGill, D. A.: The relative supplies of phosphate, nitrate and silicate in the Mediterranean Sea. Rapp. Pv. Comm. int. Explor. sci. Mer. Médit.18 737–744 (1965).
McGill, D. A.: A budget for dissolved nutrient salts in the Mediterranean Sea. Cah. océanogr.21 543–554 (1969).
Menzel, D. W., et Corwin, N.: The measurement of total phosphorus in sea water based on the liberation of organically bound fractions by persulfate oxidation. Limnol. Oceanogr.10 280–282 (1965).
Mitsui, A., Kumazawa, S., Takahashi, A., Ikemoto, H., Cao, S., et Arai, T.: Strategy by which nitrogenfixing unicellular cyanobacteria grow photoautotrophically. Nature323 720–722 (1986).
Morris, I., et Glover, H.: Physiology of photosynthesis by marine coccoid cyanobacteria. Some ecological implications. Limnol. Oceanogr.26 957–961 (1981).
Peters, R., et Lean, D. R. S.: The characterization of soluble phosphorus release by limnetic zooplankton. Limnol. Oceanogr.18 270–279 (1973).
Platt, T., Subba Rao, D. V., et Irwin, B.: Photosynthesis of picoplankton in the oligotrophic ocean. Nature, Lond.300 702–704 (1983).
Porter, K. G., et Feig, Y. S.: The use of DAPI for identifying and counting aquatic microflora. Limnol. Oceanogr.25 943–948 (1980).
Redfield, A. C.: On the proportions of organic derivatives in sea water and their relation to the composition of plankton. James Johnstone Memorial Volume, Liverpool, 177–192 (1934).
Redfield, A. C., Ketchum, B. H., et Richards, F. A.: The influence of organisms on the composition of sea water. In: The sea, Ideas and observations on progress in the study of the seas, vol. 2. (Ed. M. N. Hill) pp. 26–77, J. Wiley and Sons, New York 1963.
Sakshaug, E., Andresen, K., Myklestad, S., et Olsen, Y.: Nutrient status of phytoplankton communities in Norwegian waters (marine, brackish, and fresh) as revealed by their chemical composition. J. Plankt. Res.5 175–196 (1983).
Sakshaug, E., Graneli, E., Elbrächter, M., et Kayser, H.: Chemical composition and alkaline phosphatase activity of nutrient-saturated and P-deficient cells of four marine Dinoflagellates. J. exp. mar. Biol. Ecol.77 241–254 (1984).
Sakshaug, E., et Holm-Hansen, O.: Chemical composition ofSkeletonema costatum (Grev.) Cleve andPavlova (Monochrysis) lutheri (Droop) Green as a function of nitrate-, phosphate-, and iron-limited growth. J. exp. mar. Biol. Ecol.29 1–34 (1977).
Sherr, B. F., Sherr, E. B., et Berman, T.: Grazing, growth, and ammonium excretion rates of a heterotrophic microflagellate fed with four species of bacteria. Appl. environ. Microbiol.45 1196–1201 (1983).
Sieburth, J. McN., Smetacek, V., et Lenz, J.: Pelagic ecosystem structure: heterotrophic compartments of the plankton and their relationship to plankton size fractions. Limnol. Oceanogr.23 1256–1263 (1978).
Slovacek, R. E., et Hannan, P. J.: In vivo fluorescence determinations of phytoplankton chlorophyll a. Limnol. Oceanogr.22 919–925 (1977).
Smith, J. C., Platt, T., Li, W. K. W., Horne, E. P. W., Harrison, W. G., Subba Rao, D. V., et Irwin, B. D.: Arctic marine photoautotrophic picoplankton. Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser.20 207–220 (1985).
Smith, S. V.: Phosphorus versus nitrogen limitation in the marine environment. Limnol. Oceanogr.29 1149–1160 (1984).
Sournia, A.: La production primaire planctonique en Méditerranée. Essai de mise à jour. Bulletin pour l'Etude en commun de la Méditerranée, Numéro spécial5 1–128 (1973).
Stockner, J. G., et Antia, N. J.: Algal picoplankton from marine and freshwater ecosystems: a multidisciplinary perspective. Can. J. Fish. Aquat. Sci.43 2427–2503 (1986).
Sunda, W. G., Barber, R. T., et Huntsman, S. A.: Phytoplankton growth in nutrient-rich sea water: importance of copper-manganese cellular interactions. J. mar. Res.39 567–586 (1981).
Takahashi, M., et Hori, T.: Abundance of picoplankton in the subsurface chlorophyll maximum layer in subtropical and tropical waters. Mar. Biol.79 177–186 (1984).
Townsend, D. W., Christensen, J. P., Berman, T., Walline, P., Schneller, A., et Yentsch, C. S.: Nearbottom chlorophyll maxima in shelf waters of the Southeastern Mediterranean Sea: upwelling and sediments as possible nutrient sources. In: Océanographie pélagique méditerranéenne. (Eds. H. J. Minas, et P. Nival) Oceanol. Acta NoSP9 235–244 (1988).
UNEP (United Nations Environment Program): Pollutants from land-based sources in the Mediterranean. UNEP Regional Seas Rep. Stud.32, 97 pp. (1984).
Waterbury, J. B., Watson, S. W., Guillard, R. R. L., et Brand, L. E.: Widespread occurence of a unicellular, marine, planktonic cyanobacterium. Nature, Lond.277 293–294 (1979).
Waterbury, J. B., Watson, S. W., Valois, F. W., et Franks, D. G.: Biological and ecological characterization of the marine unicellular cyanobacteriumSynechococcus. In: Photosynthetic picoplankton. (Eds. T. Platt, et W. K. W. Li) Can. Bull. Fish. Aquat. Sci.214 71–120 (1986).
Wyman, M., Gregory, R. P. F., et Carr, N. G.: Novel role for phycoerythrin in a marine cyanobacterium,Synechococcus strain DC2. Science230 818–820 (1985).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Bonin, D.J., Bonin, M.C. & Berman, T. Mise en évidence expérimentale des facteurs nutritifs limitants de la production du micro-nanoplancton et de l'ultraplancton dans une eau côtière de la Méditerranée orientale (Haïfa, Israël). Aquatic Science 51, 129–152 (1989). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00879299
Received:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00879299