Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Algal nutrient competition in continuous culture

  • Published:
Hydrobiological Bulletin Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Summary

Natural phytoplankton from Lake Constance was exposed to competition experiments in continuous culture at 6 different molar rations of P∶Si as potentially limiting nutrients. As predicted by theory there was competitive exclusion of all species but one at single nutrient limitation, and coexistence of two species in steady state when P was limiting for one and Si for the other species. In one case coexistence of three species occurred. Equilibrium species composition, which stabilized after 3 to 6 weeks of cultivation, was independent of the species composition of the inoculum and only controlled by the nutrient regime. Comparability of experimental results and field observations is discussed.

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

References

  • HARDIN, G., 1960. The competitive exclusion principle. Science, 131: 1292–1298.

    Google Scholar 

  • HUTCHINSON, G.E., 1961. The paradox of the plankton. Am. Nat., 95: 137–145.

    Google Scholar 

  • KILHAM, P. and S.S. KILHAM, 1980. The evolutionary ecology of phytoplankton. In: MORRIS, I., ed., studies of ecology, 7: 571–597.

  • LUND, J.W.G., 1950. Studies onAsterionella 2: nutrient depletion and the spring maximum. J. Ecol., 38: 1–35.

    Google Scholar 

  • MOED, J.R., 1973. Effect of combined action of light and silicon depletion onAsterionella formosa Hass. Verh. Internat. Verein. Limnol., 18: 1367–1374.

    Google Scholar 

  • MOHAMMED, A.A. and H. MÜLLER, 1981. Zur Nährstofflimitierung des Phytoplanktons im Bodensee. I. Der Zustand im Seeteil Überlinger See 1974–1975. Arch. Hydrobiol., Suppl. 59: 151–191.

    Google Scholar 

  • MONOD, J., 1950. La technique de culture continue: theorie et applications. Ann. Inst. Pasteur Lille, 79: 390–410.

    Google Scholar 

  • MÜLLER, H., 1972. Wachstum und Phosphatbedarf vonNitzschia actinastroides in statischer und homokontinuierticher Kultur unter Phosphatlimitierung. Arch. Hydrobiol., Suppl., 33: 206–236.

    Google Scholar 

  • RICHERSON, P., R. ARMSTRONG and C. GOLDMAN, 1970. Contemporaneous disequilibrium, a new hypothesis to explain the paradox of the plankton. Proc. Nat. Acad. Sci., 67: 1710–1714.

    Google Scholar 

  • SOMMER, U., 1981. The role of r- and K-selection in the succession of phytoplankton in Lake Constance. Acta Oecologica/Oecol. Gener. 2: 327–342.

    Google Scholar 

  • SOMMER, U. and H.H. STABEL, 1983. Silicon consumption and population density changes of dominant planktonic diatoms in Lake Constance. J. Ecol. 73: 119–130.

    Google Scholar 

  • TILMAN, D., 1977. Resource competition between planktonic algae: An experimental and theoretical approach. Ecology, 58: 338–348.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Author notes

  1. Ulrich Sommer

    Present address: Limnological Institute, University of Constance, D-7750, Constance, West Germany

Authors and Affiliations

    Authors
    1. Ulrich Sommer
      View author publications

      You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

    Rights and permissions

    Reprints and permissions

    About this article

    Cite this article

    Sommer, U. Algal nutrient competition in continuous culture. Hydrobiological Bulletin 17, 21–27 (1983). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02255189

    Download citation

    • Issue Date:

    • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02255189

    Keywords

    Search

    Navigation