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A sensitive fluorometric technique for the measurement of phycobilin pigments and its application to the study of marine and freshwater picophytoplankton in oligotrophic environments

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Abstract

A sensitive and specific technique is described for the estimation of phycobiliprotein in freshwater and marine picophytoplankton. The method uses fluorescent properties to detect phycoerythrin concentrations as low as 40 ng L-1 from a 1 L water sample and is capable of distinguishing between R-phycoerythrin, C-phycocyanin and C-phycoerythrin. The application of the method to the study of natural picophytoplankton populations in marine and freshwater environments is described. Nitrate concentrations appear to influence picophytoplankton cellular C-phycoerythrin concentrations in surface waters and increasing cellular C-phycoerythrin fluorescence with water depth suggests that this pigment plays a role as a photosynthetic accessory pigment.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research Ltd., P.O. Box 8602, Riccarton, Christchurch, New Zealand

    Malcolm T. Downes

  2. National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research Ltd., P. O. Box 11115, Hamilton, New Zealand

    Julie A. Hall

Authors
  1. Malcolm T. Downes
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  2. Julie A. Hall
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Downes, M.T., Hall, J.A. A sensitive fluorometric technique for the measurement of phycobilin pigments and its application to the study of marine and freshwater picophytoplankton in oligotrophic environments. Journal of Applied Phycology 10, 357–363 (1998). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1008085719486

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1008085719486

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