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Assessment of simultaneous uptake of nitrogenous nutrients (15N) and inorganic carbon (13C) by natural phytoplankton populations

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Abstract

The simultaneous uptake of nitrogenous nutrients and inorganic carbon was measured in shipboard incubations of natural phytoplankton populations, using tracer additions of 13C-bicarbonate and 15N-labelled nitrogenous substrates. From March 1991 through March 1992, three stations on the Scotian Shelf (eastern Canada) were sampled monthly at ten depths in the euphotic zone. Additions of labelled nitrogen compounds ranged between 0.5 and 98% of ambient concentrations. Most of the C/N (at/at) uptake ratios were lower than the Redfield ratio, suggesting that nitrogen was not limiting. The fixation of carbon with and without addition of nitrate, ammonium or urea was generally similar. Some samples presented significant differences in carbon uptake rate between the four treatments, but these differences were not related to nitrogen enrichment (percent or nitrogen species). Given these results, the double-labelling method appears to be a reliable tool for measuring the simultaneous uptake of carbon and nitrogen by natural phytoplankton.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. GIROQ, Département de biologie, Université Laval, G1K 7P4, Ste-Foy, Québec, Canada

    S. Dauchez, L. Legendre & L. Fortier

Authors
  1. S. Dauchez
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  2. L. Legendre
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  3. L. Fortier
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Communicated by R.J. Thompson, St. John's

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Dauchez, S., Legendre, L. & Fortier, L. Assessment of simultaneous uptake of nitrogenous nutrients (15N) and inorganic carbon (13C) by natural phytoplankton populations. Marine Biology 123, 651–666 (1995). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00349108

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00349108

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