A Comparison of Methods for Assessment of Nutrient Deficiency of Phytoplankton in a Large Oligotrophic Lake

Abstract

Short-term (h) and Song-term (d) changes in phytoplankton community physiology and bsomass in response to nutrient enrichment were used concomitantly as bioassays of phytoplankton nutrient deficiency in oligotrophic Flathead Lake, Montana, six times over the course of a year. Long-term bioassays consisted of nutrient amendments to epilimnetic water in 20 L containers which were subsequently monitored for algal growth. Short-term bioassays included measurement of NH4+ stimulation of dark carbon fixation, measurement of PO43− and NH4+ uptake over time to assess depletion of internal pools and stimulation effects of PO43− on NH4+ uptake and NH4+ on PO43− uptake. During thermal stratification, simultaneous additions of NH4+ and PO43− in long-term bioassays caused significant increases in chlorophyll a concentration, photosynthetic 14CO2 uptake, and particulate N concentration within 4.5 d; single additions of NH4+ or PO43− had little or no effect. During winter mixing there was little evidence for N or P deficiency in either short- or long-term bioassays. In general, short-term bioassays did not consistently agree with each other or with long-term bioassays. Our results suggest that it may be necessary to elicit growth of phytoplankton with nutrient addition to make definitive statements regarding nutrient deficiency.